NEWS – National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru completed the first test of a solar-powered high-altitude pseudo satellite vehicle

HIGH-ALTITUDE PSEUDO SATELLITE VEHICLE:

• New-age unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
• Benefit India’s surveillance and monitoring capabilities in the border areas
• Still-developing technology – among a very small group of countries
• Features
  • Height – 18-20 km
  • Ability to generate solar power.
  • Remain in the air for months – advantages of a satellite.
  • Less cost of operating
  • Usually placed at least 200 km from the Earth
• Applications – disaster situations + mobile communications networks in remote areas + continuous surveillance of border areas