Solar Electric Airship UAV Development Advances

Global Near Space Services (GNSS) and Bye Engineering Partners say they've concluded Phase 2 engineering of the StarLight high-altitude long-endurance solar electric airship intelligence and surveillance platform (pictured). The program was conducted under the supervision of the Naval Air Systems Command, Aircraft Division.

Ron Oholendt, GNSS president, explains, “Preliminary design of the unique airship upper stage and detail engineering and subscale prototyping of the flying solar electric lower stage has been completed." 

The NAVAIR program manager for this effort, Steve Huett, says, "GNSS has made great strides in advancing lighter-than-air technology for high altitude flight operations.”

StarLight is designed to help commercial, state and federal customers obtain satellite-like telecommunications and high-altitude surveillance capabilities for a fraction of the cost of space-based systems. StarLight is unique in the combination of a lighter-than-air upper stage, and a recoverable solar electric lower stage flying vehicle. The lower stage vehicle also provides control and propulsion for non-tethered station keeping.

The program expects to transition from detail engineering to prototype in the near term.

FMI: www.globalnearspace.com ; www.ByeEngineering.com