In a world where internet connectivity is becoming increasingly essential, reaching remote areas with high-speed internet has long been a significant challenge. Traditional methods like laying fiber optic cables across rough terrains or setting up satellite networks come with high costs and logistical hurdles. Enter the Sceye HAPS, a solar-powered, high-altitude platform station designed to address this issue by delivering internet access from the stratosphere.
The Sceye HAPS, developed by the Roswell, New Mexico-based company Sceye, is the brainchild of Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, who is also known for creating the LifeStraw, a device that filters water for those in need. Since its founding in 2014, Sceye has focused on developing advanced aerospace technologies, with the HAPS being one of its flagship projects.
The HAPS is a 65-meter-long helium-filled aircraft that resembles a futuristic blimp. It is designed to hover at altitudes between 60,000 and 65,000 feet, far above commercial air traffic but below satellites. This unique positioning allows the HAPS to perform several critical tasks, including providing broadband internet to underserved areas, monitoring environmental conditions, and even spotting forest fires.
One of the most significant aspects of the Sceye HAPS is its reliance on solar power. The aircraft is covered in a silver-foil “solar cape” made of gallium selenide and gallium arsenide solar cells. These cells enable the HAPS to operate continuously for months, harnessing the sun’s energy during the day and storing it in batteries to maintain its position overnight.
An exciting application of the HAPS is its role in providing broadband internet to remote communities. For instance, the aircraft is already a key player in a project aimed at delivering universal broadband access to the Navajo Nation, a community that has long been underserved in terms of internet connectivity. Instead of relying on ground infrastructure, which can be difficult and expensive to implement in remote or rugged areas, the HAPS beams internet directly to users from the stratosphere. This approach not only provides faster deployment but also reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional infrastructure projects.
In addition to internet provision, the Sceye HAPS is involved in a five-year study with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to track and measure methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and accurate monitoring is crucial for environmental protection efforts. The HAPS’s ability to hover in place for extended periods makes it an ideal platform for such long-term environmental monitoring projects.
The aircraft made its first flights in 2021, reaching an altitude of 64,600 feet, just shy of its upper operational limit. During these initial tests, the HAPS demonstrated its capacity to maintain an LTE OpenRAN data connection with a smartphone on the ground from a distance of over 140 kilometers. To put this into perspective, standard LTE connections typically have a range of about 100 kilometers. This record-breaking achievement highlights the HAPS’s potential to revolutionize how we think about remote internet connectivity.
A recent milestone for the HAPS occurred on August 15th, 2024, when it successfully demonstrated its ability to sustain operations purely on solar power. The aircraft launched from Sceye’s New Mexico facility, reached 61,000 feet, and stayed airborne for nearly 30 hours, only landing the following day. This test was crucial in proving that the HAPS could maintain its position overnight using stored solar energy, a key capability for its intended long-term missions.
Throughout its development, the HAPS has made 20 test flights, with two more scheduled later this year. These tests are essential steps toward the aircraft’s expected commercial launch in 2025. As these flights continue, the potential applications for the Sceye HAPS could expand even further, potentially transforming how we address challenges in internet connectivity, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.
From a practical standpoint, the Sceye HAPS offers a compelling solution to the connectivity gap in remote areas. Instead of waiting for years for ground infrastructure to reach these communities, the HAPS could provide immediate access, improving educational opportunities, healthcare access, and economic growth. While the technology is still in its testing phase, the promise it holds is significant.
Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see how the Sceye HAPS performs in commercial applications and whether it can truly meet the high expectations set for it. The concept of a solar-powered blimp hovering in the stratosphere might sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, but as the HAPS continues its test flights, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this technology could soon be part of our everyday reality.
Source: Sceye
