Raphaël Domjan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raphaël Domjan
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Raphaël Domjan in 2012
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Raphaël Domjan
19 January 1972 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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| Citizenship | Swiss |
| Occupation | EcoExplorer and speaker |
| Honours | Solar Swiss Prize 2012
Europeen Solar Prize 2013 Knight of Saint-Charles 2022 Holder Guinness World Record |
Raphaël Domjan (born 19 January 1972) is a Swiss explorer and speaker. He is famous for his amazing journeys using only solar energy. He led the first trip around the world powered by the sun. This journey happened between 2010 and 2012 on a special boat called MS PlanetSolar.
In 2015, Raphaël also made the first solar trip to the Arctic Ocean. He is the founder and pilot of the SolarStratos project. This project aims to fly the first solar plane into the stratosphere. In 2020, he even made the first jump from an electric plane. This was also the first free fall powered by solar energy. Raphaël Domjan is a pilot, mountaineer, diver, and parachutist. He is a member of important explorer clubs.
About Raphaël Domjan
Raphaël Domjan was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, on January 19, 1972. He grew up in Lausanne. In 2001, he helped start a company called Horus Networks Sàrl. This company created the world's first solar web server.
Starting Solar Adventures
In 2005, Raphaël began his dream of traveling around the world using solar power. He created PlanetSolar SA. Later, in 2007, he started the PlanetSolar Foundation. A special catamaran boat for this journey was built in Germany. Its construction took place between 2008 and 2010. A German businessman, Immo Stroeher, helped pay for it.
In 2007, Raphaël traveled between Martinique and Dominica. He was on the Sun 21, the first solar boat to cross the Atlantic. During this trip, he likely made the first dive ever from a solar boat. He also traveled across the United States from north to south. He did this with Louis Palmer in the SolarTaxi, a car that used both solar and electric power.
First Solar World Tour
From 2010 to 2012, Raphaël led the PlanetSolar expedition. They completed the first trip around the world using only solar energy. After this amazing journey, Raphaël started giving talks. He shares his experiences and explains why he believes in solar power.
Reaching for the Stratosphere
In 2014, Raphaël gathered a team from different countries. They launched the SolarStratos mission. Their goal is to reach the stratosphere in a piloted solar plane. He plans to try this record-breaking flight in 2023.
Polar and Sky Jumps
In 2015, Raphaël tried to cross the Northwest Passage in a solar-powered kayak. He was with sailor Anne Quemere. Bad weather made them turn back after 300 km. But this trip was still the first solar navigation in the Arctic.
On August 25, 2020, Raphaël made history. He jumped from the SolarStratos HB-SXA solar plane in Payerne, Switzerland. This was the first jump from an electric plane. It was also the first free fall in solar history. He fell hundreds of meters and reached a speed of 150 km/h.
Flights with Important People
In 2021, Raphaël became the first pilot to fly an electric plane with a head of state. On September 14, 2021, he flew a Pipistrel Velis128 from Nice airport in France. His passenger was H.S.H. Albert II, Prince of Monaco. They flew over Monaco for 30 minutes.
On June 18, 2022, Raphaël flew the HB-SXA solar plane from Sion airport in Switzerland. Adventurer Géraldine Fasnacht was with him. She jumped from SolarStratos at over 9,000 feet above the Swiss Alps. She completed the first wingsuit flight from an electric and solar plane. She landed safely in Verbier, Switzerland.
PlanetSolar Boat
The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is the biggest solar boat ever built. It was the first to sail around the world using only solar energy.
First Solar World Tour Details
The PlanetSolar and its crew started their journey from Monaco on September 27, 2010. They traveled close to the Equator. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean, went through the Panama Canal, and sailed across the Pacific Ocean. They also went through the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean Sea. The boat returned to Monaco on May 4, 2012. The trip took 585 days and covered 60,006 km.
PlanetSolar Crew
Raphaël Domjan was the leader of the PlanetSolar expedition. He guided the team during their world trip from 2010 to 2012. Patrick Marchesseau was the captain for the first part of the journey. Erwann le Rouzic took over as captain for the rest of the trip. Jens Langwasser, a boatman, and Christian Oschenbein, an electrical engineer, were also part of the crew.
Amazing Achievements and Records
During its journey, PlanetSolar achieved many "firsts." It was the first solar-powered trip around the world. It was also the first time a solar boat sailed around the globe. The boat made the first crossings of the Indian Ocean and Red Sea using only solar energy. PlanetSolar is also the largest solar boat in the world. It holds the record for the longest distance traveled by a solar vehicle, at 60,023 km.
Special Stamps
After the first solar world trip, La Poste Monaco created a special postage stamp. This stamp showed the PlanetSolar adventure. It had a value of 77 centimes Euros and featured PlanetSolar in Monaco.
SolarStratos Project
SolarStratos is a project that Raphaël Domjan officially started in March 2014. It is a solar plane with two seats. Calin Gologan built this special aircraft. Raphaël Domjan and his team plan to set an altitude record. The SolarStratos mission aims for Raphaël Domjan to reach the stratosphere. This is more than 18,000 meters high.
The SolarStratos team wants to show that renewable energy can do amazing things. They believe it can go beyond what normal planes can do. The SolarStratos plane was shown to the public on December 7, 2016. After the record flight, planned for 2024, Raphaël Domjan and his team want to use their technology for other things. They hope to develop solar drones that can fly in the stratosphere.
Links
- Website of Raphaël Domjan
- Website of SolarStratos
- Website of the foundation PlanetSolar
Filmography
- À la poursuite du soleil (2012) - a documentary (52 minutes) directed by Olivier Vittel. It was made by the PlanetSolar Foundation.
- SolarStratos « la naissance d’un rêve » (2021) – a documentary (52 minutes) directed by Stéphane Chopard and Eric Beaufils. It was produced by Gédéon.
