Aviation News – AALTO HAPS, an Airbus subsidiary, has announced plans to build its second global launch and landing site in northern Australia to deploy its record-breaking Zephyr solar-powered aircraft. The move aims to establish a “Stratospace” ecosystem that provides critical dual-use services, including communications relay and earth observation, for both commercial and government sectors.
The announcement was made during NT Defence Week in Darwin, where AALTO revealed its commercial roadmap to partners and research institutions. The company has selected northern Australia as a primary site—referred to as an AALTOPORT—due to its proximity to the equator and ideal atmospheric conditions, which complement its existing base in Kenya. This strategic expansion follows the Zephyr’s recent milestone of 67 days of continuous flight, much of which took place within Australian airspace to test connectivity and sensor payloads.
The Zephyr operates as a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), functioning effectively as a “tower in the sky” at altitudes of approximately 70,000 feet. Weighing just 75kg with a 25-meter wingspan, the ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber aircraft stays aloft for months using solar radiation during the day and high-efficiency batteries at night. This persistent presence allows it to bridge the gap between ground-based infrastructure and satellites, offering low-latency connectivity and high-resolution imaging without the immense costs associated with space launches.
