DRDO flies home-grown stratospheric airship to 21 km
India has flown a home-grown airship to the edge of space. The DRDO tested its High-Altitude Platform System, taking it to 21 kilometres above mean sea level.
The lighter-than-air platform is a kind of pseudo-satellite. It floats high above commercial planes and weather systems. It can watch a large area for long periods.
During the flight, it held about 20 km for more than 30 minutes. Real-time video and flight data reached the ground control station. It carried a GPS receiver, cameras, and an altitude control system.
The trial was done with the Indian Air Force, CEMILAC, the DGCA, and the Airports Authority of India. The platform was recovered safely after the flight.
The system is being built by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra. Such platforms can support surveillance, telecom, and disaster monitoring.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams. He called it an important step towards a long-endurance stratospheric airship for India.
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