The Airplane ‘Skylight’

Imagine looking up from your cramped airplane seat and seeing a galaxy of stars. That’s the vision of engineers at Boeing, who are developing a system that aims to relax passengers by illuminating the plane’s beige walls with eye-catching sights. Beyond space or sunrises, the light projectors–which are being tested in a lab and are not yet on commercial flights–could also display photos of and details about the plane’s destination. The main goal, per Boeing, is to make cabins feel “less constricted.” “The possibilities are endless,” says VP Mike Sinnett.

–Julie Shapiro