Facebook innovation

Originally published 29 July 2016. AI polished for a better reading experience: 11 August 2026.

Aquila: solar-powered flight measured in days, not hours — connectivity without a rocket launch.

I think this is the most exciting video I have seen this year. Facebook engineered a solar drone designed to stay aloft for days and beam the internet down to Earth.

The idea of planet-wide internet is appealing, but I am even more intrigued by something quieter: a practical way to keep a man-made object in the air for long periods without sending hardware into space. That opens possibilities such as real-time road traffic management, law enforcement support, disaster response, air traffic control, fuller worldwide communication coverage, and more.

The future has never felt so close. There are still risks of unlawful or harmful use. Even so, the benefits outweigh possible misuse by a wide margin. The future is bright — enjoy Aquila’s first flight.