# How This Pilot Survived The Longest Solo Flight EVER! Solar Impulse 2 #25

- Show: [Hard Tech Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast)
- Published: 2024-10-25
- Length: 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/hardtechpodcast/1720219

## Summary

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, the creators of Solar Impulse 2, explain how they engineered a solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe without fuel. The episode details the extreme lightweight design using carbon fiber and foam, the integration of 17,000 solar cells, and the critical battery management system that allowed for day-night flight cycles. It highlights the human endurance challenges faced by pilots, including cockpit insulation and sleep management, and the technical failure of overheated batteries during the Pacific crossing that required a major repair delay.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=0) Introduction: Solar Impulse 2 and the Vision of Zero-Emission Flight
- [0:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=46) Aircraft Design: Carbon Fiber, Solar Cells, and Aerodynamics
- [0:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=46) Energy Management: Solar Cells, Batteries, and Flight Cycles
- [5:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=339) Pilot Endurance: Cockpit Environment, Insulation, and Human Factors
- [8:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=516) The Pacific Crossing: Battery Failure and Mission Risks
- [10:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-25-how-this-pilot-survived-the-longest-solo-flight-ever-solar-impulse-2-25#t=625) Repairs, Delays, and the Successful Completion of the Flight

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Solar Impulse 2 (product)
- Bertrand Piccard (other)
- Andre Borschberg (other)
- R.J. Boucher (other)

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- [39. The EV You’ll Never Have To Charge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-10-12-39-the-ev-youll-never-have-to-charge) (The Next Byte Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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