Harnessing solar power in a practical and efficient manner has been the aim of many science projects. None more beautifully illustrated than by the solar powered plane called Solar Impulse. This plane was written off by critics on its maiden flight in 2009 when it managed to rise just 3 feet and for the 30 seconds that it was in the air. It managed to cover just 1150 feet in that flight, but in July 2013 it improved on its record impressively.

The creators of the green flying machine have been working on improvements all along and its progress has been great. In 2012 the plane went intercontinental from Europe to Africa, and this year it flew across the United States. The journey which was nicknamed “Across America” began in San Fransisco, California in May this year and was completed in New York City in July. Along the way the plane took its first halt at Pheonix, Arizona, followed by Dallas, Texas. It then flew on to St. Louis, Missouri, before winging its way to Washington, DC before reaching its final destination in NYC.

The Solar Impulse which has the same 80 meters wing span of an Airbus 380 weighs just 2 tons as opposed to the massive 560 tons weight that an Airbus 380 pulls along. However the Solar Impulse has shown great progress in the past five years of its existence by gaining the ability to fly by day and night. A task no other solar powered plane has mastered so far. May there be many more such successful science experiments dealing with solar power in the future.