Close to the Sun: Flight, Fragility, and the Future We're Designing

Inspired by article: “Close to the Sun” by Ben Taub, The New Yorker, October 10, 2022

Humboldt’s Home Essay

Introduction: A Solar-Powered Circle Around the Earth

In 2016, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard completed the first solar-powered circumnavigation of the planet—a feat achieved without burning a single drop of fuel. Solar Impulse 2, the aircraft he piloted, combined lightweight composite materials, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, and cutting-edge energy storage to sustain flight both day and night. But this achievement was never intended as a market-ready solution to aviation’s carbon footprint. Instead, it served as a powerful demonstration that human ingenuity, paired with environmental responsibility, can transcend perceived limits. Piccard’s journey beckons us to reimagine tomorrow’s innovations—and reminds us that transformative progress demands humility, systems thinking, and a willingness to confront complexity beyond the visible horizon.

Historical Context: From Balloons to Solar Wings

Piccard’s flight sits within a lineage of exploratory pioneers. His grandfather, Auguste Piccard, soared into the stratosphere in a bathyscaphe balloon, while his father, Jacques Piccard, descended to oceanic trenches. The path from wood-framed biplanes to jet engines to solar-powered aircraft reflects humanity’s quest to conquer the skies, each leap fuelled by novel energy sources—from coal to kerosene to sunlight.

Literary Reflection: Poetic Tension in Clean Flight

Ben Taub’s New Yorker profile captures Solar Impulse 2’s poetry: wingspans draped in photovoltaic panels, a cockpit weighing just 300 kilograms, and a pilot navigating by the stars. Taub weaves Piccard’s personal motivations—rooted in a family heritage of high-altitude exploration—with the urgent challenge of climate change. Solar Impulse’s modest 50 mph average and reliance on perfect weather underscore both its symbolic power and its practical limitations.

Technical Challenges: Balancing Weight and Power

Achieving continuous flight on solar power demanded overcoming significant technical hurdles. Engineers needed batteries light enough to fit on the slender wing structures yet capable of storing sufficient energy for nighttime flight. Thermal management systems had to prevent PV cells from overheating in direct sunlight, which would reduce efficiency. Material fatigue tests ensured the composite wings could withstand temperature extremes and mechanical stresses over multi-day flights. These innovations contribute to broader materials science, informing fields from electric vehicles to renewable infrastructure.

Systems Reflection: Invisible Networks of Support

Behind every sunrise-to-sunset leg lay a sprawling network: meteorologists delivering real-time solar irradiance forecasts; custom software optimizing flight paths to chase daylight; international regulators granting overflight permissions; and logistics teams pre-positioning spare parts along the route. The solar cells themselves were fabricated in multiple countries, each step carrying environmental and social footprints that must be accounted for in lifecycle assessments.

Economic Considerations: Cost and Value of Vision

Solar Impulse 2 cost over $170 million to develop and operate—far exceeding typical research budgets for prototype aircraft. Yet its value cannot be measured solely in dollars. As public interest soared, educational programs sprung up, inspiring students in STEM fields worldwide. Corporate sponsors gained reputational boosts, aligning brands with sustainability. Policymakers saw a proof of concept for zero-emission flight. While the direct ROI on ticket sales was nonexistent, the indirect returns in public engagement and policy momentum highlight the multifaceted value of such bold demonstrations.

Broader Implications: Symbolism Meets Scalability

Solar Impulse’s success lies in its capacity to inspire—much like NASA’s Apollo missions spurred spin-off technologies. However, decarbonizing aviation at scale hinges on pragmatic solutions: electric hybrid regional planes, sustainable aviation fuels, and improvements in air traffic management. By pairing visionary prototypes with policy instruments—carbon pricing, emissions standards, and research grants—we can accelerate both innovation and deployment.

Policy and Equity: Sharing the Skies

Ensuring clean aviation benefits all requires transparent, equitable policies. Battery and PV supply chains must respect labor rights and environmental safeguards. Technology transfers to developing nations can foster global adoption rather than limited elite showcase flights. Public-private partnerships, where governments underwrite early risk and communities shape regulatory frameworks, promote inclusive innovation.

Public Engagement and Education: Inspiring the Next Generation

Solar Impulse’s world tour included educational hubs where students interacted with flight engineers and simulators. These outreach efforts demystified advanced technologies, fostering a new generation of engineers and environmental advocates. Museums and virtual reality experiences brought the flight into classrooms across continents, linking theoretical physics to real-world applications and reinforcing that sustainability depends as much on public imagination as on technical prowess.

Future Outlook: Charting the Next Horizon

Today, solar-powered drones maintain communications networks for months at stratospheric altitudes, and startups pursue solar-hybrid designs for passenger aircraft. Key challenges remain: enhancing battery energy density, developing ultralight materials, and scaling manufacturing. Yet each test flight, each simulation, each policy discussion draws us closer to sustainable skies.

CLASSROOM PROMPTS (Upper Grades)

• Science & Engineering: Explain how photovoltaic cells and batteries work together to power solar flight. What are current limits?
• Environmental Studies: Conduct a lifecycle analysis comparing Solar Impulse 2 and a regional jet. Present findings on emissions per passenger-mile.
• Ethics & Society: Debate public funding for prototype technology versus mass-market solutions in addressing climate change.
• Systems Thinking: Diagram the global network—from miners to manufacturers to pilots—that enables a solar circumnavigation mission.

Conclusion: Precision, Patience, and Purpose

Solar Impulse did not end climate change, but it reframed what’s possible. By marrying engineering ingenuity with ethical ambition, it charted a new course for aviation sustainability—one grounded in systems awareness, public engagement, and international cooperation. Flying close to the sun, metaphorically and literally, demands vision, rigor, and humility. As we pursue net-zero flight, Solar Impulse reminds us that our greatest achievements emerge when innovation honors both human aspiration and planetary limits.

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