Overview of the DLR High Altitude Platform and Scientific Potential of the Technology Demontrator HAP-alpha

Abstract

Since 2018, the ongoing high altitude platform project “HAP-alpha” of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) combines the domains of aerospace and space into one single research and engineering project. 16 DLR institutes and facilities under the lead of the Institute of Flight Systems combine their expertise to realize the HAP-alpha high altitude platform. With this project the DLR aims for the following four main research goals in terms of solar powered, unmanned high altitude platforms: 1) The development of novel system concepts and technologies for the realization of robust and cost-efficient high altitude solar platforms. 2) Development and testing of high performance, light weight sensor systems for earth observation. 3) Development of operational strategies and mission scenarios to demonstrate the performance of high altitude solar platforms. 4) Demonstration and flight testing of novel technologies, processes and sensor systems under real environmental conditions All of them lead to the design and build of a solar powered high altitude technology demonstrator, called HAP-alpha. The HAP-alpha with its wing span of 27 meters, its weight of 136 kilograms and a payload capacity of 5 kilograms is designed as a fully functional high altitude platform to potentially reach the lower stratosphere at around 20 kilometers. After a brief summary of the History of unmanned solar electric high altitude platforms, the paper gives an overview of the HAP-alpha system. Additionally, the paper will focus on the systems engineering methods we used to set up such a complex aircraft within the research institution DLR. The paper closes with a discussion on the potential of a solar electric high altitude platform, such as the HAP-alpha and what it offers for lower stratosphere scientific experiments.