Technology development for a long duration,mid-cloud level Venus balloon |
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Authors: | JL Hall AH Yavrouian VV Kerzhanovich T Fredrickson C Sandy Michael T Pauken EA Kulczycki GJ Walsh M Said S Day |
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Institution: | 1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States;2. ILC Dover Inc., One Moodwalker Road, Frederica, DE 19946-2080, United States;3. NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA, United States;4. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., 3315 Almaden Expressway, Suite 24, San Jose, CA 95118, United States |
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Abstract: | This paper describes the results of ongoing technology development activities for a Venus spherical superpressure balloon capable of flying for long durations (30 days) in the middle cloud layer at an altitude of 55.5 km. Data is presented from a successful aerial deployment and inflation flight experiment on a 5.5 m diameter prototype balloon conducted at a 2.5 km altitude above the Earth. Although the balloon in that test was not released for free flight, all other steps in the deployment and inflation process were successfully executed. Experimental and computational results are also presented from an investigation of the stress concentration phenomenon at the junction of the metal end fitting and fabric end cap of the prototype Venus balloon. Good agreement was found between the simulation and experimental results and a stress concentration factor of 1.55 determined for this end cap design compared to the expectations of thin membrane theory. Finally, results are presented for a new, second-generation Venus balloon material utilizing Aclar™ film instead of Teflon. Optical property and sulfuric acid tolerance data are presented for this material based on laboratory testing of samples. |
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Keywords: | Aerobot Balloon Venus Mobility Deployment Inflation |
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