Patent ID: 7844218

Claim:
A telecommunications apparatus comprising: at least two ground stations, each of the ground stations including means for transmitting and receiving telecommunications signals; and at least one relay station, the relay station including means for transmitting and receiving telecommunications signals from and to the ground stations and from and to other relay stations, the relay station being disposed at a predetermined altitude within a portion of the stratosphere, the relay station being at a fixed predetermined location over the earth for transmitting and receiving telecommunications signals from and to the ground stations and from and to the other relay stations, the relay station further including means for controlling the vertical and lateral movement of the relay station so that, if the relay station moves from the predetermined altitude and fixed predetermined location, the relay station is moved back to the predetermined altitude and fixed predetermined location within the portion of the stratosphere; wherein the relay station is lighter than air; wherein the relay station further includes an inflatable device and means connected to the inflatable device for deflating it while it is aloft; and wherein the means for deflating the inflatable device includes: an opening in the inflatable device; a frangible cover forming part of an inflatable portion of the inflatable device covering and closing the opening and being operative to seal the opening against the escape of gases from the inflatable device; and an explosive charge operative when detonated to remove the frangible cover from the opening.