The European Space Agency will be supplying technology to assist adventurer Bertrand Piccard’s attempt to fly a solar-powered plane around the world. Piccard was part of the team that successfully flew a balloon around the Earth. The solar powered plane will have a 70-metre wingspan (larger than a Boeing 747), and carry enough batteries to be able to fly in the night as well. The plane would fly at an altitude of 10 km; well above the clouds to capture all the available sunlight. The first round-the-world attempt will be made some time after 2009.