| Helios Prototype | |
|---|---|
| |
| Helios Prototype in flight | |
| Role | Unmanned aerial vehicle |
| Manufacturer | AeroVironment |
| First flight | September 8, 1999 |
| Status | Destroyed in 2003 |
| Primary user | NASA ERAST Program |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | NASA Pathfinder, Pathfinder Plus and NASA Centurion |
The Helios Prototype was the fourth and final aircraft developed as part of an evolutionary series of solar- and fuel-cell-system-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. AeroVironment, Inc. developed the vehicles under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. They were built to develop the technologies that would allow long-term, high-altitude aircraft to serve as atmospheric satellites, to perform atmospheric research tasks as well as serve as communications platforms.[1] It was developed from the NASA Pathfinder and NASA Centurion aircraft.