China successfully tests first solar-powered drone for near-the-earth space

China has tested an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for near-the-earth space Qimingxing-50 (QMX-50).The UAV is powered by solar batteries, reports TASS citing the Xinhua news agency. The QMX-50, a large-scale two-body, near-space UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), took off near the city of Yuilin (Shaanxi province) in the northwest of the country and successfully landed after a 26-minute flight.

By the way, this is the first low-speed, two-fuselage, near-space UAV, and the first UAV that is fully solar-powered by solar batteries created by AVIC.