When Marc Thiercelin set out on the Vendée Globe, one of the world’s toughest sailing races, early in November, novel space technologies were used to give his six-year-old boat a ‘facelift’. Lighter batteries, more efficient solar cells and an intelligent energy management system cut critical weight and optimised vital electricity systems. All three were originally developed for Europe’s space programmes.
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http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMX4DWJD1E_Improving_0.html