As the flight to Ouarzazate becomes more and more a possibility, André Borschberg and Solar Impulse’s ground operations coordinator, Tahan Pangaribuan took the situation in hand and chose to launch a reconnaissance mission to “experience” local weather conditions. Why “experience „you might ask? Because the duo will literally place lounge chair on the runway of Ouarzazate airport and absorb the beauty of the desert’s starry night.

It might sound like a rudimental meteorological forecasting system, but in this case it is essential as the HB-SIA will be faced with never-before experienced climatic challenges. As in every mission, Solar Impulse has the fortune of having an experienced and professional team of meteorologists carefully analyzing each segment of a planned flight. But given Ouarzazate’s desert-like conditions such as strong thermal currents, thunderstorms and strong winds, it will be a new and exciting challenge for the HB-SIA.

Nonetheless, to ensure that these frequent climate variations are manageable, aside from lounging in the moonlight, André and Tahan met with local meteorologists, collecting valuable information necessary to fine-tune the models provided by the Solar Impulse team.  

The importance of flying to Morocco’s Western Ouarzazate region, home of what will be the world’s largest thermo-solar power plant, is filled with symbolism. The symbolism is related to the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) and Solar Impulse’s common message: to invest in innovative projects today for a better and cleaner world tomorrow.

It would be a wonderful achievement to add this succulent cherry on top of the Crossing Frontiers 2012 mission; let’s see if the arduous conditions will placate to our wishes in the name of innovation.

Stay tuned!