Photo Gallery Flying Close to the Sun
Bertrand Piccard has been working on a solar-powered plane for almost a decade and hopes to fly it around the world in 2013. This prototype, called Solar Impulse, recently completed a number of test flights.
"The message is the important thing," Piccard told SPIEGEL ONLINE in an interview. "It is only because of this project that people listen to me when I speak about the things that matter to me."
André Borschberg is one of Piccard's associates on the project. Borschberg has already undertaken a flight in the plane, which has a wingspan of 63.4 meters.
The Solar Impulse during its fifth test flight in May 2010: "We utilize technologies that you can use in your house, your car or wherever," says Piccard.
Solar Impulse CEO Andre Borschberg celebrates after his first flight in the aircraft.
Piccard and his team plan to fly around the world in five stages in 2013.
The Solar Impulse in flight: "I want to make sure that the people out there follow our adventure and understand that they can save energy and that they can use alternative power sources -- just like we do," says Piccard.
