Stratospheric Platforms 3-2-1 R&D Program on Telecom and Broadcasting System Using High Altitude Platform Stations

Telecommunication and broadcasting systems using radio-relay/base stations on board the high altitude platforms are expected to create the largest business market among its possible applications. Telecommunications Advanced Organization (TAO) and Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) is conducting R&D on the telecom and broadcasting system to demonstrate its feasibility. Prototype onboard equipment and ground equipment are being developed on schedule in the fixed, mobile, and broadcasting services. The performance of them will be demonstrated and evaluated in the preliminary flight test planned in 2002 using a helicopter, a jet and a stratospheric unmanned solar plane, Pathfinder Plus, which was developed by NASA, before the flight test using the low-altitude powered test airship being developed by National Aerospace Laboratory.