China’s Fully Solar-Powered Semi Satellite Drone

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

China’s first fully solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed its maiden test flight with all onboard systems functioning optimally.

The New Machine

• With a wingspan of 164-ft, the drone is a large machine powered entirely by solar panels. 
• The high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAV can stay airborne for long durations. 
• Named the Qimingxing-50, or Morning Star-50, this drone flies above 20-km altitude where there is stable airflow with no clouds. 
• This helps these drones to make the maximum use of solar equipment to stay functional for extended durations. 
• It can operate without a break for months, even years.

Cross Between Drone and Satellite

• The fact that the drone can operate in near-space 20 km to 100 km above the Earth’s surface makes it capable of carrying out satellite like functions. 
• If satellite services are not available for, say, time-sensitive operations or in case of wartime disruption, then near-space UAVs can step in to fill the operational gap. 
• These drones are also referred to as ‘High Altitude Platform Stations’ or pseudo-satellites. 
• China already has this capacity, but the Qimingxing-50’s long-endurance provides an added advantage to make this capability available over a longer period.
• In July this year, the US Army helped test a solar-powered, near-space Airbus Zephyr S drone that set a new record by being airborne for 42 days.
• Both these drones can undertake surveillance missions that require them to stay operational, watching over borders or oceans, for months.

Easy To Lock-and-Load

• Drones like the Morning Star-50 are cost-effective to build and are also easy to launch and operate. 
• Being entirely powered by clean energy from the Sun, the present one can help boost China’s capabilities to operate in near-space and over the ocean. 
• This HALE UAV is capable of conducting high-altitude reconnaissance, apart from monitoring forest fires, providing communication and environment relay.