French space agency and Google collaborate on internet balloons

The Center National d’Etudes Spatiales, the French space agency, is partnering with Google on Project Loon. Both parties will use each other’s expertise, with Google gaining access to flight analysis for the internet balloons.

The CNES announced the partnership with Google on its own website. According to the French space agency, a contribution is being made to Project Loon. The input of the French gives Google access to, among other things, flight analysis of the balloons, which are in the stratosphere. The CNES will also contribute to the development of internet balloons.

Conversely, Google will offer its help to CNES. The latter plans to experiment with balloons itself and can make good use of Google’s technology. The goal is to be able to study the stratosphere through sensors built into the balloons.

Project Loon is a Google initiative to bring internet to developing countries via balloons floating in the stratosphere. They have technology on board so that a mobile internet connection can be established on the ground. Compared to last year, Google has already made significant improvements: the balloons now fly ten times longer than a year earlier.