US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has granted HAPSMobile limited flight approval to conduct its first test flight of HAWK30, the solar-powered unmanned aircraft to provide a stratospheric telecommunications platform system. NASA Armstrong Flight Research Centre Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board is responsible for safety during this flight test series. HAPSMobile began to carry out ground tests of HAWK30 at AFRC, located in California, in June 2019. HAPS Mobile plans to conduct test flights and other operation activities at AFRC, before accelerating preparations to perform stratospheric test flights at the Hawaiian island of Lanai in fiscal 2019. HAPSMobile is a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp that plans to operate a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS).
(Image: HAPSMobile)
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