This whole thing absolutely baffles me.
The concept of the stratellite was a lighter than air vehicle which would reach about 65,000ft and stay there for periods up to 18 months, powered by photovoltaic cells driving electric motors. It was to be capable of carrying a payload large enough to accommodate batteries for nighttime power plus the control and communications systems. Seemed plain enough, or so I thought.
Now we have this wiggly worm with one lifting segment and 3 parts with neutral buoyancy which apparently act like tenders behind an old locomotive. So a 230ft (70M) long snaky strat only has a lifting segment about a 57ft long, and a pretty slim looking one at that. Doesn't look to me like it will carry much to altitude. I guess they said 100 pounds. . . . . .
Now it is to be powered by a combustion engine or engines which isn't exactly likely to keep it up there for 18 months, maybe 18 days if the wind doesn't blow too hard, who knows? Now, I'm sure Dr. Kröplin is a smart fellow, but somehow this thing is looking more like something Rube Goldberg came up with, the technical challenges keep increasing with each day that goes by. I hope it has more promise than it looks to me rigth now, I really do.
AI
