The Solar Impulse team will participate in MASENs commencement of construction activities in the Ouarzazate region of what will be the worlds largest thermo-solar power plant. Of a capacity of 160 MW, the plant is part of Moroccos energy plan whose goal is to build, by 2020, five solar parks with the capacity of 2000 megawatts, reducing CO2 emission of 3,7 million tons. Solar Impulse supports this pioneering project which is in line with its own message and its philosophy of renewable energies.
The first leg of the trip, which was piloted by André Borschberg, will now be relayed to Bertrand Piccard in their mission to complete the challenge without precedents of flying for over 2'500km without a drop of fuel. The aircraft will take-off tomorrow 5 June 2012 from the Madrid-Barajas airport (Spain) at 05:30 am (UTC+2) ascending at an altitude of 3'600 meters in direction of Seville. The HB-SIA will then cross the Gibraltar strait over the Mediterranean at an altitude of 8'500 meters around 06:00 pm (UTC +2) entering Moroccan airspace via Tangier in the direction of Rabat (Morocco). The prototype is expected to land in Rabat-Salé international airport on Tuesday June 5 sometime from 11:00 PM (UTC+1) airport avoiding the peak of international air traffic.
Official events for youth and adult audiences, seminars and conferences organized by MASEN will take place throughout the week in Rabat. Furthermore, photos and videos of the event will be posted daily on Solar Impulse website and the blog will be updated regularly.
Although the flight has been confirmed, the Flight Director may still decide to postpone it or alter the route up to a short time before takeoff. Track the Crossing Frontiers Flights 2012 on the Internet and via the Solar Impulse app.
During the Crossing Frontiers Flights, each flight can be tracked live on www.solarimpulse.com as well as via Twitter (for André or Bertrand), Solar Impulses Facebook page, Masens Facebook page and via the Smartphone app Solar Impulse Inventing the Future, available free on Appstore and Google Play.
The airplanes position, altitude and speed will be shown live and cameras fitted inside the cockpit and at Mission Control Center, the missions nerve center, will allow you to experience the adventure live thanks to the satellite communication system developed by Solar Impulses « National Telecom Partner », Swisscom.
