Solar Plane Lands in U.S. on Record Voyage

The Solar Impulse 2 gets one more big step closer to finishing its historic trip around the world.

The team that's attempting to make the first solar-powered flight around the world completed another milestone Sunday, when its craft landed at Moffett Airfield in California's San Francisco Bay area. Having taken off from Hawaii, this was the ninth leg of the trip and represented the team's first return to the air since last July, after weather and repairs to its plane led to a delay in the project.

At the helm of the Solar Impulse 2 on this leg was Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard. The solo pilot had taken off from Kalaeloa, Hawaii, shortly after dawn on Thursday, April 21, completing a journey of 2,200 nautical miles (4,000 kilometers). 

The experimental craft gets all its energy needs from the 17,000 solar panels lining its top,

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought
World’s first ultrasounds of wild manta rays reveal a troubling truth
Titanic was found during secret Cold War Navy mission

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet