ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Project Loon

Project Loon is a special program created by Google, which involves sending balloons way up high into the sky. These balloons are massive and almost the size of a tennis court, and they go up to about 20 kilometers high. Once they're up there, they create a communication network that makes it possible for people in remote areas to have access to the internet.

So, imagine if you're living in a place where there are no phone lines or towers, and you can't easily access the internet. To make things easier, Project Loon sends up these big balloons that act like Wi-Fi hotspots. They beam down signals from the stratosphere, which is the second layer of the earth's atmosphere (not quite to outer space, but getting close!). This signal then reaches people's devices in areas that usually don't receive a strong internet signal.

These balloons are made of a material called polyethylene and are filled with helium. They float high in the sky because helium is lighter than air, and once they're up there, they move according to wind patterns since they don't have any engines or controls. So, Project Loon works with meteorologists to find the best winds that will take the balloons over the areas that need internet access.

In summary, Project Loon uses big balloons filled with helium to send Wi-Fi signals high up into the air, which provides internet access to people living in remote areas.