Stratospheric Balloons

Stratospheric balloons are powerful tools used to study the Earth and its atmosphere, as well as the greater cosmos beyond. This book describes the science and technology behind modern stratospheric ballooning, along with the surprising ways it has impacted our daily lives. The book takes you through every step of the process, starting with an in-depth introduction to basic balloon types and their uses before delving into balloon construction and mission planning. Along the way, you will learn about the novel technologies that have radically changed these balloons and their ability to launch, control and navigate them over specific ground targets. Next follows an exploration of their incredible applications, including research in atmospheric science, cosmology and astronomy, earth studies, meteorology, and aerobiology, and also commercial capabilities such as Internet networks and high-altitude tourism. The community of scientists,engineers, and entrepreneurs involved in stratospheric ballooning is only ever growing. This book shows you how these national and international efforts have truly soared in recent years, and it will be an enjoyable read for anybody interested in learning more about how science and commerce are conducted in the stratosphere, at the edge of space.

Auteur
Manfred Dutch von Ehrenfried worked in the spaceflight, aviation and nuclear fields for about 25 years. He was a member of the original NASA Space Task Group for Project Mercury and was a NASA Flight Controller in the Mission Control Center for many Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Missions. He also worked on some of the Apollo Lunar Experiment Packages. He also worked in the NASA Headquarters Space Station Task Force and the Program Office as a contractor for about 10 years
As the sensor operator on the NASA High Altitude Aircraft, he worked with scientists to determine how best to obtain the data they wanted from their instruments and develop a flight plan to achieve their objectives. In conjunction with this work, he was an Apollo Pressure Suit test subject which included tests in the Zero G aircraft, centrifuge, and vacuum chamber. As part of this work, he was the NASA MSC Chief of Science Requirements and Operations Branch.

Contenu

Note: The final Contents will only go to two digits; the three digits shown only serve to help the editor and I keep track of the text. Not all areas have been researched down to three digits.

Frontispiece

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

1 Introduction

2 Stratospheric Balloon Descriptions

2.1 Types

2.2 Zero Pressure Balloons

2.2.1 Ultra High Altitude Balloons

2.3 Super Pressure Balloons

2.3.1 Program Goals

2.3.2 The Balloon

2.3.3 Size and Shape

2.3.4 Test Flights 2.3.5 The Future

2.4 Long and Ultra Long Duration Balloons

2.4.1 Long Duration Balloons

2.4.2 Ultra Long Duration Balloons

2.5 Commercial Stratospheric Balloons

2.5.1 Loon

2.5.2 World View

2.5.3 Space Perspective

2.5.4 Raven Aerostar 2.5.5 Near Space

2.5.6 International Corporations and Others

3 Balloon Elements

3.1 Balloon Envelopes

3.1.1 Schjeldahl/Winzen

3.1.2 Raven Aerostar

3.1.3 World View

3.1.4 Near Space

3.1.5 Other Balloon Envelopes 3.1.6 Ultra Thin Films

3.2 Parachutes

3.2.1 The Basic Design

3.2.2 Raven Aerostar

3.2.3 World View

3.2.4 Other Manufacturers

3.3 Instrument Carriers/Gondolas

3.3.1 CSBF

3.3.2 Sage Cheshire Aerospace

3.3.3 Space Perspective 3.4 Support Equipment

3.4.1 Ground

3.4.2 Flight

3.5 Technology Examples

3.5.1 Trajectory Control

3.5.2 Other Trajectory Control

3.5.3 Future Technology Needs

4 Mission Drivers and Operations

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Pre-Mission

4.1.2 Requirements and Constraints

4.1.3 Range and Safety

4.1.4 Overflight Planning 4.1.5 Weather Forecasts

4.2 Mission Operations

4.2.1 Real-Time Planning and Coordination

4.2.2 Flight Safety

4.2.3 Real-Time Weather and Winds

4.2.4 Command & Control

4.2.5 Recovery Operations

4.2.6 Post Flight Analysis

5 Commercial Corporations and Applications

5.1 Loon

5.1.1 Historical Timeline

5.1.2 Equipment

5.1.3 Software

5.1.4 Collaboration

5.2 World View Enterprises

5.2.1 Stratollites

5.2.2 Stratocraft

5.2.3 Pointing Control

5.2.4 Ballast and Attitude Control

5.3 Space Perspective

5.4 Raven Aerostar

5.4.1 Flight Services

5.4.2 Field Support

5.4.3 Training Program

5.4.4 Flight Systems

5.4.5 Airships

5.4.6 Parachutes 5.4.7 Tracking

5.5 Near Space Corporation

5.5.1 Flight Operations 5.5.2 Manufacturing

5.6 Stratobus

5.7 Zero to Infinity

5.7.1 Boostar

5.8 ISTAR

5.8.1 Long Duration Balloon

5.8.2 Circumpolar Flight

5.8.3 Antarctic Flight

5.9 HASP

5.9.1 Purpose

6 Launch Sites

6.1 U.S.

6.2 International

7 Scientific Flight Types

7.1 Atmosphere

7.1.1 Earth Radiation Budget

7.1.2 Aeronomy

7.1.3 Aerobiology

7.1.4 Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs)

7.2 Earth Studies

7.3 Solar, Astronomy and Cosmology

7.3.1 BOOMERANG

7.3.2 superTIGER

7.4 Instrument and Technology Development

7.4.1 BOBCAT

7.4.2

7.5 Recent and Future Flights

7.5.1 2017-2020 Flights

7.5.2 COSI

7.5.3 GUSTO

7.5.4 ASTHROS

8 Accomplishments 8.1 Scientific Discovery Examples

8.1.1 Earth and Atmosphere

8.1.2 Cosmology

8.2 Commercial Successes

8.2.1Internet Service

8.2.2 Sensors

8.2.3 Ground Support Equipment (auto launchers)

8.3 Country Accomplishments

9 The Balloon World

9.1 Scientific Organizations

9.1.1 Wallops Flight Facility

9.1.2 Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

9.1.3 Support Contractors

9.1.4 National Science Foundation

9.1.5 National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration

9.1.6 JPL

9.1.7 NMSU

9.2 University Scientists and Students

9.2.1 High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)

9.2.2 Scientists Flight Examples

9.3 International Organizations and Countries

9.3.1 Canadian Space Agency 9.3.2 CNES

9.3.3 Japanese Space Agency

9.3.4 European Union 9.3.5 ESA/Sweden/Germany

9.3.6 Thales Alenia/Hispasat/Leonardo

9.3.7 The Netherlands 9.3.8 India

9.3.9 Brazil

9.3.10 Australia 9.4 Military and Security

9.4.1 Air Force

9.4.2 Space Data

9.4.3 Security and Utilities

10 Educating the Next Generation

10.1 Funding Sources 10.1.1 NASA

10.1.2 NSF

10.1.3 Battelle 10.2 Examples of Balloon Education Programs

10.2 1University of Wyoming LIFT

10.2.2 Sisters High School RISE 10.2.3 University of Nebraska Omaha

10.2.4 EOSS/University of Colorado

10.2.5 New Mexico State University 10.3 Examples of Corporate Educational Programs

10.3.1 Raven Aerospace

10.3.2 StratoStar

10.4 Youthful Entrepreneurs

11 Conclusions

Appendices (Potential as time and space permits)

Appendix 1 A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF

Appendix 2 Scientists and Engineers

Appendix 3 Network and Internet Communications

Appendix 4 Short Stories

Appendix 5 Quotes

Appendix 6 Planetary Balloons

References, Internet Links and Videos

Glossary and Terminology

About the Author

Index