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| Solar Impulse: Weather threatens Pacific crossing attempt | Solar Impulse: Weather threatens Pacific crossing attempt |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Poor weather conditions could hamper a record-breaking attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean using a solar-powered plane. | Poor weather conditions could hamper a record-breaking attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean using a solar-powered plane. |
| The Solar Impulse craft is a day into what was expected to be a 130-hour journey from China to Hawaii. | The Solar Impulse craft is a day into what was expected to be a 130-hour journey from China to Hawaii. |
| However, meteorologists say the forecast is worsening. | However, meteorologists say the forecast is worsening. |
| They have asked the pilot to stay in a holding pattern while they decide whether he should continue or turn back towards land. | They have asked the pilot to stay in a holding pattern while they decide whether he should continue or turn back towards land. |
| They will reassess the situation at a team briefing at 08:00 GMT Monday. | They will reassess the situation at a team briefing at 08:00 GMT Monday. |
| This is the seventh leg in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe using just the energy of the Sun. | This is the seventh leg in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe using just the energy of the Sun. |
| The experimental craft, which is covered in 17,000 solar cells, took off from Abu Dhabi in March. | The experimental craft, which is covered in 17,000 solar cells, took off from Abu Dhabi in March. |
| The Pacific crossing, however, was always going to be the most challenging part of this epic journey. | The Pacific crossing, however, was always going to be the most challenging part of this epic journey. |
| The team has already had to wait for a month in Nanjing for the right weather conditions to take off. | The team has already had to wait for a month in Nanjing for the right weather conditions to take off. |
| The plane not only needs favourable winds to push forwards, it also needs cloud-free skies during the day to soak up enough energy from the sun to enable it to fly during the night. | The plane not only needs favourable winds to push forwards, it also needs cloud-free skies during the day to soak up enough energy from the sun to enable it to fly during the night. |
| The team's meteorologists thought they had identified a suitable weather window - and the plane set off at 18:39 GMT on Saturday. | The team's meteorologists thought they had identified a suitable weather window - and the plane set off at 18:39 GMT on Saturday. |
| Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg, who is flying solo, had been making good progress, however a weather front could now pose problems. | Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg, who is flying solo, had been making good progress, however a weather front could now pose problems. |
| Solar Impulse's Bertrand Piccard, who has been monitoring the flight from mission control in Monaco, said: "Yesterday we had the possibility to cross the weather front just before Hawaii on day five. | Solar Impulse's Bertrand Piccard, who has been monitoring the flight from mission control in Monaco, said: "Yesterday we had the possibility to cross the weather front just before Hawaii on day five. |
| "However, with the forecasts we now have, we don't see this possibility anymore, which means that for the moment the road to Hawaii is blocked. | "However, with the forecasts we now have, we don't see this possibility anymore, which means that for the moment the road to Hawaii is blocked. |
| "We need all the data from the next weather forecasts, so that our weather experts can analyse what's going to happen in the next four to five days." | "We need all the data from the next weather forecasts, so that our weather experts can analyse what's going to happen in the next four to five days." |
| The plane is currently in a holding pattern over the Sea of Japan. | The plane is currently in a holding pattern over the Sea of Japan. |
| For now, this is the safest thing to do - if the craft flies past a certain point, were anything to go wrong, the pilot would have to bail out into the ocean. | For now, this is the safest thing to do - if the craft flies past a certain point, were anything to go wrong, the pilot would have to bail out into the ocean. |
| 'We have asked Andre to stay where he is: it's fine, the weather is good and the batteries are charging," added Mr Piccard. | 'We have asked Andre to stay where he is: it's fine, the weather is good and the batteries are charging," added Mr Piccard. |
| The team will now have to decide whether to press on with the flight, or abort the attempt and head back to land to await clearer skies. | The team will now have to decide whether to press on with the flight, or abort the attempt and head back to land to await clearer skies. |
| The fear is that further delays could have an impact on the later stages of the flight. | The fear is that further delays could have an impact on the later stages of the flight. |
| Ideally, the team needs to cross the United States, and then the Atlantic, before the hurricane season starts to peak in August. | Ideally, the team needs to cross the United States, and then the Atlantic, before the hurricane season starts to peak in August. |
| LEG 1: 9 March. Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Muscat (Oman) - 772km; in 13 hours and 1 minute | |
| LEG 2: 10 March. Muscat (Oman) to Ahmedabad (India) - 1,593km; in 15 hours and 20 minutes | |
| LEG 3: 18 March. Ahmedabad (India) to Varanasi (India) - 1,170km; in 13 hours and 15 minutes | |
| LEG 4: 18 March. Varanasi (India) to Mandalay (Myanmar) - 1,536km; in 13 hours and 29 minutes | |
| LEG 5: 29 March. Mandalay (Myanmar) to Chongqing (China) - 1,450km; in 20 hours and 29 minutes | |
| LEG 6: 21 April. Chongqing (China) to Nanjing (China) - 1,241km; in 17 hours and 22 minutes |
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