«Think Beyond»

Bitcoin Suisse is proud to partner with SolarStratos, a unique aviation-technology venture on a manned mission to be the first to reach the stratosphere in a vehicle powered solely by solar energy from 2023. Putting this vision into reality would mark a milestone in the history of solar mobility. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of technology and space exploration, SolarStratos “thinks beyond”. As a crypto-finance pioneer with a legacy going back to 2013, this spirit speaks to the heart of Bitcoin Suisse. With this partnership Bitcoin Suisse kicks-off a new era of «Think Beyond» for the Swiss pioneer brand.

SolarStratos, based in Payerne, Switzerland, is a one-of-a-kind, groundbreaking technology and eco-venture that aims to accomplish a historic first in aviation history: To reach the stratosphere with a two-seated, exclusively solar powered aircraft. The Swiss non-profit is led by Raphaël Domjan, Swiss explorer and pioneer in solar mobility, and a team of pilots, engineers, and scientists. In pursuing its mission, SolarStratos paves the way for a clean energy future and demonstrates the huge, untapped potential of the sun as a source of energy. The venture is building on a series of historical milestones, including Raphaël Domjan’s first circling of the earth with a solar boat in 2012 (cf. PlanetSolar), or Bertrand Piccard’s first flight around the world with a solar aircraft in 2016 (cf. Solar Impulse). Driven by a pioneering spirit, SolarStratos combines technology, science, sustainability, and innovation with an exciting, tangible vision.

A technical and human challenge that will last about six hours (3 hours of ascent to get close to space, 15 minutes head in the stars, then 3 hours to come back down to earth). The aircraft and its pilot will be subjected to extreme temperatures, in the region of -70°C.

Solarstratos is propelled by a double electric motor (2 x 19 kW) running at max 2’200 rpm. The propeller has 3 blades and a 1.75 meter diameter. For the record flight, a new propeller will be installed, optimized for high altitude climbing.

Raphaël Domjan, aged 42 already has solid experience in the field of organising eco-adventures and in ground-breaking ambitious projects. For example, he has already initiated, supported and achieved the first round the world trip on board of the PlanetSolar. Prior to this, he was already inspired by renewable energy. In particular, he developed the first solar-powered hosting site. Today, Raphaël is an eco-adventurer and a lecturer. Passionate about everything related to aeronautics. Raphaël is a pilot of gliders, planes and helicopters. The mission “SolarStratos” is ambitious and risky but possible that is what Raphaël Domjan, who is driving this eco-adventure, will tell you. He will be the pilot of the plane “SolarStratos” which he will push, together with his team, to its utter limits in order to prove that the renewable energies have incredible capacities and will enable us to preserve our planet.

In the more than 8 years of its history, Bitcoin Suisse has grown from a team of three to a leading crypto-financial service provider with a team of several hundred employees. Its mission, however, remains the same: To become the leading financial provider for digital and blockchain based assets, offering clients integrated access to the decentralized financial marketplace. Being a pioneer means to boldly go where no one has gone before – without guaranteed success. You must be a little bit crazy to do that! And like SolarStratos, Bitcoin Suisse’s goals, historically and today, aim to have a positive impact for the generations to come.