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posted by CoolHand on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:00PM   Printer-friendly
from the if-at-first-we-dont-succeed dept.

The plane, called Solar Impulse 2, recently completed the longest leg of its global flight -- a five-day, five-night journey from Nagoya, Japan, to Hawaii. During that trip, the plane's batteries overheated and sustained "irreversible" damage, according to a statement from the team.

The next leg of the journey, which would have taken the plane to Phoenix, was set for as early as this week.

The team said the temperature of the batteries during quick ascents and descents in a tropical climate was "not properly anticipated."

"The damage to the batteries is not a technical failure or a weakness in the technology," the team said. "Setbacks are part of the challenges of a project which is pushing technological boundaries to the limits."

I'm looking forward to the next flight record being set by an ornithopter.


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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Gravis on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:13PM

    by Gravis (4596) on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:13PM (#210050)

    that's what you get for trying to break the laws of thermodynamics!

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  • (Score: 1) by captnjohnny1618 on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:49PM

    by captnjohnny1618 (5301) on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:49PM (#210070)

    I'm assuming this is tongue-in-cheek, but just in case:

    I thing you need to review your thermodynamics.

    • (Score: 5, Touché) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:57PM

      by Jeremiah Cornelius (2785) on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:57PM (#210076) Journal

      Let's see.

      1) "Stuck" in Hawaii
      2) Prevented from visiting Phoenix

      Damn. Some times you just can't win.

      --
      You're betting on the pantomime horse...
      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by fritsd on Thursday July 16 2015, @06:22PM

        by fritsd (4586) on Thursday July 16 2015, @06:22PM (#210086) Journal

        Actually, when I read that the other pilot had to wait in fear and trepidation for months in a far-away location from his partner, I thought the same thing.

        Apparently he stayed in Monaco (as a guest of prince Albert?). Oh the horrors of waiting for months, at the bar in the Monte Carlo casino, looking out over the Rivièra, to hear about the weather report, while explaining to all the groupies that he's a world-famous adventurer .. :-)

        I hope those two complete their circumaviation adventure, and I don't blame them for choosing relaxing resting places :-)