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.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Project Loon balloons float in
the stratosphere, twice as high as airplanes and the weather. In the
stratosphere, there are many layers of wind, and each layer of wind varies in
direction and speed. Loon balloons go where they’re needed by rising or
descending into a layer of wind blowing in the desired direction of travel.
People can connect to the balloon network using a special Internet antenna
attached to their building. The signal bounces from this antenna up to the
balloon network, and then down to the global Internet on Earth.
HOW LOON FLIES
Situated on
the edge of space, between 10 km and 60 km in altitude, the stratosphere
presents unique engineering challenges: air pressure is 1% that at sea level,
and this thin atmosphere offers less protection from UV radiation and dramatic
temperature swings, which can reach as low as -80°C. By carefully designing the
balloon envelope to withstand these conditions, Project Loon is able to take
advantage of the stratosphere’s steady winds and remain well above weather
events, wildlife and airplanes.
HOW LOON CONNECTS
Each balloon
can provide connectivity to a ground area about 40 km in diameter at speeds
comparable to 3G. For balloon-to-balloon and balloon-to-ground communications,
the balloons use antennas equipped with specialized radio frequency technology.
Project Loon currently uses ISM bands (specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands) that
are available for anyone to use.
WHERE LOON IS GOING
Project Loon began with a
pilot test in June 2013, when thirty balloons were launched from New Zealand’s
South Island and beamed Internet to a small group of pilot testers. The pilot
test has since expanded to include a greater number of people over a wider
area. Looking ahead, Project Loon will continue to expand the pilot through
2014, with the goal of establishing a ring of uninterrupted connectivity around
the 40th southern parallel, so that pilot testers at this latitude can receive
continuous service via balloon-powered Internet.
