The SolarStratos, with its wingspan adorned with 237 square feet of solar panels, is to become the first manned stratospheric flight in a solar plane. The plane, resembling something between a fighter jet and a futuristic spacecraft, can hold two passengers. Its also incredibly light-- to diminish gravitational pull and avoid excess weight, Domjan will wear a pressurized suit akin to an astronauts (unlike typical models, Domjans will also run on solar power).

Domjan currently holds the Guinness World Record for the first round-the-world journey on a solar-powered boat, during a voyage conducted in 2012. His next initiative comes soon after a landmark achievement by his compatriots, Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, who were the first to circumnavigate the globe in a solar plane. Their vehicle, the Solar Impulse 2, completed a 26,700 mile lap around the world in a mere 23 days.

SolarStratos will commence its flight testing in February, with medium altitude flights on schedule for next summer. The maiden voyage to the stratosphere-- a trip that will take in total 5 hours-- should take place in 2018.

Though he personally aims for the edge of the atmosphere, Domjan insists the concept is brimming with potential for applications closer to home.

œ[It] opens the door to the possibility of electric and solar commercial aviation, close to space.

Atmospheric graphic from NOAA

Image from Phys.org