Google reveals more about Project Loon with behind-the-scenes look

Google has kicked off Project Loon in all earnestness and now the company has revealed more about the crazy-sounding Google X project. The appropriately-named initiative aims to bring affordable Internet to remote parts of the world by using balloons floating 20kms above sea level. To better explain how Project Loon works, Google has now released a video. Check it out:

Google had held an event yesterday where it interviewed Project Loon’s designers and makers. The company also broadcasted a live Loon balloon launch through Hangouts. You can check out a bunch of videos related to Project Loon, including some that explain the technology and some that even show pilot tests, on the official Project Loon YouTube channel.

Also attending the event was Lauren Rojas, who earlier this year had managed to launch a Hello Kitty figurine into space back in January. She filmed the whole thing with a camera in hand and a camera attached to the balloon holding the figurine. Check it out:

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Describing Loon on its official website, Google states: “Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.”

According to Google, “We believe it’s possible to create a ring of balloons that fly around the globe on the stratospheric winds and provide Internet access to the earth below. Balloons present some really hard science problems, but we’re excited about the progress so far.”