British engineers from BAE Systems and its partner, U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, recently released results of a June test at Spaceport America, adding to the spaceport’s growing list of successful high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) system launches.
BAE announced last week that in June, it used Spaceport America as a proving ground to complete a stratospheric flight of its HAPS Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) – PHASA-35.
Attaining a peak altitude of over 66,000 feet through the course of its 24-hour flight period, PHASA-35 slowly powered its way into the stratosphere before successfully touching down at its home base at Spaceport America. The trial gave BAE Systems’ engineering team the ability to engage in performance assessments of the experimental solar-electric drone while it maneuvered to the far reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
“This is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and shows the commitment of BAE Systems to invest in new technologies and markets,” remarked Dave Corfield, CEO of Prismatic Ltd. “PHASA-35’s first stratospheric flight demonstrates that this vehicle is on track to become the go-to system for long endurance, high altitude and communications applications in the future.”
Originally conceived and developed by BAE Systems’ subsidiary, Prismatic Ltd., in 2018, PHASA-35’s voyage to the stratosphere represents an important milestone. PHASA-35 was designed to operate above weather phenomena and conventional air traffic to provide a persistent and stable platform for a multitude of uses including ultra-long endurance intelligence operations, security, reconnaissance missions, and surveillance undertakings.
“Spaceport America is proud to have Prismatic as a customer and extends our congratulations in succeeding at this difficult task,” detailed Scott McLaughlin, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. “We look forward to their continuing success and the new records they will break over the coming months and years.”
BAE Systems joins current Spaceport America tenant HAPSMobile/AeroVironment and customer Swift Engineering as partners who have successfully completed HAPS testing missions.
“This is the third HAPS system that has found success testing at Spaceport America, and shows that we can play a vital role in aerospace development ventures of varying types,” McLaughlin added.
Boasting a 35-meter wingspan and employing a collection of world-class technologies which include advanced composites, energy management, solar electric cells, and photovoltaic arrays, PHASA-35 is provided with energy throughout the daylight hours thanks to the technologies. They also allow PHASA-35 to operate under the cover of darkness by tapping into its rechargeable cells where the energy gathered during the day is stored.
June’s trial represents the starting point of a series of continued trials for PHASA-35. The trial series plans to further ascertain and confirm system performance, support development activities and validate test points. Following the successes of these further tests, PHASA-35 would be cleared for use in defense and commercial markets in North America, Europe, and the rest of the planet.
