Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO STRATELLITE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Wireless communication is simply data communication without the use of
landlines. This may involve cellular telephone, two-way radio, fixed wireless
(broadband wireless), laser (free space optics) or satellite communication systems.
Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the
wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other’s
areas of reference.

Since from the beginning of wireless communications, there have been a

number of developments in each generation. Considering the future generation of
wireless communication i.e.; 4G.

1.2 4th GENERATION

HAPS have the potential to become the third communications infrastructure
after terrestrial and satellite communications. The platforms keep their positions at
about 20 km high in the stratosphere. By optical intercommunication links, they make a
mesh-like network in the sky. A broadband access link is the link between the platform
station and the user station.
The typical bit rate of the access link is 25 Mb/s for most fixed and portable
terminals, while a several hundred megabits per second link is available for limited
fixed terminals with antennas larger than the typical ones. Because of using millimeter-
wave bands, a small antenna with high gain is feasible. For example, a bit rate of 144
kb/s can be provided for vehicles by only a 5 cm dish antenna with 20 dB gain

1.3 4G MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Some of the systems for future mobile communications are:
1. Broad-Band Wireless Systems
2. Intelligent Transport Systems
3. High Altitude Stratospheric Platform Station Systems.

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 1.3.1 BROAD-BAND WIRELESS SYSTEMS
Wireless networks can feature data rates roughly equivalent to some wired
networks, such as that of asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) or a cable modem.
Wireless networks can also be symmetrical, meaning the same rate in both directions
(downstream and upstream), which is most commonly associated with fixed wireless
networks. A fixed wireless network link is a stationary terrestrial wireless connection,
which can support higher data rates for the same power as mobile or satellite systems.
Few wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) provide download speeds of
over 100 Mbit/s; most broadband wireless access (BWA) services are estimated to have
a range of 50 km (31 mi) from a tower. Technologies used include LMDS and MMDS,
as well as heavy use of the ISM bands and one particular access technology was
standardized by IEEE 802.16, with products known as WiMAX.
WiMAX is highly popular in Europe but has not met full acceptance in the
United States because cost of deployment does not meet return on investment figures.
In 2005 the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order that
revised the FCC’s rules to open the 3650 MHz band for terrestrial wireless broadband
operations

1.3.2 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

Although ITS may refer to all modes of transport, EU Directive 2010/40/EU of
7 July 2010 on the framework for the deployment of intelligent transport systems in the
field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport defines ITS as
systems in which information and communication technologies are applied in the field
of road transport, including infrastructure, vehicles and users, and in traffic
management and mobility management, as well as for interfaces with other modes of
transport.

Recent governmental activity in the area of ITS – specifically in the United

States – is further motivated by an increasing focus on homeland security. Many of the
proposed ITS systems also involve surveillance of the roadways, which is a priority of
homeland security. Funding of many systems comes either directly through homeland
security organizations or with their approval. Further, ITS can play a role in the rapid
mass evacuation of people in urban centers after large casualty events such as a result
of a natural disaster or threat. Much of the infrastructure and planning involved with
ITS parallels the need for homeland security systems.

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 In the developing world, the migration from rural to urbanized habitats has
progressed differently. Many areas of the developing world have urbanized without
significant motorization and the formation of suburbs. A small portion of the
population can afford automobiles, but the automobiles greatly increase congestion in
these multimodal transportation systems. They also produce considerable of air
pollution, pose a significant safety risk, and exacerbate feelings of inequities in the
society. High-population density could be supported by a multimodal system of
walking, bicycle transportation, motorcycles, buses, and trains
Intelligent transport systems vary in technologies applied, from basic
management systems such as car navigation; traffic signal control systems; container
management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or
speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems; and to more
advanced applications that integrate live data and feedback from a number of other
sources, such as parking guidance and information systems; weather information;
bridge de-icing (US deicing) systems; and the like. Additionally, predictive techniques
are being developed to allow advanced modeling and comparison with historical
baseline data. Some of these technologies are described in the following sections.

1.3.3 HIGH ALTITUDE STRATOSPHERIC PLATFORM STATION

SYSTEMS (HAPS)
HAPS has the potential to become the third communications infrastructure after
terrestrial and satellite communications. The platforms keep their positions at about 20
km high in the stratosphere. By optical intercommunication links, they make a mesh-
like network in the sky. A broadband access link is the link between the platform
station and the user station.
The typical bit rate of the access link is 25 Mb/s for most fixed and portable
terminals, while a several hundred megabits per second link is available for limited
fixed terminals with antennas larger than the typical ones. Because of using millimeter-
wave bands, a small antenna with high gain is feasible. For example, a bit rate of 144
kb/s can be provided for vehicles by only a 5 cm dish antenna with 20 dB gain.

3
 Fig
1.1 Simple HAPS System

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 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE SURVEY
If an airborne platform could remain stationary in the stratosphere, it would be the ideal
radio station for a novel communications syatem. Active and passive communications
platforms at high altitudes are not an idea long distance telephone calls were made by
bouncing signals from Echo, a giant bal-loon launched in 1960 to passively reflect broadcasts
from Bell Laboratories. The firstproposal for use of an airship was the US Navy led HASPA
programme which wasreported in 1978. This was remarkably similar in principle to today’s
proposals, i.e.,solar cells for daytime power, fuel cell for energy storage and electric motor
and pro-peller for propulsions. It was to be a low cost alternative to a satellite and
primarilywas intended for high altitude fleet defence. A number of un-powered airship
envelopeswere built and tested but no stratospheric flight was carried out. The next proposal
wasthe HI-SPOT programme initiated in the early days of the “Star Wars” era in 1981.This was
a more unconventional approach using 45 piston engines driving a single pro-peller fuelled
from liquefied hydrogen. This obviously means frequently refuelling andthus returns to the
surface which is undesirable in an airship as 90% of airship acci-dents happen during the
docking phase. HI-SPOT remained a paper study. At aboutthe same time that Dr Onda
produced his HALROP concept in 1995, Sky Station Inc.was created by former US Defence
Secretary Alexander Haig and a group of physi-cists from UCLA led by Professor Wong, a
noted nuclear scientist [3]. Other projectswere subsequently proposed worldwide, including
HALO, Helinet, SkyNet, Stratellite, andSkyTower.While the idea of a stratospheric platform is
not new, it has been difficult to realise mainlybecause of platform stability issues. Data from
worldwide measurements of stratosphericwind velocities indicate high winds averaging 30–
40m/s. These are long-term averages,and little is known about the time scales on the order of
minutes or hours. The concernis that the airborne platforms will not be able to withstand
sudden wind gusts, resultingin temporary loss of communication. Although the wind direction
in stratospheric layerremains steady for most of the year, except for a twice yearly change of
180, the instan-taneous power is still needed to counter the wind force exerted on an airship
[70]. Recently,advances in composite materials, computers and navigation systems, low-
speed, high-alti-tude aerodynamics, propulsions systems, including internal combustion and
solar powered,have made station keeping more realisable and hence HAPS communications
systems moreachievable.Terrestrial tower based systems and satellite systems are two well
established methods of providing wireless communications. One of the main reasons why

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HAPS-based communica-tions systems are highly favoured is its free space like path loss
characteristic. For example,for a HAPS located at 22km above the ground, the path loss is
comparable to a location atthe edge of a small terrestrial ground-based cell with a radius of
2km. Literature has provideda top level details of the main differences between HAPS,
terrestrial, and satellite Systems[1].WhileHAPS
providessubstantialadvantagesoverterrestrialand satellitesystems, thesuc-cessful deployment
of HAPS communications systems would require integration of availableand emerging
platform technologies to make long-term operation feasible and profitable. Inaddition, some
issues on communications systems will need to be addressed as well, e.g.,design and
implementation of the required multibeam steerable onboard antenna,
channelcharacterisation,resourcemanagement,coordinationandinter-operability between
HAPSandother systems, etc. Also, although various HAPS systems have great potential for
construct-ing a new communications infrastructure, they are seen as being high-risk projects
requir-ing a very large capital investment, large-scale facilities as well as high human
resourcecosts

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 Chapter 3
STRATELLITE
3.1 STRATELLITE
A “stratellite” is a high-altitude airship (HAA) “25 times larger than the
Goodyear blimp” employed much like a satellite for remote sensing, navigation, and
communications. Instead of being stationed on orbit, stratellites are positioned in the
stratosphere approximately 13 miles above the Earth.
This altitude places the airships above both commercial air traffic and weather effects
but significantly lower than standard low earth orbits. From this height stratellites can service a
300,000-square-mile-area. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
projects that eleven such airships could provide radar coverage of the entire maritime and
southern borders of the United States.

Fig 3.1 STRATELLITE

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3.2 Construction Of Stratellite
The initial Stratellite was 188 feet long, 60 feet wide and 42 feet high. It is provided
with a new steering method which uses a hybrid electric system that drives large ,slow-turning
propellers. This gives the airship helicopter -like agility by being able to move both up and
down, and side to side.
The outside layer, or "envelope," is made out of a high -tech material called Spectra - a
fabric used in bullet-proof vests and parts of space shuttles. Spectra contains fiber 10 times as
strong as steel of the same weight and has the unique feature of being easy to cut but virtually
impossible to tear.

Fig 3.2 Construction of Stratellite

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 Fig 3.3 srtatellite

The inside layer, made from a thin but strong polyester film called Mylar, is fitted
inside the envelope and filled with a mixture of helium and air as helium is an inert gas and is
therefore not flammable. With this design, the helium expands as the airship rises, forcing air
out and lifting the airship. The cycle continues, allowing the airship to gain more and more
altitude until the helium has expand d to fill the envelope completely. Because the pressure is
so low inside the envelope, a puncture would only result in a very slow leak, taking a long time
to totally deflate. 4,000 pounds, and later models are expected to carry over 20,000 pounds of
radars and other remote imaging equipment, navigational aids, and telecommunications relays.
Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a fifth as much as
a comparable satellite.

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 3.3 SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
a. Length: 245 ft in (75 m)
b. Width: 145 ft in (44 m)
c. Height: 87 ft in (26.5 m)
d. Volume: 1.3 million ft3 (420,000 m3)
PERFORMANCE
a. Service ceiling: 70,000 ft (21,000 m)
b. Dual envelopes, made of Dynamo (sometimes called Spectra)
c. Navigation: 6 onboard GPS units connected to the ship's engines
d. Payload capacity: 3,000 lb (1,451 kg)
e. Cruising altitude: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
f. Lifting gas: Helium and Nitrogen
g. Line-of-sight: 300,000 mile² (480,000 km²)
h. Maximum duration aloft: 18 months
3.4 STRATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANTAGES
Stratellites are actually unmanned Kevlar balloons filled with helium. They use
thin film photovoltaic cells sprayed on their surfaces to generate electricity, which
drives propellers that work with GPS technology to keep the stratellite positioned over
one spot on the Earth’s surface. Prototype airships are projected to carry payloads as
large as 4,000 pounds, and later models are expected to carry over 20,000 pounds of
radars and other remote imaging equipment, navigational aids, and telecommunications
relays. Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a
fifth as much as a comparable satellite
a. Decreases Signal latency
b. Less expensive to launch
c. Service an area of 300,000 square-miles
d. Two-way high speed data communication
e. High speed broad-band access even in remote area.
f. For a country two stratellites are enough instead of thousands of towers

3.5 DRAWBACKS OF SATELLITES

These firms are becoming involved with stratellites because they avoid the two
main drawbacks of satellites. The first is signal latency, which can cause problems in
establishing broadband links. Most telecommunications satellites are in geostationary
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orbit to remain above a certain point on the Earth’s surface. That orbit, however, is
22,240 miles above the Earth, (i.e; in the area called CLARKE’S BELT), which means
that a signal going up to the satellite(uplink) and back to the Earth(downlink) travels
nearly 45,000 miles, which equates to about a quarter of a second delay. Even users of
satellite voice links notice the delay.

Fig 3.4 stratellite transmission

The second drawback is that satellites are in space, requiring expensive space
launches, an additional level of regulation by national space authorities, and an orbital
allotment by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Stratellites remain in
national airspace and are Stratellites remain in national airspace and are therefore not
subject to these licensing and technology requirements. However, they do make use of
space technology and, as stated above, are in development by at least one space
industry firm.

3.6 SERVICES
At an altitude of 13 miles, each Stratellite will have clear line-of-site
communications capability to an entire major metropolitan area as well as being able to
provide coverage across major rural areas. “The idea, if successful, would be
revolutionary for underserved areas where broadband is not as popular because the
areas are too expensive to reach by telephone or cable network.” “Existing satellites
provide easy ‘download’ capabilities, but because of their high altitude are not practical
or commercially viable for a ‘two-way’ high speed data communication. The Stratellite

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will allow subscribers to easily communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily
available wireless technology.”
This means that subscribers can send and receive information using the
network, like the current broadband internet system but, without the wires, cables and
cellular towers.

3.7 APPLICATIONS IT ENABLES

Once a Stratellite network is in place, it will provide a national broadband
wireless network that will provide voice, video, and broadband internet access to all
parts of the country. By linking several Stratellites together they can provide a wireless
broadband network that will cover thousands of miles. With a Stratellite network,
subscribers will be able to sit in their homes and be connected on their laptops to the
internet at high speed. If subscribers need to go to the office, across town, or even to
another city, they can close their laptop and take off, reopening the laptop at their new
destination and still be connected to the internet. In environmental disasters
telecommunication breaks down within seconds, Re-installation of the infrastructure
takes weeks or months. The Stratellite can be used as a floating mobile
telecommunication station for all telecommunication purposes and the transmission of
temporary data communication, telecommunication and TV-programs as well as long
term missions over metropolitan cities. This would allow subscribers the ease of not
having to find local access numbers, tie up phone lines, deal with modem hassles, and
more importantly, slow speeds. In addition to internet use, “proposed
telecommunications uses include cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, fixed wireless
telephony, HDTV, real-time surveillance and others.

3.8 STRATELLITES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Stratellites offer a window of telecommunications opportunity. Effectively, a
Stratellite positioned over a major metropolitan area could act as a cell tower thirteen
miles high. A Stratellite, equipped with the appropriate transponders, could manage the
wireless needs of that entire metropolitan area. Transponder access could be leased to
broadband users such as Internet Service Providers (ISP’s), cell phone companies,
television networks, radio stations, various levels of government, and to corporations
with large broadband requirements. These consumers could then resell access to end
users, for residential Internet access, for example.

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 None of this type of business or wireless use is innovative, so existing
regulatory schemes and business models cover Stratellite communications. In fact,
Stratellites employed in this manner would make use of existing spectrum allocations,
at least initially, and not require expensive bandwidth acquisition. Additionally, the
marketing of such links would be virtually identical to current marketing. By increasing
the utility and availability of the type of link that has, until now, been restricted to
satellites, firms can bring broadband links to new areas, provide for increased usage,
and service larger markets without any fundamental change in operations.

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3.9 STRATELLITE CHALLENGES AND BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES
Though the opportunities for increasing broadband links and for profit are
enormous, Stratellites are still in their infancy. They present several problems that have
yet to be fully addressed. The public may be concerned about such large, unmanned
payloads stationed above metropolitan areas and recent developments in sub-orbital
flight could eventually lead to traffic problems in the stratosphere. More importantly,
critics question whether technology really exists that can keep Stratellites on station for
such long periods of time. Once these concerns are overcome and working Stratellites
are available, the potential exists for vastly expanding broadband links.
Some telecommunications providers, such as Sanswire Technologies, have
recognized this marketing opportunity and already have formed joint ventures with the
space industry and balloon-makers. However, in addition to marketing, Stratellites will
require ground control and maintenance, and used Stratellites will require
refurbishment before redeployment, tasks which the manufacturers and marketers may
well lack the capacity or desire to perform.
As broadband requirements increase, Stratellites present a mobile, low-cost,
highcapacity alternative to satellite relays and cell towers. In remote areas, over the
oceans, in metropolises, and in areas stricken by disaster, Stratellites will immediately
provide broadband access and broadcast capacity. Prototypes are in testing and
development now.
The potential benefits of Stratellites are so great that it is not a question of
whether the technological problems will be solved, but when. Soon Stratellites will be
bringing the Internet, cell phone access, radar monitoring, and radio and television
service to all corners of the globe.

3.10 MARKETABILITY AND COSTS

In addition to providing “two-way” communication, Stratellites make more
sense than wireless systems and satellites: (1) there is no use of huge ugly cellular
towers, since they are in orbit, and (2) they are far cheaper to launch, maintain and
upgrade than satellites. However, there are still two big concerns: if Stratellites will
actually work, and their cost as launching things into space (or near space) can be
costly.
Using wireless equipment, a company would have to install over 14,000 cellular
towers to cover the same area as Snaswire’s proposed Stratellite based national wireless

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network. That means that there will be over 14,000 more ugly towers to hide. In
addition, this technology will make the need for expensive cabling obsolete.
“One of the many advantages our High Altitude Airships have over satellite
technology is that the payload can easily be recovered, upgraded, and re-launched in a
matter of hours.” Thus, each airship can be retrieved and re-used.
Even if these costs are kept down Stratellites do not come without problems or
doubters. They have to float inside 200 to 300 meter box and that’s hard for an airship.
After you solve that problem, you have to create a service that can perform better and
cheaper than DSL. In addition, Stratellites are susceptible to the same kinds of
interferences that satellite systems currently are.
Overall, the idea of a Stratellite wireless network seem to be marketable in the
sense that they would be more cost effective than satellites and cellular towers, and
with the proper testing they potentially have the ability to turn the whole country in one
giant hot spot. This is something that from judging by the popularity and use of
“hotspots” the nation is ready for.

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 Chapter- 4
SATELLITES
4.1 SATELLITE
How does a television signal get to the other side of the world in seconds? What
tells ships exactly where they are in the middle of the ocean? How do we get warning
that storms are coming? Satellites do all these things and more

Fig 4.1 satellite

4.2 WHAT ARE SATELLITES?

Satellites are objects in outer space that fly around planets in circular paths
called orbits. Artificial satellites are made by people. Thousands of satellites are
zooming around our planet right now.
The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957.
Sputnik 1 broadcasted a steady signal of beeps. It circled Earth for three months and
then fell back into the atmosphere and burned up. The atmosphere is the air that
surrounds Earth.

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4.3 HOW DO SATELLITES GET INTO SPACE
Satellites need to reach a height of at least 120 miles (200 kilometers) to orbit.
They also need to travel faster than 18,000 miles per hour (29,000 kilometers per hour).
A satellite any lower or slower would soon fall back down to Earth. It takes a rocket to
bring satellites up to that height and speed. Most satellites are launched from the
ground. Some small satellites can be launched from highflying planes. This uses less
fuel. Other satellites are launched using a space shuttle or other piloted rocket. This
way, astronauts on the space shuttle can make sure the satellite is working and gets into
the right orbit.
4.4 WHAT ARE SATELLITES USED FOR?
Satellites are used for a great many things. Communications satellites beam TV,
radio, and telephone signals all around the world. Navigational satellites help people
know where they are and get where they are going. Weather satellites take pictures of
clouds and storms from above to help make weather forecasts. Spy satellites look down
and snoop on other countries. Other satellites help scientists to study Earth and other
planets.

4.5 HOW DO SATELLITES WORK IN SPACE?

Space is a difficult place to be. You can’t plug in a cord in outer space, so
satellites need to take a power source with them. It’s hard to get satellites pointed in the
right direction because there’s nothing to turn them with. Satellites need to work in the
freezing cold of Earth’s shadow as well as in the blazing heat of the Sun’s rays. They
also need to be tough enough to survive collisions with tiny asteroids (space rocks)!
Most satellites use both power from the Sun and batteries to work. They catch
the Sun’s energy using large flat solar panels. Satellites keep these panels pointed at the
Sun. They use batteries when the Sun doesn’t shine on them.
Satellites can stay pointed in the right direction using small rockets called
attitude thrusters. They can also use instruments called gyroscopes. Sometimes magnets
on board the satellite can push against the magnetic field of Earth to aim the satellite
correctly.
No air flows past satellites to cool them. To keep from getting too hot in the
Sun, satellites have panels that open and close. This lets heat escape. Satellites often
spin so the Sun doesn’t make one side so hot that it melts.

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 Chapter 6
CONCLUSION
Stratelites provide the required facilities of wireless communication more
efficiently than the ordinary towers. The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily
communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily available wireless technology.” They minimize
the cost of communication.
Stratellites present a mobile, low-cost, high-capacity alternative to satellite relays and
cell towers. Once the defects of Stratellites have been overcome and become more reliable,
they play a vital role in the future generation wireless communication.
Once the defects of Stratellites have been overcome and become more reliable, they
play a vital role in the future generation wireless communication. This is a promising
technology that could combine the best of Satellite and wired Internet - fast with low latency
and hugely widespread, at least in theory. Probably the most "far out there" concept in this
roundup, Stratellite is actually much closer to reality than what you may think.

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 BIBLOGRAPHY
1. www.google.co.in
2. www.yahoosearch.com
3. Howstuffworks.com
4. 21st Century Airships, Inc., High Altitude Platy http://www.21stcenturyairships.com/
5. Geostationary Orbits, in Wikipedia, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit (last
accessed Sept. 28, 2004).
6. TWUF, Broadband Takes to the Skiesrt Tec dirt, Get Your Wireless Broadband By
Stratellite,

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