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The world of High Altitude Airships

HALE-D   9/23/2009

Researching the Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) program for an earlier blog led me to wonder what had become of another surveillance airship, Lockheed Martin's High Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator (HALE-D), which was supposed to have flown this summer. I hadn't heard anything, so I asked. Turns out it didn't fly, but the envelope was inflated inside the Airdock at Akron.

It seems the program ran out of money before the airship could be flown, and Lockheed says it is now working with the US Army's Space & Missile Defense Command to find additional funds to complete the demonstration.

The HALE-D is a subscale prototype of the long-proposed High Altitude Airship (HAA), an unmanned surveillance platform intended to stay aloft in the stratosphere for months. The 240ft-long HALE-D is more modest, designed to carry a 50lb payload to 60,000ft for at least 15 days. powered by a combination of solar arrays and batteries.

Delivering Disciplined Performance

Lockheed Martin is currently on contract to build a subscale prototype airship system, the High

Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator (HALE-D). The performance goals for this prototype

HAA include sustained operations for at least two weeks at 60,000 feet altitude, while

providing 500 watts of power to a user-defined 50-lb payload suite. Driven by two electric

propulsion motors, the HALE-D is powered by thin-film solar cells and rechargeable lithium

ion polymer batteries. The HALE-D will demonstrate long-endurance station keeping and flight

control capabilities.

HALE-D Performance Parameters HALE-D Characteristics

Station-keeping Altitude : 60,000 ft     Hull Volume : 500,000 ft3   Payload Weight : 50 lbs   Length / Diameter : 240 ft / 70 ft

Payload Power : 500 watts   Propulsion Motors : 2 kW Electric  Endurance > 15 days        Energy Storage 40 kWh Li-ion Battery

Solar Array 15 kW thin-film    Cruise Speed 20 ktas @ 60 kft

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/ms2/High_Altitude_Airship_productcard.pdf

LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $10 MILLION TO DEVELOP DARPA'S STRATOSPHERIC AIRSHIP FABRIC    AKRON, OH, September 26, 2006

AKRON, OH, September 26, 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a contract for approximately $10 million to further develop advanced material technology and next-generation hull material for stratospheric airships under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Integrated Sensor Is Structure (ISIS) program.

more >>>

 http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=17907&rsbci=16&fti=129&ti=0&sc=400

ISIS-and-HAA-Near-Space-Airships  Aug 10, 2006

Humans have been flying in hot air balloons and dirigibles far longer than there have been airplanes and space shuttles. So it's not surprising that the US military is looking at airships (such as stratospheric floaters) as the perfect surveillance platforms. After all, airships seem to be becoming more popular these days.

Several companies have started work on a prototype airship that will hover in the stratosphere. It's basically a blimp with very large antennas and dishes. This autonomous unmanned sensor platform will track air and ground targets for the miliarty. The goal is for it to track even the most advanced cruise missiles and enemy soldiers from hundreds of miles away. The sensor structure is called "Integrated Sensor is Structure" (funny name, right?) or "ISIS" for short. more >>> http://www.qj.net/ISIS-and-HAA-Near-Space-Airships/pg/49/aid/61319

Un dirigeable pour émettre du haut débit ?   mardi 11 décembre 2007

Et si le haut débit prenait de la hauteur ? C'est en tout cas l'idée d'un groupe de chercheurs qui veulent utiliser un dirigeable comme relais-émetteur.

Depuis plus d'un an, des équipes suisses et britanniques travaillent sur le projet "X-Station". Derrière ce nom de code se cache un projet tout droit sorti d'un James Bond. Les scientifiques veulent transformer un dirigeable de 100 mètres de long en véritable station haut débit !

Gonflé à l'Helium, le ballon aurait les mêmes prérogatives que celles d'un satellite de communication mais à un coût nettement inférieur. Les services tels que Internet haut débit, la téléphonie Voix sur IP ou l'IPTV pourraient être transmis dans un rayon de 1000 kilomètres.

Le concept est certes intéressant et imaginatif mais de nombreuses difficultés doivent encore être contournées. D'une part, le ballon "X-Station" devra atteindre une altitude de 21000 mètres et se maintenir en vol géostationnaire. Il devra donc être couplé avec un système GPS et des moteurs. D'autre part, le dirigeable devra être capable de résister aux conditions climatiques extrèmes (températures, vents) propres à cette altitude.

Peu onéreuse, abordable et rapide à mettre en oeuvre" selon Kamal Alavi, ingénieur responsable du projet, la solution X-Station devrait intéresser les pays en voie de développement qui ne peuvent pas financer des réseaux haut débit classiques, bien trop chers. Quelques ballons pourraient couvrir de vastes superficies, et résoudre en partie la fracture numérique entre les pays de l'hémisphère Nord et ceux du Sud. Les premiers tests grandeur nature auront lieu dans quelques jours avec un prototype de 30 mètres. La commercialisation des ballons sera lancée d'ici 2 ans si tout se passe bien.

Fund for poor country IT projects eyes high tech airship  March 20.2007

GENEVA (AFP) - A solar-powered airship that replaces communications satellites is one of a series of high tech projects that can help bridge the "digital divide," the organisers of an Information Technology fund for poor countries said Tuesday.

The Digital Solidarity Fund was launched by African leaders and European public authorities at a UN summit two years ago to bring modern communications to an estimated 80 percent of the world population in por countries that are unconnected.

The Fund said at a board meeting that a dozen community-based projects in Africa and one in Asia had got off the ground.

They mainly involve teleconferencing facilities for medicine and education.

However, the Fund is facing further financing requests for projects worth 26 million euros, officials told a board meeting.

More political support is also needed for nascent technology that can save huge amounts of money if deployed in developing nations in the next decade, they added.

Swiss researchers unveiled the X-Station at the Fund's board meeting, a solar-powered, pilotless airship stationed at an altitude of 21 kilometres that can bring high speed telecoms services to an area 1,000 kilometres in diameter.

The project developed by a joint venture of universities and companies is due to be tested later this year.

"It will be cheap, affordable and fast. You don't have to spend millions of dollars to launch communications satellites," said founder Kamel Alavi.

US technology giant Sun Microsystems also presented a centralised Internet-based server that can effectively do away with 10,000 personal computers and equips the end users with just a screen and keyboard.

"It is five percent the size of its father, it consumes a fraction of the energy, it is deployable in a tenth of the time, and it is mobile," said Mary Smaragdi, director of Sun's Foundation.

Members of the Fund -- currently 24 countries, eight local authorities, and private companies -- make a one-off contribution.

Another key, though still voluntary, source of funding is a one percent charge on information technology (IT) purchases made by members.

However, more public authorities that would like to join face legal constraints with rules on public tenders, especially in the European Union. An international convention might be needed to overcome the problem, officials said. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070320/tc_afp/worldittelecomfund_070320193820

29 September 2006

New airship 'X station' could revolutionize wireless

- A new airship "X station" which could revolutionize wireless communication, broadcast and surveillance infrastructure worldwide was unveiled this week.

The "X station" will go to an altitude of 21 kilometers nine more than civilian aircraft are permitted. This height is needed to place the antenna stations above the jet stream where winds are moderate.

Thanks to a GPS steering system developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, the 60-meter long helium-filled airship will remain stationary at 21 kilometers above the earth.

A small-unmanned aircraft outfitted with a mobile phone antenna and other devices for transmitting digital data will be attached to the airship. The "X station" has been equipped with giant propellers to help counter the almost constant buffeting from the wind.

A Swiss of Iranian extraction, Kamal Alavi works together with a team of 50 scientists to realize this project. The team is preparing a 2007 test run of the airship.     http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2006/09/29/1918565-ap.html

September 28, 2007 Cyber Defense Subsidiary Techsphere Systems to Build New "BULLET" Airship Technology for Mid Altitudes; New Prototype Test Flight Successful

Cyber Defense Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: CYDF), a designer and developer of next generation unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and its wholly owned subsidiary Techsphere Systems International, Inc. (TSI), a designer, developer and manufacturer of manned and unmanned airships, announced today that it will build two new Mid Altitude "BULLET" Airships.

Under the exclusive global technology license with 21st Century Airships, Techsphere will begin manufacturing two "BULLET" airships designed for altitudes of 20,000 and 40,000 feet capability with a minimum of 48 hours flight duration with estimated speeds up to 60 knots with a manned or unmanned configuration. Recent wind tunnel tests by 21st Century confirmed the design and speed estimates.

The initial test flights were exceptional utilizing a fly by wire thrust vectoring capability. "Just imagine being able to fly straight up and down, turn on its axis, and fly sideways with an easy touch of a joystick," stated Hokan Colting of 21st Century.

The airship tested is approximately 120 feet long, cylinder shaped with two distinct pointed end caps with four engines mounted port and starboard in the fore and aft positions on the cylinder structure.

Techsphere will be utilizing the majority of the patented technologies from the spherical technology with the new "BULLET" version for Mid Altitudes. "The SA-60 spherical airships will continue to be our bread and butter for the 0 to 10,000 feet altitude capability. We are addressing the higher winds between 10,000 feet to 40,000 feet altitudes with a new shape for drag reduction, longer duration of flight, higher speeds with the maneuverability characteristics of the 'Sphere' technology," stated Mike Lawson, CEO of Techsphere.

The "BULLET" test flights will continue later this year with the second prototype near completion.

About 21st Century Airships, Inc.

21st Century Airships Inc., located in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada is a Research and Development company for lighter-than-air crafts. Founded in 1988, its objective is to improve traditional airship technology and develop modern airships for various applications. The company's R&D activities have resulted in a considerable number of significant inventions and patents. http://www.21stcenturyairships.com

ABOUT CYBER DEFENSE SYSTEMS

Cyber Defense Systems, Inc. is designing and building a new generation of UAVs. Cyber Defense is currently marketing the airships and their CyberBug(TM) UAVs to various branches of the U.S. government and U.S. allies as multi-use platform vehicles capable of deployment in surveillance and communication operations. Cyber Defense Systems, Inc. http://www.cduav.com (OTCBB: CYDF)

ABOUT TECHSPHERE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL

Techsphere Systems International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyber Defense, located in Atlanta and Columbus, GA, is the manufacturer of low, mid and high altitude airships. Together with their teaming companies, Techsphere will design and build unique airship platforms for use in many areas including surveillance, the military and wireless communications. The current spherical airship design holds the world altitude record at over 20,000 feet. http://www.techsphere.us.

Contact:

21st Century Airships, Inc. Hokan Colting 905-898-6274 http://www.21stcenturyairships.com

13 July 2006    New "Paint-On Antenna" Flies Successfully on Sierra Nevada Corporation Techsphere Airship

Technology for Next Generation Communications and Remote Sensing Systems

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center , RTI International, Applied EM, Inc., International Communications Group, Unitech, Sierra Nevada Corporation (Sierra Nevada), and Techsphere Systems International, Inc. (Techsphere), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyber Defense Systems, Inc.,, announced today that the test flights of the new generation "paint-on" antenna technology on board the SA-60 Spherical Airship were successful June 21, 2006 in the Nevada desert.

This was a worldwide exclusive to test the lightweight "paint-on antenna" technology on Sierra Nevada and Techsphere airship technology for communications and other applications. As part of an effort to develop new high-altitude communications and surveillance platforms, Applied EM, Inc. and Unitech, LLC are developing conformal "paint-on" antenna technology under an Air Force Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program (Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom AFB). "Paint-on" antenna designs were used in the Airship flight test for Iridium Global satellite communications from several locations on the Airship. These antennas transmitted and received voice and data links via the global Iridium satellite system and overall radio frequency performance was outstanding. Iridium bit error rate data transmission and receptions were tested and voice communications to and from the Airship with teleconferencing were tested successfully.

In addition, the Airship flight experiment included NASA's GPS Reflectance Experiment, which was flown to evaluate Airship applications for soil moisture remote sensing missions. The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is developing remote sensing applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS). While originally designed to relay navigation data, the satellite-transmitted GPS signal itself may be used to obtain a number of useful scientific measurements of both the earth's surface and of the atmosphere. This new technique utilizes the reflection of GPS signals from water, wet ground, or artificial conducting (metal) bodies. Researchers at Langley, in concert with their colleagues around the world, are developing theory, designing instrumentation, and conducting experiments to better understand the properties of the surface reflected GPS signal. The goal of the project is to apply the knowledge gained toward the development of low-cost, easily deployed, and widely applicable remote sensing systems.

Soil moisture is a relatively small component of the global hydrological cycle, but of great importance, nonetheless, in the development of it. Soil moisture is water in the ground and, as such, it plays a critical role in many biological and hydrological processes such as plant health, nutrient cycles, and cloud formation. The accurate and timely measurement of soil moisture content and its fluctuation is of paramount importance in the monitoring of natural hazards such as flooding and drought. The amount of water in the soil affects the transfer of energy between the surface of the Earth and the atmosphere by creating weather systems that can affect large populated areas. A highly water-saturated soil, for example, cannot absorb as much water as dry soil and can easily create runoff or flooding. The existence of an accurate map of soil moisture would provide information for agricultural efficiency, water management, disaster planning, and many other indirect applications.

Nonetheless, despite the fact that soil moisture measurements have been recognized as a priority in Earth science, continuous and far-reaching measurements are all but nonexistent. Present methods of measuring soil moisture, though accurate, are insufficient for use in forecast models to prevent disaster or to complement the understanding of the water cycle. However, the monitoring of soil moisture by means of remote sensing remains a topic of research and development rather than an operational capability. The recent launch of the satellite Aqua and the current development of new Earth looking systems, like the GPS reflectometer presented in this site, promise to provide better measurements of soil moisture to improve the understanding of nature and the quality of life on Earth. http://centauri.larc.nasa.gov/gps/index.htm.

RTI brought the team together as part of NASA's Innovative Partnership Program (IPP) to demonstrate the overall capabilities of high altitude airships for numerous NASA research applications. "The successful airship test flights demonstrate exciting possibilities for 'paint-on' antenna technologies," said David Myers, vice president of RTI's Engineering and Technology Unit. "This new technology can be used to assist with hurricane disaster relief, provide enhanced security of ports and borders, perform science observation missions and improve military communications."

"Our goal is to provide the most innovative low cost communication platform on the planet for government and commercial end users," stated Mike Lawson, chief marketing officer of Techsphere.

"This application shows the benefits of using our airship technology for communication, protecting our warfighters and implementing true border protection now," stated Billy Robinson, chief executive officer of Cyber Defense.  more>>>

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=20336

Cyber Defense System's Techsphere Subsidiary Leases Two Airships for $4.2 Million to Fortune 100 Corporation   June. 13, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG, FL and ATLANTA, GA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/13/06 -- Cyber Defense Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: CYDF), a designer and developer of next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Techsphere Systems International, Inc., has executed a lease contract for two of its SA-60A Spherical Airships to a Fortune 100 company at an estimated initial contract value of approximately $4.2 million. >>> more

Sanswire Delivers the 2A Airship To German Operation for Completion
Monday October 15

STUTTGART, Germany and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanswire Networks, a subsidiary of GlobeTel Communications Corp. (Pink Sheets: GTEM - News) today announced that the Sanswire 2A airship has been delivered to the TAO facility in Stuttgart, Germany to be refit and upgraded, pursuant to the action plan outlined in Sanswire's and TAO's previously announced agreement in principle to form the equally-owned Sanswire-TAO GmbH. The 2A, previously housed in Palmdale, California, is a 126-foot Lighter Than Air vehicle.

The next steps for the Sanswire 2A will be reassembly and a refitting of the airship's automated flight controls, telemetry systems, and ultra light- weight components that include new rear fins. Readying the 2A for flight- testing, initially in the mid-altitude range of 15,000 to 30,000 feet, will also require that propulsion and the automated stability systems be re- evaluated and possibly upgraded.

"Both TAO and GlobeTel/Sanswire are eager to complete work on the 2A, and give our technology partners a more comprehensive insight into the properties and capabilities of the 2A," stated Jonathan D. Leinwand, Chief Executive Officer. "We believe very strongly in our business plan to build and market airships for flight at all altitudes, and we look forward to completing the formation of Sanswire-TAO as soon as possible."

The decision to continue the development and testing of the 2A in Stuttgart was attributed to the vast resources and knowledge of the TAO organization. The addition of the 2A to TAO's and Sanswire's current scheduled flight plans rounds out GlobeTel's atmospheric arsenal of low to medium to high altitude platforms.

About GlobeTel Communications Corp. and Sanswire Networks

GlobeTel Communications Corp. develops and provides an integrated suite of terrestrial and aerospace telecommunications products and services, leveraging its advances in VoIP and Wireless Access technologies. Sanswire Networks is focused on the construction of the Stratellite(TM) and SkySat(TM) airship platforms, capable of carrying payloads that transmit various types of wireless communications and security solutions.

About TAO Technologies GmbH

TAO-Technologies GmbH, in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart, led by Professor Dr. Bernd Kroplin is highly regarded throughout the world for research, design, development and flight testing of various designs of aerial vehicles.

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "forecast," "project," "intend," "expect" "should," "would," and similar expressions and all statements, which are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including an ongoing formal investigation by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and delayed filings of quarterly results, any of which could cause the Company's previously reported actual results, performance (finance or operating) to change or differ from future results, performance (financing and operating) or achievements, including those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071015/clm079.html?.v=60

$5,800,000 for the HiSentinel program at Aerostar International Inc. October 2007

In Sioux Falls, whichprovides a long-duration unmanned airship for 24/7 capability for intelligence, surveillance, communications and networking.  Current platforms are limited to short duration missions of 24 hours or less, this provides an unmanned airship capable of carrying different payloads for durations greater than 30 days.

WASHINGTON, DC—Senator John Thune today issued the below statement following Senate passage of the FY2008 Defense Appropriations bill, which included several requests Senator Thune made on behalf of various South Dakota defense-related initiatives:

"After months of attempts by the Democrat Leadership to improperly use this important military funding bill as a political football, I am pleased that the Senate has finally gotten some of its work done. The significant funding in this bill would not only help our entire Armed Forces, it would directly enhance South Dakota’s defense-related operations. These projects represent important research and new technology that will create jobs, boost our state’s economy and provide for a stronger, safer America,” Thune said.

The FY2008 Defense Appropriations bill passed by the Senate today includes the following requests made by Senator Thune:  http://blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?id=2286

Sanswire 2A Technology Demonstrator Testing Moves Outside      October 19, 2006 09:20 AM Eastern Time

PALMDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sanswire Networks LLC, subsidiary of GlobeTel Communications Corp. (OTC:GTEM) today announced that its Sanswire 2A technology demonstrator completed its first outdoor, low altitude, float test. During the first float, the structural integrity and overall balance of the airship were tested in uncontrolled atmospheric conditions. more >>>                     http://www.sanswire.com/

November 18, 2005

SwRI News: Airship Reaches Near-space Altitude During Flight 

A team led by Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) successfully demonstrated powered flight of the HiSentinel stratospheric airship at an altitude of 74,000 feet. The development team of Aerostar International, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and SwRI launched the airship on November 8 from Roswell, N.M., for a five-hour technology demonstration flight. The 146-foot-long airship carried a 60-pound equipment pod and propulsion system. Sponsored by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, the flight was the culmination of a six-month preparation effort.

"There are a number of stratospheric airship programs being promoted around the world, but this is the first of these programs to successfully fly a real airship in near-space," says William Perry, assistant director of Space Systems in the SwRI Space Science and Engineering Division.

SwRI designed the airship and provided the telemetry, flight control, power and propulsion systems. Aerostar International fabricated the hull and participated in the integration and test flight. AFRL developed the innovative launch system, provided facilities, and supported the launch and recovery. Each of the four organizations contributed funding, manpower, equipment and facilities for the collaborative effort.

HiSentinel is the first airship developed under the Composite Hull High Altitude Powered Platform (CHHAPP) program. CHHAPP is a spiral development program for a family of long-endurance autonomous solar-electric, stratospheric airships. These low-cost systems will be capable of lifting small- to medium-payloads (20 to 200 pounds) to near-space altitudes for durations of longer than 30 days for communications, military and science applications.

Designed for launch from remote sites, these airships will not require large hangars or special facilities. Unlike most stratospheric airship concepts, HiSentinel is launched flaccid with the hull only partially inflated with helium. As the airship rises, the helium expands until it completely inflates the hull to the rigid aerodynamic shape required for operation.

Editors: An image to accompany this story is available at http://www.swri.org/press/HiSentinel.htm.

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, with more than 3,000 employees and an annual research volume of more than $399 million. For more information about Southwest Research Institute, please visit www.swri.org.

www.swri.org

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18343

Hi-tech mission for airships  Wednesday, 27 February, 2002

Airships could provide a cheap and quick way of bringing mobile phone networks and fast internet connections to remote parts of the world.

Engineers at Britain's Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) are working on developing airships that could provide the telecoms networks of the future.

Their StratSat programme applies modern technology advances to the old principles of airships to offer what they believe is a cheap and flexible alternative to unsightly mobile phone masts across the countryside.

"It's bringing airships out of the thing that you see over sports stadium just doing a bit of camera work or advertising and making them part of the 21st Century and data communication," Mike Durham, senior technical consultant at ATG.    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1840936.stm

The CAPANINA project will develop broadband capability from aerial platforms to deliver cost effective solutions providing a viable alternative to cable and satellite.

http://www.capanina.org/

Balloon beams broadband internet from stratosphere    19 October 2005

A blisteringly fast data downlink provided by a stratospheric balloon floating 24,000 metres above the Earth has been tested for the first time.

The untethered, 12,000-cubic-metre helium balloon was tested on 31 August for several hours. Analysis now shows the test was a success and sent data to the ground at 1.25 gigabits per second. That is thousands of times the capacity of a home broadband internet connection and the first time such a link has been tested from the stratosphere.

The test craft was developed by the Capanina Consortium – 14 European academic and industry partners funded mainly by the European Union. They hope the craft may be able to provide communications in disaster zones or low-cost internet access in the developing world.

David Grace, one of the project scientists behind the test, from the University of York, UK, says stratospheric communications balloons provide wireless alternatives to fixed internet infrastructure. "You could rapidly put communications infrastructure where it doesn't exist," he told New Scientist. "In developing countries it could be a cheaper way to roll out, and you could do it incrementally."

Sky-high Wi-Fi

The main concern with such floating communications hubs is ensuring they do not interfere with commercial aircraft. Controllers on the ground are able to alter the altitude of the balloon but not steer it.

The stratospheric craft was equipped with two communication systems: a high power radio antenna developed at the University of York, and an ultra-high-speed optical communications system built by the German Aerospace Centre (DRL).

The balloon's radio link was based on the 802.11b protocol. This is normally employed in Wi-Fi computer networks that extend a hundred metres or so. For the balloon test, powerful millimetre-frequency radio antennas were used, to send the signal up to 60 km. This link was used to transmit data rates of up to 11Mbits/sec.

The optical communications link developed by DRL was only tested from the balloon to the ground. It transmitted data around 100 times more rapidly. In future it should be possible to develop a bi-directional link based on this technology.

Remote tracking

Both communications systems rely on pointing a directional instrument at the balloon. "Tracking is a key issue in stratospheric broadband," says Alan Gobbi, also at the University of York. At the high altitude of the test, Gobbi says the balloon drifts about a kilometre over a few hours, depending on conditions. In the future, larger balloons could float for weeks or months at a time, providing a quick and simple communication link.

The York team used Global Positioning System (GPS) data and a modified telescope to track the balloon as it drifted. Video footage (28MB Mpeg) recorded at the test site – the Swedish Space Corporation's space centre at Esrange, 200 kilometres below the Arctic Circle – shows the University of York researchers testing the optical tracking system on the balloon.

The Capanina group is also investigating other types of high-altitude communications craft. Large airships could perhaps carry heavier communications equipment into the skies, while fleets of solar-powered aircraft could circle at high altitude for long periods        http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8177.html

Surfez en ballon dirigeable !     15/07/2004

Un projet européen nous permettra peut-être de surfer sur Internet à haut débit en utilisant des ballons situés dans la stratosphère.

Pas de risque de collision avec nos bons vieux aéroplanes, les ballons et dirigeables "se situent bien au dessus de nos avions et bien en dessous des satellites", précise-t-on chez Capanina, consortium à l'origine du projet qui réunit treize partenaires européens et un en provenance du Japon. En plus, contrairement aux satellites qui, une fois consommés, sont bons à jeter à la poubelle (en fait ils se désagrègent plus ou moins dans l'univers), les ballons pourront être récupérés pour maintenance et relancés. Bref, de quoi se payer une belle tranche de surf "propre" sur la toile sauf qu'il faudra encore attendre un minimum de cinq ans pour voir les premières applications grand public...      http://www.indexel.net/1-20-3808---/index.htm

Low Altitude Stationary Flight Test Started -
Studies on the Stratospheric Platform
What is Stratospheric Platform (SPF)?
  The "stratospheric platform" we aim is a network of huge unmanned airships that stays afloat in the stratosphere at an altitude around 20 km where the weather is rather calm. The SPF loaded with communications/broadcasting equipment and observation sensors will serve as a platform for communications /broadcasting and earth observation/disaster monitoring.
  The SPF will stay in the stratosphere, where atmospheric density is extremely low; approximately 1/ 14 to 1/20 that at sea level. This will require several substantially new, highly advanced technologies, such as an ultra low-weight membrane structure and a power supply system consisting of fuel cells and solar cells.
Low Altitude Stationary Flight Test

The SPF is required not only to reach the stratosphere but also to have the capability of staying afloat geo-stationary. To show this capability, a powered airship system was developed by JAXA jointly with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). An airship hangar and a flight control building were also constructed adjacent to the Multipurpose Aviation Park in Taiki-cho in Hokkaido for the Low Altitude Stationary Flight Test.
  The objectives of this test include verifying the flight control technology, operation technology, and tracking/control technology throughout the entire process from takeoff to landing, and conducting tests of the communications /broadcasting mission and the earth observation mission under geo-stationary flight conditions. The test vehicle is a 68 meter-long, non-rigid airship equipped with electric motor powered propellers. The vehicle flies afloat mainly with the buoyancy of its hull filled with helium, and stays geo-stationary at an altitude of 4 kilometers resisting the wind with the help of propellers installed on both sides. The buoyancy and attitude are adjusted by filling air or discharging the air in the ballonets inside the hull, and the hull is made of a lightweight and high-strength membrane material called Vectran.
A demonstration test of the liftoff capability required for an airship was conducted in March 2004. Following the subsequent ground testing, and prior to the free flight test, a tethered vertical takeoff/landing test was conducted on August 7, 2004 to ensure that the airship functioned satisfactorily and to identify any problems that might potentially occur in flight (Fig. 3). At present, efforts are focusing on the final goal of geo-stationary flight test at an altitude of 4 kilometers.
                                                   http://www.iat.jaxa.jp/info/prm/2004/001/04.html

The HAA Berkut is a solar powered airship capable to keep its position over a certain place on a 20 - 23 km altitude.

http://www.rosaerosystems.pbo.ru/pdf/HAA%20Berkut.pdf

http://www.rosaerosystems.pbo.ru/english/projects.html