Boeing’s solar-powered drone

Odysseus, a massive solar-powered unmanned aircraft designed to fly continuously for up to three months at high altitudes, will be used to perform climate and atmospheric research

Solar cells: Thin-film cells coat upper wing surface, fuselage sides and vertical tails

Trusses: Carbon-fibre structure for wing spars and fuselages, for light weight and durability

Tails: All-moving horizontal and vertical tails provide pitch and yaw control

Propellers: Six variable-pitch, two blade propellers driven by electric motors

Electric power: Lithium-polymer batteries, avionics and payloads housed in three fuselages to distribute point loads along flexible wing

Odysseus designed by Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS)

Odysseus will fly above 20,000m, solar-powered by day and on battery power at night, carrying payload of over 25kg

Altitude
km
20 
18 
16 
14 
12 Commercial aircraft
10 Mount Everest
8 
6 
4 
2 
0

Wingspan: 74m – longer than Boeing 777X
74m
Manassas, Virginia: Plane operated remotely from AFS HQ

Puerto Rico: First test flight planned Apr 2019



Sources: Aurora Flight Sciences, Aviation Week     © GRAPHIC NEWS