By the year 2025 advances in solar energy collection and energy storage will enable the construction of a solar powered unmanned aerial system. Solar powered aircraft (SPA) will have the ability to remain airborne for months at a time and perform numerous roles and missions. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology and biotechnology will enable solar energy and energy storage capacity improvements to power an SPA. This paper will examine the history of, and ongoing research into, solar energy and energy storage. Then, based upon the rate of progress in these two fields, estimate their capability in the year 2025. Finally, it will briefly analyze potential roles and missions and determine a way forward for a solar powered aircraft.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
