The New Zealand-based company Kea Aerospace has developed an innovative solar-powered stratospheric aircraft, called the Kea Atmos Mk 1, which is designed for high-altitude flight testing. The aircraft has a wingspan of 12.5 meters and weighs under 40 kilograms, making it lightweight enough to fly at altitudes higher than commercial airliners, up to 50,000 feet. To launch the Kea Atmos Mk 1, Kea Aerospace is using an Audi e-tron Sportback electric vehicle, which provides the necessary power to get the aircraft off the ground. Rocket noted that the Kea Atmos Mk 1 is the first solar-powered stratospheric aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere.
