Stratellite
Stratellite is a huge solar-powered airship that will be used to transmit wireless communications at 65,000 feet above the Earth. A company called Sanswire
Networks builds This specialized airship. The high altitude platform (HAP) concept
embodied by Stratellite is not new.The recent airship development has
beenmade possible due to the advances in lightweight materials
and by new power possibilities stemming from advances in solar technology, energy storage,energy management, and propulsion. a demonstration airship will be ready by 2011. Stratellite will cover a 500 km radius footprint for very high frequency (VHF), based on the frequency used. a 250 km footprint is possible if UHF is also made use of. Theairship will float using the buoyancy of the lifting gas, also assisted by the propulsion units. A thin-film PhotoVoltaic cell array will be located on the top of the airship. Batteries will be used through the night cycle. A (GPS) guided and ground controlled system is being considered. The airship will remain afloat upto 1 and half years and can be grounded easily.
Point-to-point links will bring the bandwidth up to the airship.
bandwidth will be assigned to the different transponders by Routers and switches within the airship. Point-to multipoint radios will distribute the bandwidth to the CPE units on the ground and the Optional ground repeaters will act as fill-in units.
For more details , visit:
http://sanswiretaoproduct-stratellite.htm