Space alternatives
communication will undergo a
sweeping change with strategically
fl oating robotic airships replacing telecom
towers and expensive satellites according
to former NASA manager, Bob Jones.
Jones believes that unmanned Stratellites
(robotic airships) can hover in the
atmosphere and blanket a large area with
wireless access for high-speed data and
voice communication.
The prototype of such airships is
already in the make and is expected to
be out in the market very soon. During
this test phase, the ships are expected to
rise as high as 45,000 feet and fl oat there
for hours. The prototype will be about
one fi fth the planned commercial ships
and will cost about three billion dollars
and is likely to be launched by the end of
this year. These ships will rise to a height
of 65,000 feet and will stay there for 18
months at a time.
The design of the Stratellites varies
from that of traditional blimp—instead
of the cylindrical shape, this one has the
broad tapered nose of a shark. The ship
will be solar powered and will carry loads
of radio and digital devices.
These dirigibles will essentially prove
effective in areas like dead rural zones
or during natural disaster when the
terrestrial tower fails.
The Stratellites will cost much less than
satellites and will be able to cover as wide
as places like Texas. But signals traversing
from telecommunication towers are
at times hampered by line of sight and
limited range. These signals take quarter
of a second to travel a distance of 22,300
miles, which is insignifi cant for one-way
TV signals but terrible for two-way mobile
communication. These Stratellites will
reduce such turn around time.
The stratosphere is an area above the
jet stream and where the temperature
generally tends to freeze. Till date no
such vehicle has stayed there for long
durations. Therefore, a complete 18-
month fl ight at such a location will be a
tough test for these dirigibles.
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