High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS)
Published on 18 Feb 2025
• CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has successfully tested a prototype of High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS).
• HAPS also called high-altitude long-endurance vehicles (HALE) is a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can potentially remain in the air for months or years.
• HAPS moves very slowly (80-100kmph) compared to other flying objects allowing it to observe a certain area for a long time.
• The Indian prototype has now been tested for 8.5hrs.
• HAPS operates in the stratosphere, flying at altitudes of 18-20 km, nearly double the heights of commercial aeroplanes.
• Unlike regular satellites that are expensive to build and launch and cannot be repurposed, HAPS cost far less and are easier to launch and can be redeployed to any location.
• HAPS is solar powered compared to the battery powered UAVs which are useful for a shorter duration and a shorter elevation.
• The increased altitude allows them to provide surveillance capabilities akin to satellites.
• Compared to ground based communication networks, HAPS can cover larger areas with less interference
• Challenges of it being a developing technology, need to be lightweight, with energy dense batteries, endure almost -50 degree temperature and low air density remain.