Status of the NASA continuing investigation of catastrophic balloon failures

Since the beginning of the 1980's, the USA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Balloon Program has been besieged with a continuing problem of catastrophic balloon failures. In 1983 NASA conducted an investigation to identify possible causes for the failures and to determine the necessary corrective action(s) to prevent further occurrence of the problem. The investigation indicated the most probable cause of the failures was the balloon material. Subsequent corrective action(s) were taken to eliminate the problem by establishing a material acceptance criteria for balloon film. Although improvements have been noted in certain classes of balloons, the problem of catastrophic balloon failures continues. Efforts continue, to determine the cause(s) of the diminished performance of current balloons, including investigation of the microstructure of present and past balloon film, stress effects and simplified stress modeling including shape studies, and the equipment and procedures used in the manufacture of balloons. Most recently, a special team of experts has been assembled to aid in the investigation of the failure problems and the methods needed for a solution. The findings and status of the continuing investigation along with the future plans for the NASA program are presented.     

Synopsis of troposphere and lower stratosphere

The use of different types of balloons for the investigation of the troposphere and lower stratosphere is reviewed with a special emphasis on the application for the next 10 years. The instrumentation currently flown aboard balloons or under development is described. Some possible scientific objectives of such balloon experiments are presented. The specific applications of the different types of balloons available within the next few years for scientific flights are discussed.     

Properties of tandem balloons connected by extendable suspension wires

The tandem balloon system has been known as a candidate system for long duration flight balloons. In this paper, the properties of the system are analytically studied in a new way by introducing an extendable suspension wire in the Sky Anchor configuration, which consists of a zero-pressure main balloon suspending a payload and a super-pressure balloon suspended below the payload. It was found that extension of the suspension wire between the payload and the super-pressure balloon can extend the capability of the tandem system; the altitude of the zero-pressure balloon can be changed without any consumables except some energy, and the day–night oscillation of the balloon altitude can be suppressed. This property is useful as the vehicle for long duration flights. It is also pointed out that the method to control the altitude of a balloon using an additional suspended super-pressure balloon can also be applied for super-pressure balloons.     

Transient thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons at float conditions

The prediction of the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons under varying environmental conditions is one of the key issues in the design and flight test of balloons. In this paper, a three-dimensional transient thermal model is developed to predict the thermal behavior of spherical stratospheric balloons. The diurnal variations of the skin and lifting gas temperatures at float conditions are discussed in detail. The further studies on the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons are presented also.     

Ballooning activities in Japan

The Scientific Balloon Center of ISAS/JAXA has carried out two balloon campaigns at Sanriku, Iwate, Japan every year. Ten to twelve balloon vehicles are launched annually for scientific and engineering experiments. Since 2005, a Brazilian balloon campaign has also been conducted in cooperation with INPE. In the 2006 Brazilian campaign, large and heavy payloads up to 1500 kg for astronomy will be launched. New generation balloons, such as super-pressure balloons and high-altitude balloons with ultra-thin films, are being developed. The current status and prospect of the Japanese scientific ballooning are discussed.     

Balloon materials and designs

Improvements of materials can extend the performance of scientific balloon flights in altitude, suspended load and duration. The impact of new materials is considered in the design of superpressure balloons for long duration improvement, ultra light weight for sounding balloons, and a launch technique for minimizing relative wind problems.     

Venus atmospheric platform options revisited

Various balloon systems intended as scientific platforms to float in the atmosphere of Venus at altitudes between about 35 and 65 km are briefly reviewed. Previous predictions of the altitude oscillations of balloons filled with helium gas and water vapor are largely confirmed through numerical simulation and analysis. The need for refined thermal modelling is emphasised. Several novel technical concepts are introduced. It is concluded that phase change balloons would be more suitable than non-condensing super pressure gas balloons when repeated altitude excursions are a mission requirement.     

Vertical sounding balloons for stratospheric photochemistry

Vertical sounding balloons are unique tools for stratospheric photochemistry investigations. An example of the use of a vertically piloted gas balloon for nitrogen dioxide diurnal variation search is presented. Improvements of such a method with the use of montgolfieres (hot air balloons) are proposed.     

NO2 field observations in the stratosphere during Map/Globus campaign in 1983 and 1985

NO₂ has been measured from balloons, plane and ground during Map/Globus Campaign in Europe in 1983. The results have shown an agreement between in situ and remote sensing techniques in the lower stratosphere, but some divergence at higher altitude. Part of the differences might be due to unknown experimental systematic errors and part to real atmospheric variations as the observations were not performed on the same day. In order to improve the knowledge of the instruments performances and to evaluate the NO_x stratospheric budget a new field campaign has been set up in Europe in 1985. Simultaneous in situ and balloons, ground and satellites remote sensing observations of NO and NO₂ were obtained, covering a 24 H period.     

The development of plastic,zero pressure balloon design since 1945

There have been four major thrusts in plastic, zero pressure balloon design in the U.S. since the late 1940's. First, the pioneer balloonists made designs according to geometric shapes. When these balloons began to fail, a study at the University of Minnesota produced the first mathematical model for determining the proper design for “natural shaped” balloons. With the advent of high speed digital computing came the “Sigma” tables of the 1960's. When computers became more widespread and inexpensive, direct or “full-sized” designs began to be used. Now, with the problems involved in flying heavy payloads (greater than 400 lbs) and super pressure balloons, a new tool has become available to the balloon designer. An inexpensive stress analysis code is available but is as yet unproven.     

Un dispositif experimental utilisant des ballons plafonnants pour l'etude de la couche limite atmospherique

This paper presents a new system of constant volume balloons used to study the dynamical and thermodynamical properties of the tropospheric boundary layer. The system allows to simultaneously localize up to 30 balloons and to observe thermodynamical characteristics of the air during their flight inside the boundary layer. Each balloon is equipped with a radar reflector and a sounding system giving information each second on pressure, humidity and temperature by sequential emissions which are received at a ground station. The trajectories of balloons are obtained by a non-tracking S-band radar where a special hardware processing unit allows to real time cancellation of most ground clutter. A complete set of the balloons positions is obtained every two or three minutes.The system was tested in October 1984 during a field experiment in the south of France. Results of the experimental procedure and of the quality of the balloon, radar and sounding capabilities are given. The scientific use of constant volume balloons in order to study the atmospheric boundary layer is examined.     

PEGASO: An ultra light long duration stratospheric payload for polar regions flights

Stratospheric balloons are powerful and affordable tools for a wide spectrum of scientific investigations that are carried out at the stratosphere level. They are less expensive compared to satellite projects and have the capability to lift payloads from a few kilograms to a couple of tons or more, well above the troposphere, for more than a month. Another interesting feature of these balloons, which is not viable in satellites, is the short turnaround time, which enables frequent flights.     

Scientific ballooning in Japan

Activities in scientific ballooning in Japan during 1998–1999 are reported. The total number of scientific balloons flown in Japan in 1998 and 1999 was sixteen, eight flights in each year. The scientific objectives were observations of high energy cosmic electrons, air samplings at various altitudes, monitoring of atmospheric ozone density, Galactic infrared observations, and test flights of new type balloons. Balloon expeditions were conducted in Antarctica by the National Institute of Polar Research, in Russia, in Canada and in India in collaboration with foreign countries' institutes to investigate cosmic rays, Galactic infrared radiation, and Earth's atmosphere. There were three flights in Antarctica, four flights in Russia, three flights in Canada and two flights in India. Four test balloons were flown for balloon technology, which included pumpkin-type super-pressure balloon and a balloon made with ultra-thin polyethylene film of 3.4 μm thickness.     

中国空间探测领域40年发展

中国空间科学学会成立的40年,是中国空间探测逐渐走进世界舞台的40年,空间探测极大推动了空间科学和相邻学科的发展,也影响到经济、军事和日常生活诸多方面.本文简要回顾了从空间探测专业委员会成立的1980年至今,中国空间探测领域的主要发展历程,包括探空火箭、高空气球、科学卫星、月球与行星探测、载人航天空间探测、遥感卫星地面站等主要项目、进展和所取得的成果,对未来若干年空间探测的发展进行了展望.      

Balloon observations of temporal and spatial fluctuations in stratospheric conductivity

The first campaign of the Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) experiment (1st-PPB) was carried out at Syowa Station in Antarctica during 1990–1991 and 1992–1993. Based on the results of the 1st-PPB experiment, the next campaign (2nd-PPB) was carried out in the austral summer of 2002–2003. This paper will present stratospheric conductivity results from the 2nd-PPB experiment. In that experiment, three balloons were launched for the purpose of upper atmosphere physics observation (three balloons). Payloads of these three flights were identical with each other, and were launched as close together in time as allowed by weather conditions to constitute a cluster of balloons during their flights. Such a “Balloon Cluster” is suitable to observe temporal evolution and spatial distribution of phenomena in the ionospheric regions and boundaries that the balloons traversed during their circumpolar trajectory. More than 20 days of simultaneous fair weather 3-axis electric field and stratospheric conductivity data were obtained at geomagnetic latitudes ranging from sub-auroral to the polar cap. Balloon separation varied from ∼60 to >1000 km. This paper will present stratospheric conductivity observations with emphasis on the temporal and spatial variations that were observed.     

Performance simulation of high altitude scientific balloons

The design and operation of a high altitude scientific balloon requires adequate knowledge of the thermal characteristics of the balloon to make it safe and reliable. The thermal models and dynamic models of altitude scientific balloons are established in this paper. Based on the models, a simulation program is developed. The thermal performances of a super pressure balloon are simulated. The influence of film radiation property and clouds on balloon thermal behaviors is discussed in detail. The results are helpful for the design and operate of safe and reliable high altitude scientific balloons.     

High altitude flights in equatorial regions

A thorough analysis of balloon flights made from Hyderabad, India (Latitude 17°28′N, Longitude 78°35′E), and other equatorial sites has been made. It has been shown that limited success is expected for flights made from equatorial latitudes with balloons made out of natural colour polyethylene film, since the best known balloon film in the world today viz. Winzen Stratofilm is tested for low temperature brittleness only at ?80°C., whereas the tropopause temperatures over equatorial latitudes vary between ?80°C and ?90°C. The success becomes even more critical when flights are made with heavy payloads and larger balloons particularly at night when in the absence of solar radiation the balloon film becomes more susceptible to low temperature brittle failure. It is recommended that in case of capped balloons longer caps should be used to fully cover the inflated protion of the balloon at the higher level equatorial tropopause. It is also advised that the conditions such as wind shears in the tropopause should be critically studied before launching and a day with the tropopause temperature nearer to ?80°C should be chosen. Special care also should be taken while handling the balloon on ground and during launching phase. Properties of Winzen Stratofilm have been critically studied and fresh mandates have been recommended on the basis of limiting values of film stresses which caused balloon failures in the equatorial tropopause. It is also emphasized that the data on such flights is still meagre especially for flights with heavy payloads and larger balloons. It has been also shown that it is safest to use balloons made out of grey coloured film which retains its flexibility with the absorption of solar radiation, the success obtained with such balloons so far being 100%. The drawback, however, is that these balloons cannot be used for night flights. Stratospheric wind regimes over Hyderabad are also discussed with a view to determine the period over which long duration flights can be made. The data available, however, is meagre and it is recommended that more frequent special wind ascents be made to collect adequate statistical data from which reliable conclusions could be drawn through critical analysis.