Scientists developing multipurpose stratospheric airships

Chinese scientists are developing a family of high altitude airships that can help with Earth observation, maritime monitoring and communication signal relays.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences are working on the stratospheric airships, so-called because they are capable of conducting long-term operations in the stratosphere - the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of 20 to 50 km.

According to the academy's development plan for the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), which lists 140 research and development priorities, researchers are to develop key technologies and techniques for controllable stratospheric airships and perform flight tests before the end of 2020.