[AusNOG] Google Loon Balloon Broadband

[Tony]

According to the info available they have a parachute that deploys if the balloon fails. They also have GPS on board and I would hope some kind of beacon that broadcasts their location back to "Loon HQ" at fixed intervals (rather than relying on "in band" to track them). Hopefully if one bursts and starts and uncontrolled descent it will be known about and they can notify the relevant people to look out for it ?  


They are supposely floating above most normal air traffic so the only threat would be on the way up & down which Google say they coordinate with local air traffic control, so the only problem is an AWOL Loon. Unfortunately there is no international agreement on air space and no real legal jurisdiction on who can do what up there. An example of this is that the US mostly coordinates air traffic control over the Pacific Ocean, just by mutual agreement not anything binding. It's mostly accepted that the air space above each country is able to be controlled by the country in question.


I can just image the call going out "We have a Loon down, I repeat A LOON IS DOWN !"

regards,
Tony.



>________________________________
> From: Matt Perkins <matt at spectrum.com.au>
>To: ausnog at lists.ausnog.net 
>Sent: Sunday, 14 July 2013 11:51 AM
>Subject: Re: [AusNOG] Google Loon Balloon Broadband
> 
>
>
>I also wonder if they have considered that when these "loons" reach burst altitude and they start falling with there payload.  What hazard to air navigation will they present.  Have they consulted with ICAO.  Weather and science balloons are used away from air routes however this will conflict with the idea's getting IP to populated areas. Also weather balloons are few these guys are going to need a more then few to get the job done. I guess they could put a transponder on board but 100W 1090Mhz transceivers are not light and have a large power requirement.  If you ask me if we don't need another spotty coverage wireless internet service.  We already have Globalstar. ;)  Perhaps Autonomous UAV's like  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Pathfinder
>
>Matt.
>  
>
>
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