Solar Airship One is a project that aims to achieve a historic feat: to fly around the world without stopping, using only solar power and hydrogen as energy sources. The project, led by Euro Airship, a French company specializing in airship design and construction, is expected to take off in 2026 and complete a 24,854-mile (40,000-kilometer) journey along the equator in 20 to 30 days. The project's mission is not only to demonstrate the technical feasibility of such a flight but also to raise awareness about the environmental challenges and opportunities of sustainable aviation.
What is Solar Airship One?
Solar Airship One is a rigid airship with a fixed structure that maintains its shape, unlike blimps or balloons that rely on internal pressure. The airship is 495 feet (151 meters) long and has a helium volume of 53,000 cubic meters, which provides buoyancy and lift. The airship's envelope, or outer skin, is covered with 4,800 square meters of solar film, which captures sunlight during the day and converts it into electricity. The electricity is used to power the airship's four electric propellers, as well as to produce hydrogen through water electrolysis. The hydrogen is stored in tanks and used by fuel cells at night to generate electricity. This way, the airship can fly continuously without relying on fossil fuels or emitting greenhouse gases.
The electric airship also has 15 gas envelopes inside its structure, which can be individually controlled by software to adjust the airship's altitude and attitude. This allows the airship to cope with different weather conditions and wind patterns. The airship can fly at an average speed of 52 mph (83 km/h) and at an average altitude of 19,685 feet (6,000 meters). The airship has a range of about 540 nautical miles (1,000 kilometers) without solar power, but it can theoretically fly indefinitely with solar power and hydrogen storage.
The electric airship can accommodate three crew members and up to 12 passengers in its gondola, which is located under the envelope. The gondola has a cockpit, a living area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a cargo space. The gondola also has windows that offer panoramic views of the scenery below.
