China’s fully solar-powered, semi-satellite drone

In News: China’s first fully solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, Qimingxing-50, or Morning Star-50, has successfully completed its maiden test flight with all onboard systems functioning optimally.

The Mechanics

• With a wingspan of 164-ft, the drone is a large machine powered entirely by solar panels.
• The high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAV can stay airborne for long durations.
• Flies above 20-km altitude where there is stable airflow with no clouds.
• Helps these drones to make the maximum use of solar equipment to stay functional for extended durations.
• In fact, the drone can operate without a break for months, even years.

Cross between drone and satellite

• The fact that the drone can operate in near-space – 20 km to 100 km above the Earth’s surface – makes it capable of carrying out satellite-like functions.
• These drones are also referred to as ‘High Altitude Platform Stations’ or pseudo-satellites.
• China already has this capacity, but the Qimingxing-50’s long-endurance provides an added advantage to make this capability available over a longer period.

Significance

• Cost-effective to build
• Easy to launch and operate
• Being entirely powered by clean energy from the Sun, it can help boost China’s capabilities to operate in near-space and over the ocean.
• If satellite services are not available for, say, time-sensitive operations or in case of wartime disruption, then near-space UAVs can step in to fill the operational gap.
• This HALE UAV is capable of conducting high-altitude reconnaissance, apart from monitoring forest fires, providing communication and environment relay.

Has any other country achieved this?

• In July this year, the US Army helped test a solar-powered, near-space Airbus Zephyr S drone that set a new record by being airborne for 42 days.

Note:

• India’s PLI Scheme for Drone Industry
• Will incentivize emergence of Advanced Automotive Technologies global supply chain in India
• Help create additional employment of over 7.6 lakh people
• Incentives worth ₹ 26,058 crore will be provided to industry over five years
• It will bring fresh investments of over₹5,000 crore in three years and incremental production of over ₹ 1,500 crore

Source: The Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022)

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet, after making several orbital motions.
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.