A Solar-powered Plane---Lowcarbon

Earlier this month, a solar-powered （太陽(yáng)能動(dòng)力的）plane called Lowcarbon took off to the sky for the first time. It has passed an important test on the way to travel around the world．

Lowcarbon took off from an airport in Switzerland（瑞士）at 45 km an hour. It slowly rose into the sky.

“There has never been an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy,” said Bertrand Piccard, a leader of the project.

During the 90-minute flight, Lowcarbon did several turns. It climbs nearly 1．6 km above the countryside.

Engineers plan to test a night flight in July. Then they will use the results of the tests to build a second plane. They plan to travel around the world in that plane in 2012． “We want to fly it day and night with no fuel,” Piccard said．

Piccard and pilot Andre Borschberg will take Lowcarbon around the world .They will make a few stops to change places and rest after a long time in the air----and to show off their aircraft.

Lowcarbon flies at 70 kph on average（平均）. That is faster than a bike and slower than a car. The pilots will keep it in the air for up to five days at a time.

We Are One---“Expo Through My Eyes”

Sharing offers you more happiness. To celebrate the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, China Daily invites you to share what you’ve seen, heard and experienced at the 6-month international event or Expo-related stories in English. Whether you are an Expo volunteer, a reporter, or a tourist , we’d like you to share with us your Expo experience, as seen through your eyes. So if you would like to contribute（投稿），please join us today in sharing the joy!

Topic: 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Language: English only

Length: No more than 1,000 words-

Content: Stories with photos are necessary.

Duration: May 1,2010---October 31,2010

Email-box: expo@chinadaily.com.cn

Reward: In addition to the satisfaction of supporting our work,

       ---your stories will be published on China Daily’s website;

       ---you will go in a lucky draw for a prize.