Mission Using Stratospheric Mountains Waves For Lift Planned In 2015

The Perlan Project was first established in 1992, when Enar Enevoldson, a former test pilot at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, began to collect evidence of stratospheric mountain waves that could allow a glider to soar to the fringes of space. The Perlan Mission I, funded in part by adventurer Steve Fossett, flew a modified DG-505m aircraft to an altitude of 50,671 feet, breaking the previous record by 1,662 feet, according to the group's website.

Now, the group hopes to fly the Perlan Mission II "higher than any other wing-borne manned aircraft has ever flown," according to the site. They are fabricating a purpose-built, pressurized, high-altitude glider to ride the stratospheric mountain waves to the near-vacuum at the fringe of space. The altitude density would be less than 2% of sea level, according to the group. Coupled with extremely cold temperatures, the conditions would be similar to those that might be found on Mars.

Windward performance, the only U.S. glider manufacturer, is working on the design and fabrication of the Perlan 2 aircraft. In the conditions expected at altitude, the glider will have to fly an "near transonic" speeds to create enough lift to sustain flight, according to the website. The Perlan 2 will require a new and highly-efficient aerodynamic design, according to Perlan Missions.

The group hopes to undertake the high-altitude mission sometime in 2015.

(Artist's rendering of Perlan II glider from YouTube video)

FMI: www.perlanproject.org, YouTube video