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Sceye's Stratospheric Airship Completes Round-Trip Flight to Japan, Tests Cell Tower Concept
Key points
- Sceye's airship flew from New Mexico to Japan and back in 2026.
- The airship operates at 60,000 feet, above air traffic.
- It functions as a stratospheric cell phone tower.
- The platform uses helium, electric propulsion, solar panels, and batteries.
Trans-Pacific Flight Achieved
Sceye, an aerospace company based in New Mexico, completed a round-trip flight of its uncrewed stratospheric airship from New Mexico to Japan and back. This journey occurred over a month between August and September 2026. The flight's primary objective was to demonstrate the airship's potential as a high-altitude cell phone tower.
Airship Technology and Operation
The Sceye platform uses helium for buoyancy and an electric-powered propeller for active propulsion, allowing it to maintain position over a specific location for extended periods. It operates at approximately 60,000 feet, placing it above typical air traffic and the jet stream, yet significantly closer to the ground than low-Earth orbit satellites. The airship is powered by top-mounted solar panels and onboard batteries, enabling continuous operation through day and night cycles.
Strategic Positioning for Connectivity
Mikkel Frandsen, founder and CEO of Sceye, stated that the airship's stratospheric altitude allows it to remain over an operational area while being 30 times closer than low-Earth orbit satellites. This positioning is intended to provide persistent connectivity, with the airship maintaining its altitude and location as batteries recharge during daylight hours.
Development History
Sceye began testing smaller prototypes in 2016. The company achieved stratospheric flight with a 215-foot (65-meter) version in 2021. The airship used for the trans-Pacific flight is an updated version, measuring 270 feet (83 meters) in length.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Sceye, a US aerospace company, successfully completed a round-trip flight from New Mexico to Japan with its uncrewed stratospheric airship between August and September 2026. This flight demonstrated the airship's capability to function as a high-altitude cell phone tower, operating at 60,000 feet, above air traffic and the jet stream, and closer than low-Earth orbit satellites.