WHAT IS PROJECT LOON?
Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.
2.STRATOSPHERE
Situated between 10 km and 60 km altitude on the edge of space, the stratosphere is named after the different strata, or layers, of wind within it. But the extreme altitude also presents unique engineering challenges: air pressure is 1% of that at sea level, temperatures hover around -50°C, and a thinner atmosphere offers less protection from the UV radiation and temperature swings caused by the sun’s rays. By carefully designing the balloon envelope to withstand these conditions, Project Loon is able to take advantage of the steady stratospheric winds, and remain well above weather events,wildlife and airplanes.
WHERE LOON IS GOING
The Project Loon pilot test began in June 2013 on the 40th parallel south. Thirty balloons, launched from New Zealand’s South Island, beamed Internet to a small group of pilot testers. The experience of these pilot testers is now being used to refine the technology and shape the next phase of Project Loon.
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