Reaching New Heights with Solar-Powered Flight
New Zealand’s Kea Aerospace has completed a historic solar-powered flight to the stratosphere. Their Kea Atmos Mk1b soared to more 56,000 feet, flying for over eight hours. This milestone positions Kea Aerospace among the few companies worldwide capable of such feats.
The Kea Atmos is designed for continuous flight, powered entirely by solar energy. This innovative aircraft collects high-resolution aerial imagery, crucial for environmental monitoring, disaster response, maritime awareness, and a broad range of commercial applications.
Flying in the stratosphere locates the Kea Atmos 20 times closer to the ground than satellites, which vastly improves data quality, and circling above the weather gives the platform a unique loitering capability that can’t be achieved any other way.
But it’s not just about aerospace. Kea Aerospace collaborates with local communities and international partners, including NASA and the German Aerospace Center, to advance sustainable aerospace technology. Their work supports New Zealand’s Airspace Integration Trials and contributes to global efforts in climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
Looking for pioneers in aerospace innovation? We know a place.
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