24-12-2020 | 15:07 PM
Project Loon
Context
Recently, Loon’s internet-beaming balloon has set a new flight duration record. It made the longest balloon flight in the Stratosphere for 312 days. Loon previously held the record in 2018-2019 for the longest balloon flight in the Stratosphere, which was for 223 days.
About Project Loons
Project Loon aims to tap the Earth’s stratosphere to provide internet connectivity to the remote parts of the world.
The project involves helium-filled balloons that remain in the stratosphere and create aerial wireless networks.
The project has collaborated with several countries and their technology partners to provide internet connectivity.
Currently the internet connectivity system consists of 2 basic methods to deliver a connection namely Signal from Space and Signal from Ground.
Lately, the Project Loon balloons are also used as weather monitors.
About Loons
Loons are high altitude balloons that provide internet connectivity to remote areas.
It is the 3rd layer of connectivity ecosystem to help places with minimum reach, receive connectivity with the rest of the world.
These balloons that reach the stratosphere and provide internet connections to regions that were once thought un-servable.
These are manufactured by Alphabet (the parent company of Google.
The balloons are 15 metres wide and 12 metres tall and it can reach up to 20 km above the Earth into the stratosphere.
The path of the balloons is controlled by changing its altitude. They use the wind speed and direction to move up or down.
They are made from sheets of polyethene. When inflated, these balloons are of size of a mini aircraft.
The balloons are powered by solar panels and are controlled by software on the ground.
It delivers 4G LTE and 5G connectivity to the assigned areas and it is capable of covering 200 times more areas than land cell towers.
