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Exploring Venus by Solar AirplaneA solar-powered airplane is proposed to explore the atmospheric environment of Venus. Venus has several advantages for a solar airplane. At the top of the cloud level, the solar intensity is comparable to or greater than terrestrial solar intensities. The Earthlike atmospheric pressure means that the power required for flight is lower for Venus than that of Mars, and the slow rotation of Venus allows an airplane to be designed for continuous sunlight, with no energy storage needed for night-time flight. These factors mean that Venus is perhaps the easiest planet in the solar system for flight of a long-duration solar airplane.
Document ID
20020022923
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Landis, Geoffrey A.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Technology Applications International Forum
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: February 11, 2001
End Date: February 15, 2001
Sponsors: New Mexico Univ.
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 755-A4-04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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