5 ms·

While I agree that there's a bit more to it, let me see if I can rebuff a few of your points. 1. Yes, a typical weather balloon will do that, but it's possible

While I agree that there's a bit more to it, let me see if I can rebuff a few of your points. 1. Yes, a typical weather balloon will do that, but it's possible to make a balloon reach neutral buoyancy at a specific altitude see:zeplin. 2. WiFi is a poor choice, that I agree. Assuming you're using something else, you can actually use a directional antenna pointed straight down with a very narrow (2-5 degree) beam. As long as there's no obstructions on the way down, it should work fine. It's like of like how a satellite works. You're probably not going to get 100Mbps, but if you multiplex it over enough balloons, it might work. 3. See 1, you can tune buoyancy with weight. Weather balloons are usually really light so that it keeps the costs down and they can go higher faster.

pixelbath 15y ago
I hope I'm not being pedantic by pointing out that the person to whom you are replying has, in fact, floated a capsule to the upper atmosphere: http://blog.jgc.org/2011/04/gaga-1-flight.html http://blog.jgc.org/2011/04/gaga-1-flight.html
- CountHackulus 15y ago
  Didn't know that, that's pretty awesome.
ars 15y ago
> but it's possible to make a balloon reach neutral buoyancy at a specific altitude see:zeplin Only for a short time. Hydrogen leaks, and helium leaks even faster. Plus how do you keep it from blowing away in the wind? (Keep in mind that winds also blow up and down.)
- CountHackulus 15y ago
  Leaking is a harder problem, I don't see any way around it other than using hot air or having some sort of autonomous in-flight refueling. As for the wind, I vote that it shouldn't matter, as long as it doesn't get stuck in a downdraft that crashes it, or an updraft that brings it above its operational ceiling, then lat/long shouldn't matter too much as long as there's enough of them. This is supposed to be a backup in case TPB gets shut down, some sort of mass backup distribution. On average, the airborne servers should be available once in a while. But you're right, there's massive problems any persistent airborne presence.
  - ars 15y ago
    > then lat/long shouldn't matter too much as long as there's enough of them So you are suggesting let them move randomly yes? Well if you assume a 10km range you would need 1.62 million of these to cover the earth, and since they would probably bunch up due to wind, you'd need even more of them. And why do you assume they won't be stuck in up or downdrafts? Earth's air pressure varies constantly, so a truly neutral position is impossible. But even if you managed it, the slightest breeze would move it easily - meaning they would constantly crash to the ground or go too high and pop.

pixelbath 15y ago

I hope I'm not being pedantic by pointing out that the person to whom you are replying has, in fact, floated a capsule to the upper atmosphere: http://blog.jgc.org/2011/04/gaga-1-flight.html http://blog.jgc.org/2011/04/gaga-1-flight.html

CountHackulus 15y ago
Didn't know that, that's pretty awesome.

ars 15y ago

> but it's possible to make a balloon reach neutral buoyancy at a specific altitude see:zeplin Only for a short time. Hydrogen leaks, and helium leaks even faster. Plus how do you keep it from blowing away in the wind? (Keep in mind that winds also blow up and down.)

CountHackulus 15y ago
Leaking is a harder problem, I don't see any way around it other than using hot air or having some sort of autonomous in-flight refueling. As for the wind, I vote that it shouldn't matter, as long as it doesn't get stuck in a downdraft that crashes it, or an updraft that brings it above its operational ceiling, then lat/long shouldn't matter too much as long as there's enough of them. This is supposed to be a backup in case TPB gets shut down, some sort of mass backup distribution. On average, the airborne servers should be available once in a while. But you're right, there's massive problems any persistent airborne presence.
- ars 15y ago
  > then lat/long shouldn't matter too much as long as there's enough of them So you are suggesting let them move randomly yes? Well if you assume a 10km range you would need 1.62 million of these to cover the earth, and since they would probably bunch up due to wind, you'd need even more of them. And why do you assume they won't be stuck in up or downdrafts? Earth's air pressure varies constantly, so a truly neutral position is impossible. But even if you managed it, the slightest breeze would move it easily - meaning they would constantly crash to the ground or go too high and pop.