Solar Impulse 2 grounded in Hawaii: 'Irreversible' battery damage sustained during Pacific flight may mean the plane will miss the window for its Atlantic leg

  • The Solar Impulse 2 suffered 'irreversible' damage to its batteries during its five-day flight from Japan to Hawaii 
  • Parts now need to be repaired and replaced, which could take 'several weeks to work through'
  • It is the trip's latest delay and it may also cause the plane to miss its weather window to cross the Atlantic
  • This could mean the round-the-world mission would be grounded in New York until at least Spring next year  

By Victoria Woollaston for MailOnline

Published: 06:51 EST, 13 July 2015 | Updated: 08:36 EST, 13 July 2015

The elation that followed Solar Impulse 2's record-breaking Pacific trip was today replaced with disappointment and frustration after the plane was grounded in Hawaii.

The solar-powered aircraft suffered 'irreversible' damage to its batteries during its five-day flight and the parts now need to be repaired and replaced, which could take 'several weeks to work through.'

It is the latest delay to the round-the-world trip and this hold-up may cause the plane to miss its 'weather window' for crossing the Atlantic until at least Spring next year.

The Solar Impulse 2 suffered 'irreversible' damage to its batteries during its five-day flight from Japan to Hawaii and parts now need to be repaired and replaced, which could take 'several weeks to work through.' It is the latest delay to the round-the-world trip and the hold-up may also cause the plane to miss its weather window for the next leg of its journey, throwing the mission's plans into disarray

The Solar Impulse 2 suffered 'irreversible' damage to its batteries during its five-day flight from Japan to Hawaii and parts now need to be repaired and replaced, which could take 'several weeks to work through.' It is the latest delay to the round-the-world trip and the hold-up may also cause the plane to miss its weather window for the next leg of its journey, throwing the mission's plans into disarray

The problem arose when too much insulation caused the plane's battery temperature to spike on the first day of the Pacific flight last month, and there was no way to cool it after Solar Impulse was off the ground, the aircraft's team said.

'The damage to certain parts of the batteries is irreversible and will require repairs and replacements that will take several weeks to work through,' the Solar Impulse crew said.

HOW DOES SOLAR IMPULSE WORK? 

Solar Impulse 2 is powered by 17,000 solar cells and on-board rechargeable lithium batteries, allowing it to fly through the night. 

Its wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car. 

Solar Impulse 2 relies on getting enough solar power during the day to survive the night.

It is also extremely light - about the weight of a car - and as wide as a passenger jet.

Both of these combined means it is extremely susceptible to the weather.

In high winds or turbulent it can struggle to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight.

It's maximum altitude is 27,900ft (8,500m), before dropping to 3,280ft (1,000m), when the pilot is able to take short 20-minute catnaps. 

'Solar Impulse does not see the possibility for any flights before two to three weeks at the earliest.'

And the crew added it is looking for ways to improve cooling as it gets ready to tackle the next stretch which will take it from Hawaii to Phoenix, and eventually to New York.

But if Solar Impulse 2 doesn't arrive on the east coast soon, it may miss its 'weather window' to cross the Atlantic before the end of 2015.  

Solar Impulse 2 and its pilots André Borschberg and Betrand Piccard set off from Abu Dhabi in March with the hope of returning within five or six months.

It was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Nagoya in Japan after bad weather stopped it taking off on its Pacific leg, but it successfully touched down in Hawaii on 3 July after 118 hours.

When the plane touched down at Kalaeloa Airport just before 5pm BST (6am local time), Mr Borschberg had endured more than 100 hours alone in the plane with minimal sleep during the flight - smashing the record for the longest solo flight in aviation history.  

Solar Impulse 2 is powered by 17,000 solar cells and on-board rechargeable lithium batteries, allowing it to fly through the night. 

Its wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car. 

This slow speed and light weight means it can only travel in certain weather conditions, and after August the weather will take a turn for the worst and could be too wet or windy to fly safely on its ocean leg. 

For example, in high winds or turbulence it can struggle to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight.

The plane has a top speed of just 50mph (80km/h), and can support only one pilot at a time. For this reason, the pilots are taking alternating turns to fly legs between countries and the Atlantic stint will be flown by Swiss co-pilot Betrand Piccard.

Too much insulation caused the plane's battery temperature to spike on the first day of the flight. Swiss pilot André Borschberg is shown in the cramped cockpit of the plane. The crew is now looking for ways to improve the battery cooling as it gets ready to tackle the next stretch which will take it from Hawaii to Phoenix, and eventually to New York

Too much insulation caused the plane's battery temperature to spike on the first day of the flight. Swiss pilot André Borschberg is shown in the cramped cockpit of the plane. The crew is now looking for ways to improve the battery cooling as it gets ready to tackle the next stretch which will take it from Hawaii to Phoenix, and eventually to New York

Solar Impulse 2 and its pilots André Borschberg and Betrand Piccard set off from Abu Dhabi in March with the hope of returning within five or six months. It was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Nagoya in Japan after bad weather stopped it taking off on its Pacific leg, but it successfully touched down in Hawaii (the plane is filmed on its approach) on 3 July after 118 hours

Solar Impulse 2 and its pilots André Borschberg and Betrand Piccard set off from Abu Dhabi in March with the hope of returning within five or six months. It was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Nagoya in Japan after bad weather stopped it taking off on its Pacific leg, but it successfully touched down in Hawaii (the plane is filmed on its approach) on 3 July after 118 hours

Solar Impulse 2 began its 22,000-mile (35,400km) round-the-world trip on 9 March this year, taking off from Abu Dhabi and landing safely in Oman 12 hours and 250 miles (400km) later. If Solar Impulse 2 doesn't arrive on the east coast soon (New York stop pictured), it may miss its 'weather window' to cross the Atlantic before the end of 2015

Solar Impulse 2 began its 22,000-mile (35,400km) round-the-world trip on 9 March this year, taking off from Abu Dhabi and landing safely in Oman 12 hours and 250 miles (400km) later. If Solar Impulse 2 doesn't arrive on the east coast soon (New York stop pictured), it may miss its 'weather window' to cross the Atlantic before the end of 2015

LIFE ON BOARD SOLAR IMPULSE 

The two pilots have to contend with some testing conditions aboard the plane as they fly alone for up to five days at a time.

'It's a flying home in some ways,' Mr Borschberg told MailOnline previously.

The cockpit has no heating, and the pilots are not able to stand up or walk around.

Instead, they can only recline in their seats to get a bit of exercise, such as yoga, or rest.

A 'visit' to the toilet is pretty uncomfortable too - they simply use a hole in their seat.

The pilots trained hard for the mission, during which they have faced temperatures dropping to -40°C (-40°F) in their cramped cockpit and have had to breathe oxygen from a tank to cope with the extreme altitudes. 

It's maximum altitude is 27,900ft (8,500m), before dropping to 3,280ft (1,000m), when the pilot is able to take short 20-minute catnaps. 

The goal of the project is also to show the possibilities of renewable energy such as solar power. 

The previous solo flight record was 76 hours, set by American Steve Fossett in 2006, when he circumnavigated the world in a jet, travelling 26,389 miles (42,468km). 

To break up flying day and night, Solar Impulse 2 is stopping in 12 locations around the world.

After taking off in Abu Dhabi on 9 March 2015, capital of the United Arab Emirates, it stopped in Muscat in Oman before heading to Ahmedabad in India on 10 March and Varanasi, also in India, on 18 March.

On the same day it flew to Mandalay, Burma, before making a pit stop in Chongqing, China on 29 March - for three weeks, rather than the one planned.

After Nanjing in China, the next was a five-day flight to Honolulu in Hawaii, before last month's unscheduled stop in Japan.

A landing site in the south west of the US will be chosen depending on weather conditions, before the Solar Impulse 2 stops off at Phoenix and at JFK airport in New York City.

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean in five days, it will make a stop somewhere in southern Europe, before undertaking the final leg of its journey to land back in Abu Dhabi in July.

The 22,000-mile (35,000km) trip will span 25 flight days, spread over five months.

The two pilots are working together with a crew of 80 technicians, engineers and a communications team.

Solar Impulse 2, powered by the sun's rays and piloted by Andre Borschberg, is shown approaching Kalaeloa Airport near Honolulu after a 120-hour voyage from Nagoya, Japan at the start of July

Solar Impulse 2, powered by the sun's rays and piloted by Andre Borschberg, is shown approaching Kalaeloa Airport near Honolulu after a 120-hour voyage from Nagoya, Japan at the start of July

 

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