SolarStratos is proud to announce a new partnership with Bitcoin Suisse who joins the eco-adventure led by pilot and eco-explorer, Raphaël Domjan, to reach the stratosphere in an aircraft powered solely by solar energy. Bitcoin Suisse, the Swiss crypto-finance pioneer and market leader, will support SolarStratos in its mission to pave the way for the future of aviation. Both SolarStratos and Bitcoin Suisse tell the story of «thinking beyond» by pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of technology and exploration.
Raphaël Domjan flies SolarStratos solo for the first time
After much anticipation, this crucial stage of the project became a reality on the 2nd of September when Raphaël Domjan flew SolarStratos solo for the first time.
The 30-minutes solo flight was the result of weeks of hard work by the technical team and was also in large part thanks to the experience and advice of our test pilot, Miguel A. Iturmendi. At the flight debrief, Raphaël declared himself: “Happy to have been able to fly SolarStratos alone for the first time !” And he wholeheartedly thanked the technical team and test pilot: “The weather has not spared us so far, so now we are flying as much as we can to continue with the tests. This aircraft has great potential, and we are making progress every day. Thank you to the technical team and our test pilot, who are doing an incredible job so that I can fly,” he said.
During the 2021 flight campaign, Raphaël Domjan is scheduled to fly SolarStratos solo four times.
A Partners’ evening to remember!
The Annual SolarStratos Partners’ Evening gathers loyal friends and partners at the Payerne base giving Raphaël Domjan and the team an opportunity to thank all those that support the project. And while, like 2020, this year’s event was hosted against the backdrop of a pandemic and an uncertain economic situation, our partners nevertheless remain unwavering in their support for this incredible adventure. For that we offer all our partners a huge thank you !
In a happy coincidence, the weather cooperated and Raphaël was able to perform a solo flight for the partners attending. They watched from the Payerne airport terrace before welcoming Raphaël back to terra firma and getting his impressions first-hand.
Flying at 12,000 feet !
Pilot, Raphaël Domjan and test pilot, Miguel A. Iturmendi took SolarStratos higher than any other multi-seat solar aircraft powered solely by photovoltaic solar energy has ever been ! Having notched up several flights of 10,000ft and now one of 12,000ft, this is yet another step towards conquering the stratosphere.
A successful 2021 flight campaign
The 2021 flight campaign has spanned three months and included 24 flights (43 total since the test pilot arrived in 2020) enabling the SolarStratos team to keep to the forecast schedule. The campaign has included a high number of test flights, some solo flights by Raphaël, plus some high-altitude flights and a round of spacesuit tests. Thanks to the hard work of an incredible team, the 2021 flight campaign has been a marked success.
We would like to offer our special thanks to our loyal partners, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Swiss Aeropole, the Payerne military airfield, Skyguide, Elektrasolar and to all those who support and help us. Without you our solar adventure would not be possible.
A Head of State flies electric for the first time
On Tuesday 14th September 2021, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco became the first Head of State to fly electric when he flew on board the ElektroPostal team’s Pipistrel Velis, accompanied by Raphaël Domjan, our pilot.
Raphaël and the Monegasque monarch took off from Nice-Côte d’Azur airport for a thirty-minute flight without CO2 emissions or noise over the Principality.
On alighting from the plane, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was delighted with the flight: “It is fantastic to be able to fly without emitting CO2. The development of electric aviation must continue so that tomorrow’s commercial flights regularly incorporate this type of renewable energy.”
Raphaël Domjan, for his part, was smiling broadly: “It was a bit stressful, but this first flight by a Head of State in an electric plane sends a strong message to the leaders of the world. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco has paved the way for the world’s Heads of State to take note of the possibilities of electric aviation. I hope that this flight will make them aware of this new mode of travel without CO2 emissions and that other Heads of State will follow.”
First flight using the space suit!
Despite very little sunlight, SolarStratos is back in the air and flying with Raphaël Domjan at the controls of the aircraft under the close supervision of test pilot, Miguel A. Iturmendi. Between them, they have completed more than 10 test flights this year, two of which have lasted over an hour.
Raphaël wore the special space suit designed by our Russian partner, Zvezda, for the first time in flight this summer, and although the suit was not pressurised, it was a great opportunity to familiarise himself with the clothing that will protect him from extreme temperatures when he reaches the stratosphere. The trial went without a hitch!
“I am very happy to have been able to test the space suit in flight. Of course, I will need to get used to wearing it; the feeling and mobility of your arms, hands and legs is quite different, but the team always does such an incredible job of allowing us to evolve with every flight. It’s awesome!”
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- SolarStratos – Raphaël Domjan, pilot. Payerne, Switzerland, 17.08.2021 © Fred Merz | Lundi13
Raphaël supports the Swiss Solar Boat team
As godfather to the Swiss Solar Boat team, Raphaël travelled to Monaco this summer, to congratulate the EPFL and HEIG-VD collaboration for their second place at the International Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge. It was a great opportunity for our eco explorer to convey the support of the PlanetSolar Foundation and to return to the principality that hosted the departure and subsequent return of the pioneering catamaran during its first solar-powered circumnavigation.
For more information, please go to the Swiss Solar Boat website: https://swisssolarboat.ch
De St-Exupéry flies electric
History is beautiful and it is being written now! For the first time, Hervé de St-Exupéry, grandnephew of Antoine, and a writer, poet, and aviator in his own right, flew onboard an electric aircraft, accompanied by Raphaël Domjan, who is a big fan of Le Petit Prince! It was a special moment for Raphaël who grew up on the stories of Antoine de St-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince and which gave him his passion for flying, ever higher and ever further.
Raphaël Domjan and SolarStratos become social media stars!
The July edition of L’Illustré featured a ‘best of Instagram’ story that published a photo from Raphaël’s Instagram account of Raphaël and Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, attending the Viva Technology Show earlier this year.
Don’t miss a moment of our extraordinary adventure, join us on social media! Even our social media platforms are solar powered, as we use the hosting site that was created by Raphaël and Alexis Domjan 20 years ago, called horus.ch!
Follow us: @SolarStratos
Fly with us – LIVE!
The SolarStratos team has a Mission Control Centre located at the heart of the operational base in Payerne fitted out with a LIVE Cockpit so that the team can follow the progress of the aircraft in flight.
This LIVE Cockpit is now available to all via our website: www.solastratos.com. Please feel free to come and experience solar powered flight in real time!
A solid partnership with Marti Arc Jura!
Welcome onboard to Marti Arc Jura, who joins our solar adventure as an Official Supplier! We are delighted to have the support of this subsidiary of the Marti Group that was founded 100 years ago in Bern and whose philosophy is to maintain lasting relationships with all its service providers and its environment.
Marti Arc Jura has dared to innovate and invest in ecological techniques and technologies for many years. They built the first concrete solar plant in Switzerland, and they recover and recycle materials to provide products that are more environmentally conscious. These values unite us to meet the challenge of the transition to solar energy.
In the early morning, the project is moving forward. We are proud to announce that SolarStratos has resumed its flight and that the adventure continues! Stay tuned all summer long!
New Main Partner
Longines and SolarStratos are proud to announce a new alliance that names Longines Main Partner and Official Timekeeper of the eco-adventure. Driven from the outset by a pioneering spirit, the company based in Saint-Imier in Switzerland, has developed watches that through their reliability, precision, solidity, and the technologies used, have contributed to the success of a number of exploits. As SolarStratos embarks on a series of high-altitude flights, having Longines’ support in the conquest of the stratosphere using solar energy is invaluable.
Recognised for the reliability of its precision instruments, the winged hourglass brand has accompanied exploration missions to the final frontiers, faced extreme weather conditions, sailed rough seas, and participated in the opening of airways and in setting aviation records. Legendary aviators and explorers, such as Amelia Earhart, Paul-Emile Victor, Elinor Smith, and Howard Hugues, all placed their trust in Longines during their journeys.
Today, Longines remains faithful to its pioneering spirit in teaming up with Raphaël Domjan, the man behind the SolarStratos Mission, and holder of several records achieved using solar energy. The eco-explorer and pilot is delighted with the new partnership with Longines: “We are happy that Longines, a brand that has accompanied so many legendary adventurers in their exploits, is now Main Partner of the SolarStratos odyssey!”
For Matthias Breschan, CEO of Longines, getting involved in a project such as SolarStratos is innovative and full of promise for the new generations: “We want to encourage future generations to surpass themselves, because being a pioneer is above all a state of mind and that is still the case today. Bringing together courage and mental strength makes it possible to overcome obstacles and push back frontiers. We are very happy to be part of this magnificent solar adventure.”
SolarStratos would like to thank Longines for their trust and support and looks forward to continuing the eco-adventure alongside them.
We would also like to thank all of our other loyal partners, without whom, our eco-adventure would not be possible.
Press release
Longines website
Viva Technology Paris
For four days in June (16-19), the SolarStratos team relocated to Paris to participate in the Viva Technology event, hosted at the Palais des Expositions in Porte de Versailles. The gathering provided a great opportunity to present the project to all sorts of personalities from the political sphere, in particular, Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris and Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, French Minister of Transport.
The team was also able to present SolarStratos to a number of eco-adventurers, such as, Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss scholar and explorer and Patrice Franceschi, a French writer and adventurer. An invitation to fly the simulator with Raphaël Domjan rounded of the experience and a good time was had by all.
The Birth of a Dream – Part 1
“The Birth of a Dream”, a documentary directed by Stéphane Chopard that tells the story of our eco-adventure from its very beginning, right up until today, was broadcast on RTS 2 a few days ago.
The team, the partners, the innovation, the technology, the ambition, the emotions… The documentary brings together all the elements that make up SolarStratos and presents them in 52 minutes that will make you dream big.
Thank you to the director, as well as all those who contributed to the production and made it possible to film such exceptional images behind the scenes of this great adventure.
Link to the documentary (Available for a limited time only)
Raphaël Domjan on France Télévisions
Our eco-explorer was invited to contribute to the “We Europeans” show on the topic of electric aviation and its potential for evolution.
You can watch the France 3 broadcast here
Alan and Raphaël unite for a good cause
They share a common passion: adventure. And they are the first to lend their support whenever they can.
Alan Roura and Raphaël Domjan recently joined forces for a 7km trip through Lavaux in support of the ELA Association (European Leukodystrophy Association). This was carried out in collaboration with PEMSA, our loyal partner.
Summer is here!
Raphaël Domjan and the SolarStratos team wish you a beautiful sunny summer!
Longines and SolarStratos are proud to announce their collaboration, making Longines the Official Partner and Timekeeper of this unique adventure. Driven by a pioneering spirit since its beginnings, the Swiss watchmaking brand has always produced watches and instruments that have contribute to the success of various exploits, thanks to their reliability, accuracy and original technology. With the high-flying debute of SolarStratos, Longines’ support in the new eco-exploration makes it the ideal partner for conquering the the stratosphere with solar energy.
Discover our solar adventure SolarStratos in the documentary “La naissance d’un rêve”, scheduled on RTS2, Sunday 20th of June at 22:10 and available on PlayRTS from 13th of June to 19th of July 2021.
We thank all our partners for their support. We also thank Stéphane Chopard and Eric Beaufils for having perfectly succeeded, through this documentary, in retracing this incredible story!
Our test pilot returns
Our test pilot, Miguel A. Iturmendi, is back in Payerne and his welcome return means that we can resume our 2021 training campaign!
The year is packed with prospects, but our primary objective is to prepare Raphaël Domjan to fly SolarStratos solo.
Live from the Mission Control Centre
In what is an exciting development, our team can now monitor SolarStratos live from a Mission Control Centre installed at the base in Payerne. The telemetry-based system was designed in what has been a very successful collaboration between partners, Switch Production SA, and our technical team, Alexis and Yvan.
The system allows us to monitor the data that the pilot sees in his cockpit, in real time. Data on engine power and control, battery charge and voltage, are now shared directly between the aircraft and the base. This is a mandatory and undeniably positive step forward in terms of the coordination and management of future medium and high-altitude flights.
It’s all in the details!
SolarStratos has been fitted with wheel hubcaps; they provide an improvement in terms of aerodynamics, and they look good!
Success at EXPLORiT
SolarStratos, and the simulator in particular, is causing quite a stir at the new EXPLORiT centre located at the heart of the Y-Parc in Yverdon-les-Bains, with crowds of visitors keen to experience solar flight.
Over the course of three evening events, Raphaël Domjan and the team have welcomed the PlanetSolar Foundation and SolarStratos partners, sharing with them the opportunity to discover the exhibition and to present, in preview, the film ‘The Birth of a Dream’.
Digital communication
Raphaël Domjan has always said: “SolarStratos is a communication tool that makes it possible to highlight the potential of solar energy, aviation and the mobility of tomorrow.” With this in mind, and in view of the ongoing development of the project, an increased social media presence is essential.
To this end, SolarStratos is implementing a new approach focused primarily on digitalisation. The implementation of a new strategy, created in collaboration with the company, Up To You, will increase SolarStratos’ presence across digital platforms with the objective of boosting its message and ultimately, increasing its visibility and that of its partners. The aim is to develop a fun and dynamic audience that can identify with energy transition and the solar challenge.
The emphasis on digital communication further strengthens the institutional communications already in place.
Come and find us on:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube
New website
On the 3rd of May, SolarStratos will launch its new website created in collaboration with new partner, communications agency Diabolo Design. The new look site will be more intuitive and adapted to current needs. It will also allow for easier navigation. There will be competitions, and the chance to fly virtually with SolarStratos, plus information on the team and all the latest news on the eco-adventure.
Film preview
Following the relaxation of pandemic health measures in Switzerland, SolarStratos was able to publicly air a preview of the documentary about the project at the new Explorit centre located at the heart of the Y-Parc in Yverdon-les-Bains.
This was an opportunity for guests to discover the area within the centre dedicated to SolarStratos and the PlanetSolar Foundation, and to watch the 52-minute documentary called ‘The Birth of a Dream’ that tells the story of the SolarStratos Mission from the inside out. The film is directed by Stéphane Chopard and produced by the Gédéon team.
Flying electric!
As part of a programme about innovation in Europe by France Télévisions, a TV crew recently shadowed Raphaël Domjan during his preparations and training. The two-day shoot coincided with our pilot introducing an airline pilot to electric aviation and executing a successful parachute training jump.
The flight took an educational turn as Raphaël introduced Patrick Senn, an experienced airline pilot, to the possibilities of electric aviation. It was a wonderful flight and a great opportunity for an exchange of ideas between two pilots and friends.
For the parachute jump, Raphaël was accompanied by Géraldine Fasnacht, a wingsuit pilot in her own right and the SolarStratos in-flight safety manager. The two enjoyed an incredible tandem jump from a Heli-Lausanne helicopter with the city of Lausanne and Lake Geneva as a backdrop.
The fuselage comes home
Having passed the load test, the upgraded fuselage is back in Payerne and the team is busy reassembling the plane and preparing it for the first round of test flights scheduled for April.
To begin with, SolarStratos will undergo low- and then high-speed taxi tests with the solar panels connected, before taking off armed with a new permit to fly issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.
An even bigger and better welcome!
During the winter, the SolarStratos team spent time improving the interior of the Payerne hanger to make the base even more welcoming to visitors.
The team has increased the visibility of partners and sponsors who support the eco-adventure on a daily basis by making their branding much more prominent and outside, they have installed electric vehicle charging terminals courtesy of official supplier, Green Motion.
Thank you so much Green Motion for your unwavering support!
Mission Control Center
A Mission Control Centre was planned from the very beginning of the SolarStratos eco-adventure and against the backdrop of last year’s successful flights and in view of the forthcoming resumption of regular flights, the time has come to launch it.
Positioned at the centre of operations at the Payerne base, the Mission Control Centre will allow the flight management and technical teams to follow the SolarStratos flights in real time.
The Mission Control Centre is portable and is fully equipped for operational flight management, with two 65” screens and a virtual cockpit.
Voiture aux couleurs de SolarStratos
Thanks to our official supplier, the Leuba Group, Raphaël Domjan is driving a new Mercedes EQA 250 (rechargeable electric / plug-in), branded SolarStratos!
A huge thank you to the management of Leuba Group for your unconditional support!
