Something new under the sun: With strict weight and performance criteria imposed by NASA, one company specializing in applied R&D electrochemistry answered the challenge with an innovative design for test systems. (Data Acquisition).

Evaluation Engineering, March, 2002 by Steinbroner, Matthew

When you're flying 20 miles high, it's not the time to run out of gas. Such was the major challenge facing engineers developing an innovative fuel-cell-based power system during the design of Helios, the latest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by NASA and its partner Aero Vironment.

Helios is specified to remain airborne for up to six months at a fraction of the operational cost of traditional aircraft. One intended use is for scientific missions that are considered dull, dirty, or dangerous, such as atmospheric testing over volcanic plumes. With a wingspan longer than a 747 but weighing less than a ton, the UAV has flown via remote control to an altitude of 96,500 ft off Hawaii's coast, setting records for both solar-powered and propeller-driven aircraft....

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