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It isn’t a UFO, it’s a space-age car

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10.08.2004

The world’s fastest solar-powered car is being driven through Sweden and Norway. Nuna 2 begins its journey on 14 August in Oslo and completes it on 21 August in Kiruna. It will primarily be driven on the E4, and will stop in Gothenburg, Linköping, Stockholm, Uppsala, Luleå, Kiruna, Narvik, and Andenäs.

There is also the possibility of short stops in other locations. “Journalists and photographers will also be able to take a look at the car at other locations near the route. Just call me and we’ll stop at an agreed location along the way,” says Rosita Suenson, ESA’s project manager for Nuna’s journey through Sweden.

The car was made with the help of space technology and can reach a top speed of 170 km/h. Nuna 2 is powered by solar energy and is covered entirely by solar cell panels. “Space research and space technology have driven technical development forward in several areas, and the knowledge can be re-used in new contexts on Earth. Nuna 2 is a project that can illustrate and serve as an inspiration for new applications of space technology,” says Johan Marcopoulos, Information Officer, Swedish National Space Board (SNSB).

By travelling 3010 km in 31 hours and five minutes, Nuna 2 won the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2003. The car was built and driven by students from Delft University in The Netherlands. In Sweden, students from the Civil Engineering Programme in Space Technology in Kiruna, one of many space programmes in Sweden, are also participating.

“Sweden is quite advanced in the field of space research and space technology. Swedish researchers take part in most of our projects. Therefore we think that Sweden is an important country to visit with Nuna 2,” says Rosita Suenson.

Remco Niggebrugge | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.esa.int

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