Expleo develops zero-carbon footprint space travel
Techies Go Green signatory, Expleo has helped Stratoflight to develop and launch a sustainable mode of near space travel. This new form of transport will enable passengers to travel 35km above earth, and into the stratosphere.
The zero-carbon footprint flight is facilitated by hydrogen which will be produced locally at the take-off site using solar and wind renewable energy sources.
Expleo is designing the flight capsule for Stratoflight, which includes an extra-vehicular viewing platform, or “balcony”. Passengers wearing a pressurised suit will be able to step out into space to view the Earth from the stratosphere, at an altitude where the planet’s curvature will be visible and a horizon spanning from Barcelona to Amsterdam is visible, approximately 1239km.
The transport project for space travel at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which takes place in Paris from 18-22 September 2022. Reservations for passengers will open in early 2023, with the first flight scheduled for 2025.
Tying closely to the event theme of “Space for @ll”, Stratoflight The French-based company has partnered with Expleo, an engineering, technology and consulting provider with deep expertise in the space industry, for the development of this project.
For its ascent, the spacecraft uses tried-and-tested zero-pressure balloon technology, filled with green hydrogen, like that used for many years by space agencies such as CNES and NASA for scientific flights.
The vehicle, which measures 8m in length, 4m wide and 3m high, can accommodate up to six people, including two pilots.
Engineers at Expleo’s innovation laboratory have had to consider numerous parameters to ensure a safe and immersive experience for passengers in a capsule with large glass areas in its structure, including structural sizing, interior and exterior panels, design of onboard electronics, safety, and aerodynamics.
“For me, this mission is not only the realisation of my dreams as a pilot but also a technological innovation respectful of the planet”
The cockpit, made of bio-sourced, recycled or recyclable materials, will be able to fly at speeds of up to 140 km/h for the return to land, thanks to its aerodynamic shape with both straight and curved lines. Descent to land is made under a piloted paraglider.
The programme is being developed with several European partners, including Swing for the parachutes and Spartan Space for the pressure suit.
Arnaud Longobardi, airline pilot and co-founder of Stratoflight, commented: "Stratoflight provides passengers with multiple exceptional experiences: the ascent to space that feels like a hot-air balloon flight, stepping out on to the viewing balcony, moving into space like an astronaut, and the landing, similar to free flight in a paraglider; all this in a capsule similar to a spacecraft. For me, this mission is not only the realisation of my dreams as a pilot but also a technological innovation respectful of the planet.”
Frédérique Rebout, Head of Space, Expleo said, "Making space accessible to all, while respecting the environment, is at the heart of what we believe in at Expleo. Our teams of space engineers have designed this capsule with this dual objective in mind. And we intend to go further. We are currently investigating the possibility of making the capsule out of new green composite materials based on bamboo, which would further reduce its carbon footprint. We are proud of our work with Stratoflight and of our contribution to this innovation."
Expleo joined Techies Go Green in 2022.
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