High Altitude Platform Stations: A Novel Earth Observation Technique from the Stratosphere

High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) are an emerging technology solution for Earth Observation that are beginning to reach fruition. Operating for weeks at a time in the lower stratosphere (~ 20 km, 65,000 ft), the solar-powered long endurance aircraft provide a transformative ability to monitor areas of interest at unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. At these improved resolutions, HAPS provide a significant advantage over satellite-based sensors and have a broad range of scientific and operational applications. Large-scale deployment of HAPS technology will revolutionise Earth Sciences with direct benefit to any science question attempting to improve understanding of Earth-surface system processes. Key industry applications include environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, forestry, smart cities and atmospheric sounding. The technology could play a critical operational role in advancing maritime domain awareness and disaster response.

At Kea Aerospace we are currently conducting flight operations with our Mk1 Kea Atmos aircraft capable of stratospheric flight to an optimal altitude of ~50,000 ft. The Mk1 has a 12.5 m wingspan and can deploy a 2.5 kg payload, with a 200L x 200W x 300H mm volume. The average payload power consumption will influence the mission profile and thermal control requirements with power availability mission and payload specific. We aim to deploy optical hyperspectral, synthetic aperture radar and atmospheric sampling instrumentation with key scientific and industry partners including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and German Aerospace Center (DLR).

We present preliminary findings from our Mk1 flight test programme in New Zealand and an overview of our future aspirations and upcoming Mk2 stratospheric long endurance aircraft programme.