Solar Impuse 2 lands in California: Solar-powered plane a step closer to completing world tour

The Solar Impulse 2 made a historic landing in California on Sunday on the ninth leg of its quest to fly around the world without consuming a drop of fuel. 

The landing at Moffett Airfield in California marks an end to ninth of the 13-leg journey that began last year in the United Arab Emirates.

The plane will now cross the US, stopping in New York before a trans-Atlantic flight to Europe, and subsequently on the way back to Abu Dhabi, the point of departure.

"The Pacific is done. I love it, but it's done," said Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, who piloted from Hawaii to California, just before landing. The Pacific crossing was one of the most dangerous bits of the journey of the Solar Impulse 2 as it lacks landing sites at the time of emergency.

The engineering feat that is the Solar Impulse 2

The Solar Impulse 2, which is powered by 17,000 solar cells, aims to promote the use of solar energy or renewable energy.

Though the wingspan of the Solar Impulse 2 is wonder than that of a jumbo jet, the plane weighs roughly the same as a car. 

"The Swiss pilot, who is on a mission to promote alternative energy, said he believed that electric-powered planes carrying up to fifty passengers short distances would be possible within ten years. But he said passenger aircraft with solar-powered batteries would not be viable for commercial aviation", reports AFP.

Solar Impulse's Twitter handle is quite active. Check out these striking photos of the plane taken from around the world: