By Rachel Z. Arndt
The 40th anniversary of the moon landing has come and gone, and people are starting to fall into post-celebration hangovers. But a blimp is coming to the rescue, giving flight-loving people everywhere another reason to be merry.
Students at the ESSEC School of Business in Paris, along with other French university students, have created the first solar-powered blimp. This August, the aircraft, called Nephelios, will be put to the test as it attempts to complete the first manned, solar-powered flight across the English Channel.
The blimp, designed by about 30 French university students, made its grand entrance at the Paris Air Show in June. Nephelios is 72 feet long, has a diameter of 18 feet, and is powered by an electric motor driven by photovoltaic panels mounted on top.
Read the full article: Business School Blimp Runs on Solar Power