Loon Project: How Google is trying to control Earth's satellites – What is Google Loon?

LOON PROJECT, Google’s ambitious attempt to introduce the internet around the world, is embarking on a new chapter, using low Earth orbit technology. So what exactly is Google Loon?

Billions of people around the world remain without internet access and Google is trying to fix this.

Google’s Loon Project is a network of high-altitude helium balloons, delivering internet access to those in underserved communities around the world.

And in a strategic twist, the Alphabet-owned company have announced Loon’s software will now control a new fleet of low Earth-orbiting satellites, in an attempt to finally realise their ambitious mission objectives.

Project Loon last week announced an arrangement with its former rival, Canadian telecommunications company Telesat.

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The deal will see Google’s custom software for managing its Loon balloon fleet control Telesat’s new fleet of low Earth orbit satellites.

The partnership follows Project Loon’s acknowledgement their plan for worldwide internet access will not alone achieve its aim.

Loon CEO Alastair Westgarth explained the project has learned solving the logistical difficulties required collaboration, not just better technology.

He said: “The opportunity is bigger than any one of us.

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“During that learning process, we decided that we needed to seek collaboration.”

The deal marks the first time Loon has ever licensed out proprietary technology as a packaged software service.

Google’s Telesat partnership will provide Project Loon with new revenue streams, as its software for controlling non-stationary aerial networks is transformed into a product for the burgeoning satellite industry.

The lower portion of Earth’s atmosphere is increasingly seen as a potentially lucrative and untapped market.

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Loon’s Head of Engineering Sal Candido explained the adaptability of the two projects: “Since our balloons move with the winds, their physical coordinates are constantly changing in relation to the ground, each other, and you.

“The synergy between balloons and non-geostationary orbit satellites comes from a shared characteristic – both are in constant motion relative to the Earth and one another.

“Because of that motion, the network challenges present in Loon’s internet balloon system will also be present for future NGSO communications satellites.”

The Alphabet-owned Project Loon has been used for controlling the network traffic for Loon’s mobile communication service primarily in South America.

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Loon started life as a semi-secret Google X project but became a standalone company under Alphabet in 2018.

Because Alphabet’s more experimental enterprises cost billions to run, the resulting companies come under pressure to instantly turn a profit.

And Project Loon is considered to be one of the rare Alphabet companies already plotting a clear path toward becoming a self-sustaining success story.

This is in contrast with other, ill-fated enterprises: Alphabet’s solar-powered internet drone division was shut down in 2017.

Access, the telecom unit encompassing Google Fibre, and drone delivery outfit Project Wing, have both experienced CEO woes, while smart home company Nest has lost both its co-founders and was folded back into Google last year.

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source: express.co.uk