Solar-powered plane

Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg flies in the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane during its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport, Switzerland. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg performs a low altitude go-round procedure with the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype aircraft during a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane is being prepared for a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
German test pilot Markus Scherdel, steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne, Switzerland. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg lands the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype at Cointrin International airport in Geneva, September 21, 2010. The plane landed for the first time at a commercial airport, causing air traffic to he halted for 20 minutes to avoid turbulence. (REUTERS)
German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne air base. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg flies the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane at sunrise during the plane's first night flight attempt near Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane stands still after its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
German test pilot Markus Scherdel, steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight in front of the Swiss Alps. (REUTERS)
German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers the solar-powered Solar Impulse HB-SIA prototype airplane during his first flight over Payerne. (REUTERS)
Staff members move the Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered prototype airplane on the tarmac before a test flight at Payerne airport, Switzerland April 11, 2011. The Solar Impulse HB-SIA, which has 12,000 solar cells built into its 64.3-meter (193-foot) wings, is a prototype for an aircraft that its creators hope will carry out its first circumnavigation of the globe from 2012. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane test pilot Markus Scherdel of Germany arrives for a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
Test pilot Markus Scherdel of Germany attempts to land in the Solar Impulse's solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane during a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg steers the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype during a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)
Solar Impulse's Chief Executive Officer and pilot Andre Borschberg performs a low altitude go-round procedure with the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype aircraft during a test flight at Payerne airport. (REUTERS)