Project Loon, Stratospheric balloon

  • Thread starter Thread starter Baluncore
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Balloon Project
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Project Loon, a network of stratospheric balloons aimed at providing Internet connectivity to remote areas. Participants explore the operational details, comparisons with other technologies like SpaceX's Starlink, and the challenges faced by the balloon network.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the tracking of multiple balloons in various regions, including the Indian Ocean and South America.
  • There is a comparison made between Project Loon and SpaceX's Starlink, with questions about the financial viability and bandwidth pricing of Loon.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the operational feasibility of the balloons in certain weather conditions, suggesting they may not perform well in areas with strong jet streams.
  • Details are shared about the flight paths of specific balloons, including their movements across continents and oceans, raising questions about their return to operational areas.
  • Another participant mentions that as of January 2021, Loon is winding down as a company, indicating potential challenges in its sustainability compared to Starlink.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the viability of Project Loon compared to Starlink, with some expressing doubts about the balloon technology's sustainability and others providing detailed observations of the balloon operations.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the financial model of Project Loon, the technical challenges of operating at high altitudes, and the implications of its winding down as a company.

Baluncore
Science Advisor
2025 Award
Messages
16,907
Reaction score
10,509
TL;DR
Project Loon is a network of stratospheric balloons designed to bring Internet connectivity to rural and remote communities worldwide.
Project Loon is a network of stratospheric balloons designed to bring Internet connectivity to rural and remote communities worldwide. https://loon.com/
There is one being tracked, between Reunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HBAL125
Another one over Equador, 6 over Peru, 1 over Puerto Rico, 3 over Kenya and 1 near the Seychelles.
 
Last edited:
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lnewqban and Klystron
Physics news on Phys.org
That's very interesting. It could be compared directly with SpaceX's Starlink project. In the past, there have been proposals to use tethered balloons to provide service for a city-wide area, but I don't remember seeing any of them get implemented.

Do you know how much money they will charge for how much bandwidth?
 
anorlunda said:
Do you know how much money they will charge for how much bandwidth?
No idea. It is a Google experiment and now separate project, and will need to be competitive with Starlink and fixed mobile phone towers to survive. It appears to use existing mobile phone technology, so does not have the extra Starlink technology and antenna tracking problem.

I was just surprised to see something being tracked at 60,000 feet and 5 mph. It is probably optimised for the tropics. I cannot see it being controlled and used in the roaring forties where the jet streams flow, unless it operates like the submersible gliders, which is a mode more applicable to drones than balloons.
 
Reply
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: Lnewqban and anorlunda
These flights seem to originate from Northern Peru. Once they leave that area they head down over Brazil, then out over the Atlantic Ocean. They then cross Africa.

HBAL125 was tracked past Mauritius in the Indian Ocean on 22 May. Then it crossed the Indian Ocean to turn up over Carnarvon in Western Australia on the 24 May. It toured the Australian NW coast during 26 to 29 May, visiting the Dampier Peninsula, before rapidly crossing Australia on the 30 May, and heading across Brisbane at about 80 mph. HBAL125 is now north of New Zealand in the upper jet stream, heading east. How it will get back to Northern Peru is an interesting question, as it seems a bit far south, caught in a strong winter jet stream, maybe heading for Argentina.

Meanwhile on the 31 May, a tight group of 4 balloons, (HBAL027,042,066,072), at about 62k feet has reached the South of WA. They departed Brazil on 25 May, via Cape Town in South Africa on the 27 May.
I wonder how long will it take to get them back where they can pay their way over the jungles of Northern Peru?
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Klystron, Lnewqban and Greg Bernhardt
It seems that the SpaceX Starlink satellite internet constellation is more fitted to survive than the high altitude balloons. I see none being tracked today.

https://loon.com/ "As of January 2021, Loon is winding down as a company. Thanks to everyone who supported us along the way".