Sunday, August 13, 2006
Photo plane runs on sunshine
UK Sunday Times August 13
The world’s first solar- powered spy drone will take photographs from 60,000ft and provide the UK armed forces with a budget version of America’s surveillance satellites. The Zephyr had its first successful trial flight over New Mexico earlier this month and is scheduled to be in service over Iraq and Afghanistan within two years. It is designed to stay airborne for up to three months and relay pictures of targets as small as 10in across. It is also intended to relay radio signals from special forces soldiers in remote locations.
Presumably the drone could also be useful for many peaceful purposes also and carry them out at low cost.
The world’s first solar- powered spy drone will take photographs from 60,000ft and provide the UK armed forces with a budget version of America’s surveillance satellites. The Zephyr had its first successful trial flight over New Mexico earlier this month and is scheduled to be in service over Iraq and Afghanistan within two years. It is designed to stay airborne for up to three months and relay pictures of targets as small as 10in across. It is also intended to relay radio signals from special forces soldiers in remote locations.
Presumably the drone could also be useful for many peaceful purposes also and carry them out at low cost.
# posted by uv : 11:13 PM
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