Solar Powered Aircraft in 2025

By the year 2025 advances in solar energy collection and energy storage will enable the construction of a solar powered unmanned aerial system. Solar powered aircraft (SPA) will have the ability to remain airborne for months at a time and perform numerous roles and missions. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology and biotechnology will enable solar energy and energy storage capacity improvements to power an SPA. This paper will examine the history of, and ongoing research into, solar energy and energy storage. Then, based upon the rate of progress in these two fields, estimate their capability in the year 2025. Finally, it will briefly analyze potential roles and missions and determine a way forward for a solar powered aircraft.