The super-pressure balloons are almost exclusively built by Raven Aerostar but
Loon builds their own payloads and launch equipment, albeit with suppliers of
components for their systems.
The best example of Loon’s success is the acceptance of their internet services
by the governments of Puerto Rico, Kenya, Mozambique and Peru, which happened only because of the company’s success in building relationships with supporting organizations and elements; that is:
• Government and regulatory approvals. Loon needs the ability to fly over a
country or region they intend to serve, with authorization to utilize various
communications frequencies to provide a service.
• Ground infrastructure. Although Loon does most of the work from the
stratosphere, the balloons must connect with ground installations in order to
get the physical connection point to the internet and the local partner’s core
network. This ground infrastructure needs to be imported, installed, and
tested.
• Local network integration. Loon needs to established relationships and network integration with a local mobile network operator (MNO). Loon doesn’t
provide service directly to consumers. Its MNOs include Telkom in Kenya
and Vodacom in Mozambique. A consumer of Loon’s service is actually a
consumer of the local MNO. That service just happens to be by way of a
“floating cell tower” some 20 km (65,000 ft) in the sky.
These are the elements needed for any Loon deployment to be successful besides
the balloon and payload they provide, especially to disaster areas where the need
is great and could be lifesaving, such as in Puerto Rico in 2017 and Peru in 2019.
Other companies are now starting to use stratospheric balloons to provide internet services.
8.2.2 Data Acquisition
World View
World View has successfully set up a complete balloon design, manufacturing,
launch and flight operations facility in Tucson, AZ with the support of the local
government. While initially focusing on tourism, they have since been involved
with a broad range of data acquisition and real-time processing for any mission
purpose, as well as NASA-funded science missions.
Key to their success is the design and operation of their Stratollite balloons and
Stratocraft payload carrier with a pointing system. Together with their altitude control system, these developments provide customers persistent coverage over their
targets of interest. This is accomplished by having real-time knowledge of area
meteorology and winds at various altitudes and sophisticated algorithms to managed
the system to remain within range of the target area using the sensors onboard.
8.2 Commercial Successes 191
Loon builds their own payloads and launch equipment, albeit with suppliers of
components for their systems.
The best example of Loon’s success is the acceptance of their internet services
by the governments of Puerto Rico, Kenya, Mozambique and Peru, which happened only because of the company’s success in building relationships with supporting organizations and elements; that is:
• Government and regulatory approvals. Loon needs the ability to fly over a
country or region they intend to serve, with authorization to utilize various
communications frequencies to provide a service.
• Ground infrastructure. Although Loon does most of the work from the
stratosphere, the balloons must connect with ground installations in order to
get the physical connection point to the internet and the local partner’s core
network. This ground infrastructure needs to be imported, installed, and
tested.
• Local network integration. Loon needs to established relationships and network integration with a local mobile network operator (MNO). Loon doesn’t
provide service directly to consumers. Its MNOs include Telkom in Kenya
and Vodacom in Mozambique. A consumer of Loon’s service is actually a
consumer of the local MNO. That service just happens to be by way of a
“floating cell tower” some 20 km (65,000 ft) in the sky.
These are the elements needed for any Loon deployment to be successful besides
the balloon and payload they provide, especially to disaster areas where the need
is great and could be lifesaving, such as in Puerto Rico in 2017 and Peru in 2019.
Other companies are now starting to use stratospheric balloons to provide internet services.
8.2.2 Data Acquisition
World View
World View has successfully set up a complete balloon design, manufacturing,
launch and flight operations facility in Tucson, AZ with the support of the local
government. While initially focusing on tourism, they have since been involved
with a broad range of data acquisition and real-time processing for any mission
purpose, as well as NASA-funded science missions.
Key to their success is the design and operation of their Stratollite balloons and
Stratocraft payload carrier with a pointing system. Together with their altitude control system, these developments provide customers persistent coverage over their
targets of interest. This is accomplished by having real-time knowledge of area
meteorology and winds at various altitudes and sophisticated algorithms to managed
the system to remain within range of the target area using the sensors onboard.
8.2 Commercial Successes 191