The Economist $$ has an article on "stratellites" which I'd guess has some relation to these near space vehicles.
They sound REALLY interesting. Supposedly these things are ultra-high flying dirigibles that are solar powered and can carry a 1.4 tonne payload at an altitude of 13 miles. And they're reusable. (They sodding better be. I don't want 1.4 tonne payloads dropping on me in the middle of the night. )
The uses projected in the article are many. From a replacement for satellites, providing a new form of WiFi coverage (for an area the size of Texas), Military payload (Yup those spycraft), and a version of a missile platform for 'Star Wars' type of projects.
Space Daily has an article and pictures that is very similar to what is in the Economist piece. (and you don't have to pay.) They go into the use of stratellites for the new WiFi uses.
Of course, no surprise here, Lockheed Martin is doing the missile platform testing. Though I haven't found much on the particulars on this.
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