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http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=31670

TELECOMMUNICATION PROJECT AWARDED 1999 KORBER EUROPEAN SCIENCE AWARD


Hamburg, Germany - This year, Hamburg's Korber Foundation awarded its Kvrber European Science Award, which is endowed with DM 1.5 million, to an international research team for the development of new technical solutions to permit construction of stationary high-altitude platforms that fly at a height of 20,000 meters.

This year's prize went to
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Kroplin of the University of Stuttgart, who is also project coordinator, Per Lindstrand MSc (Lindstrand Balloons, Owestry, UK), Dr. John Adrian Pyle (University of Cambridge, UK) and Dr. Michael Rehmet (Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, Friedrichshafen).

In the course of the next three years, the four-man team awarded the prize intends to find new technical solutions that will make it possible to build stationary high-altitude platforms that fly at a height of 20,000 meters. The technical concept calls for giant dirigible-like propeller-driven antenna carriers that can start and land on their own power and cover all energy needs with photovoltaic power, which means with solar energy. Part of the available electric power will be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen electrolytically. With the help of a combustion cell, it will be possible to provide enough energy to get through the night and keep the platforms in position at an altitude of 20,000 meters.

High-altitude platforms are expected to play an important role in telecommunication in the future. They will permit light-of-sight connections without intermediate relays, radio towers or delays for cellular telephony, radio and television as well as wideband communication. High-altitude stations can serve an area with a radius of up to 500 km on the earth's surface and complement satellites because of their low cost. This also makes it more likely that sparsely populated regions will have access to telecommunication possibilities. The prize-winners intend to use the funds from the Korber Foundation to solve problems with regard to the materials to be used for such high-altitude platforms, propulsion systems and flight attitude to open up the way for a new phase of technology on the way to the information society.

Korber European Science Award
The Korber European Science Award is intended to support international cooperation among scientists working in Europe. The Korber Foundation uses the prize to promote promising, innovative and application-oriented research undertakings in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, technology and medicine. The recipients of the prize are responsible for deciding how to use the DM 1.5 million.

This year, the Korber-Foundation has awarded the Korber-Prize for the fifteenth time since 1985. An international board chaired by the President of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Prof. Dr. Hubert Markl, selects the winners of the prizes and their projects.

The 1999 Korber European Science Award will be awarded on Sept. 7, 1999, at 11:00 a.m. in Borsensaal 2 of the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg, which is located at Adolphplatz 1.

The Korber Foundation
The Krber Foundation is a private, non-profit organisation that has been involved in the promotion of international understanding for almost four decades. The Foundation promotes historical and political culture as well as science and research. As an operational foundation, it initiates and finances its varied activities itself. The Hamburg-based foundation is committed to using its projects to deal with contemporary problems and, in particular, to support individuals who are actively involved in shaping the future of our society.

Korber Foundation Board
Prof. Dr. Hubert Markl (Chair.)

Prof. Dr. Richard John Brook

Prof. Dr. Guy Ourisson

Prof. Dr. Benno Parthier

Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schipanski

Prof. Dr. Peter C. Scriba

Prof. Dr. Widmar Tanner

Prof. Dr. Heinrich Ursprung

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