A high-altitude balloon that was launched by Google with the aim of providing high speed Internet service in remote parts of the world has crashed in a Kenyan farm.
The balloon which was launched under project Loon, was part of a 10 balloon batch that was deployed for testing in Nakiru, Nanyuki, Nyeri and Marsabit in July 2017.
According to Keyan local media, the balloon crashed at Nthambiro in Meru on Friday might. And some residents complained of headaches after they gathered around the device to catch a view of it.
"The device from project loon indicates it fell after its expiry of six months. No one is yet to claim the device," Igembe South OCPD Jane Nyakeruma said.
Some time last year, Google announced that it was years closer to deliver Internet to remote part of the world using flying balloons.
According to Google's Project Loon researchers, it was now possible to use machine learning to predict weather systems. This allows the firm to control where the balloons goes, and even focus on a particular region instead of traveling round the globe.
The balloons float in the stratosphere around 11 miles high. By rising or lowering altitude, the balloons can be caught in different weather streams, changing direction.