The AeroVironment Global Observer is a concept for a high-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, designed by AeroVironment (AV) to operate as a stratospheric geosynchronous satellite system with regional coverage. Two Global Observer aircraft, each flying for up to a week at an altitude of , could alternate coverage over any area on the Earth, providing a platform for communications relays, remote sensing, or long-term surveillance. In addition to flying above weather and above other conventional aircraft, operation at this altitude permits communications and sensor payloads on the aircraft to service an area on the surface of the earth up to in diameter, equivalent to more than of coverage. Global Observer may offer greater flexibility than a satellite and longer duration than conventional manned and unmanned aircraft. Development JCTD program The Global Observer Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program had the goal of helping solve the capability gap in persistent ISR and communications relay for the US military and homeland security. The Global Observer JCTD demonstrated a new stratospheric, extreme endurance UAS that could be transitioned for post-JCTD development, extended user evaluation, and fielding. The program was a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and AeroVironment that started in September 2007, to culminate in a Joint Operational Utility Assessment (JOUA) in 2011. The program provided for the system development, production of two aircraft, development flight testing, and JOUA with ISR and communications relay payload. The flight testing and JOUA was conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The primary objectives of the Global Observer JCTD Program were: Develop enabling technologies for a liquid hydrogen powered Global Observer UAS. Design, build, and demonstrate the Global Observer UAS for a 5 - 7 day endurance for altitude missions with 380-pound, 2.8 kW payload capacity. The system had to be capable of being transported by a C-130 aircraft. Integrate and assess military utility of modular Global Observer payloads to address user identified gaps in ISR and communications relay. Evaluate system life cycle costs. JCTD sponsors U.S. Department of Defense United States Special Operations Command United States Strategic Command U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Air Force U.S. Army U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Defense Threat Reductions Agency Flight test partners Air Force Flight Test Center NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Mission possibilities High-altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, such as Global