Solar Impulse 2 Completes Round-the-World Flight

The Solar Impulse 2, a long-range experimental aircraft powered by solar energy, completed its world tour by landing in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In doing so, it became the first aircraft in history to circumnavigate the globe using only solar energy. The aircraft covered approximately 42,000 kilometers across its 17-stage journey. Following the landing of the aircraft in Abu Dhabi, pilot Bertnard Piccard made a statement, saying "We have a clean future. The future is you. The future is now. Let's take it a bit further." The solar-powered aircraft, weighing just 2.3 tons, features 17,248 solar cells embedded in its wings, which have a wingspan of 72 meters. Rigid polyurethane foam was used to provide thermal insulation between the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Door locks also use polyurethane/carbon fiber composite material, while windows use thin transparent sheets and high-performance polycarbonate. Rigid polyurethane foam is also used outside the cockpit to insulate the batteries. Solar Impulse 2 is able to fly at night thanks to its ability to store solar energy in lithium batteries during the day.