One flight on September 2, 2019 was a Raven Aerostar model with a volume of
8,500 m
3
(300,000 ft
3
). It reached a peak altitude of 37.7 km (123,461 ft) with a
float altitude of 35.5 km (116,500 ft). On the first night with cold temperatures, the
payload ceased communicating until it warmed up the following day. It was
decided to cut short the planned four day float and terminate the flight to reduce
any risk of a period in which commanding would be blocked. The balloon was
safely terminated and the payload parachuted down in northwest Oregon. After
solving the in-flight problem, the campaign was scheduled to resume following
year.
Using the Sisters Eagle Airport was convenient because that is where the ISTAR
Group is based.
See Section 10.2 for ISTAR’s involvement in education.
5.9 HAPS
In 2020 a number of global industry leaders announced they had established the
High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) Alliance. This is an association of worldleading telecommunications, technology, aviation, and aerospace companies that
promote the use of high altitude vehicles in the stratosphere in order to eliminate
the digital divide and deliver connectivity to more people, places, and things on a
global basis.
The HAPS membership includes:
• HAPSMobile, Inc. of SoftBank Corp.
• Alphabet’s Loon LLC.
• AeroVironment, Inc.
• Airbus Defence and Space.
• Bharti Airtel Ltd.
• China Telecom Corporation Ltd.
• Deutsche Telekom AG.
• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
• Intelsat US LLC.
• Nokia Corporation.
• Telefónica S.A.
5.9.1 Purpose
The HAPS Alliance helps members to collectively advocate the development of
businesses with the relevant authorities in various countries, build a cooperative
HAPS ecosystem, develop common product specifications, and also promote the
standardization of HAPS network interoperability; activities key to the Alliance’s
5.9 HAPS 113
8,500 m
3
(300,000 ft
3
). It reached a peak altitude of 37.7 km (123,461 ft) with a
float altitude of 35.5 km (116,500 ft). On the first night with cold temperatures, the
payload ceased communicating until it warmed up the following day. It was
decided to cut short the planned four day float and terminate the flight to reduce
any risk of a period in which commanding would be blocked. The balloon was
safely terminated and the payload parachuted down in northwest Oregon. After
solving the in-flight problem, the campaign was scheduled to resume following
year.
Using the Sisters Eagle Airport was convenient because that is where the ISTAR
Group is based.
See Section 10.2 for ISTAR’s involvement in education.
5.9 HAPS
In 2020 a number of global industry leaders announced they had established the
High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) Alliance. This is an association of worldleading telecommunications, technology, aviation, and aerospace companies that
promote the use of high altitude vehicles in the stratosphere in order to eliminate
the digital divide and deliver connectivity to more people, places, and things on a
global basis.
The HAPS membership includes:
• HAPSMobile, Inc. of SoftBank Corp.
• Alphabet’s Loon LLC.
• AeroVironment, Inc.
• Airbus Defence and Space.
• Bharti Airtel Ltd.
• China Telecom Corporation Ltd.
• Deutsche Telekom AG.
• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
• Intelsat US LLC.
• Nokia Corporation.
• Telefónica S.A.
5.9.1 Purpose
The HAPS Alliance helps members to collectively advocate the development of
businesses with the relevant authorities in various countries, build a cooperative
HAPS ecosystem, develop common product specifications, and also promote the
standardization of HAPS network interoperability; activities key to the Alliance’s
5.9 HAPS 113