Systems for long duration flights

This paper describes the systems for long duration flights developed in Japan for scientific observations. Much efforts have been expended to evolve systems for long duration flights in Japan, by controlling the balloon trajectories with a knowledge of wind pattern at high altitudes over Japan. These systems called “Cycling Balloon”, “Boomerang Balloon” and “New Boomerang Balloon” have been successfully used for the observations by keeping the balloons close to the balloon station.“Relay Balloon” is another system to extend the telemetry range by using an additional balloon as a relay station to link the telemetry from the main balloon.Some detailes of the exhaust valve, ascent meter and automatic level control devices used for the balloon control are also described in the paper.     

Feasibility study of a sea-anchored stratospheric balloon for long-duration flights

Sea-anchored balloons are stratospheric super-pressure balloons that are anchored to the sea. The sea-anchored balloon is a simple system that has the capability for long-duration flights, fixed-point observations, flexible launch windows, easy telemetry links to ground stations, and quick recoveries. Such balloons are not required to fly through the jet stream while tethered to the ground or sea, because the tether is deployed from a reel on the balloon after reaching a floating altitude. In this study, the feasibility of the sea-anchored balloon is investigated, with particular emphasis on the tether strength, balloon altitude, and system mass, based on the present technological level of the tether’s specific strength. Although the wind distribution with altitude is a dominant factor for feasibility, a sea-anchored balloon with an altitude of about 25 km would be feasible if the velocity of the jet stream is sufficiently low. The sea-anchored balloon can be simply flight-tested, since additional ground facilities and special flight operations are not necessary.     

双层乳胶气球的高空平漂机理及垂直轨迹模拟

双层乳胶气球克服了单层乳胶气球的缺点,可以在高空平漂以实现持续气象观测,但是其高空平漂受多因素影响比较复杂,特别是气球充气量主要依赖工程经验,施放成功率不高,亟需提供理论指导。通过试验数据证明了浮重平衡是双层乳胶气球实现高空平漂的必要条件,推导得出内、外球氢气充气量和昼夜温度变化对其运动的影响;建立了双层乳胶气球的几何模型和动力学模型,结合实地施放试验,对其升空和平漂过程轨迹进行模拟,由此探究了内、外球充气量对平漂高度的影响。研究结果表明:内球充气量是决定平漂高度的主要因素,并受昼夜温度变化影响,当内、外球规格分别为750g、500g,负载约1kg时,内球拉力每增大或减小0.04kg,最终平漂高度将对应升高或降低约5km,而外球充气量对其平漂高度无影响。      

Microgravity experiment system utilizing a balloon

A system for microgravity experiments by using a stratospheric balloon has been planned and developed in ISAS since 1978. A rocket-shaped chamber mounting the experiment apparatus is released from the balloon around 30 km altitude. The microgravity duration is from the release to opening of parachute, controlled by an on-board sequential timer. Test flights were performed in 1980 and in 1981. In September 1983 the first scientific experiment, observing behaviors and brain activities of fishes in the microgravity circumstance, have been successfully carried out. The chamber is specially equipped with movie cameras and subtransmitters, and its release altitude is about 32 km. The microgravity observed inside the chamber is less than 2.9 × 10^?3 G during 10 sec. Engineering aspects of the system used in the 1983 experiment are presented.     

Simultaneous observations of Pc 1 micropulsation activity and stratospheric electrodynamic perturbations on 27 January 2003

The 2nd Polar Patrol Balloon campaign (2nd-PPB) was carried out at Syowa Station in Antarctica during 2002–2003. Identical stratospheric balloon payloads were launched as close together in time as allowed by weather conditions to constitute a cluster of balloons during their flights. A very pronounced negative ion conductivity enhancement was observed at 32 km in the stratosphere below the auroral zone on 27 January 2003 from 1500 to 2200 UT. During this event, the conductivity doubled for an interval of about 7 h. This perturbation was associated with an extensive Pc 1 or Pi 1 wave event that was observed by several Antarctic ground stations, balloon PPB 10, and the Polar spacecraft. No appreciable X-ray precipitation was observed in association with this event, which would point to >60 Mev proton precipitation as a possible magnetosphere–stratosphere coupling mechanism responsible for the conductivity enhancement. Such precipitation is consistent with the wave data. During the latter half of the event, E_z was briefly positive. There was a tropospheric Southern Ocean storm system underneath the balloon during this interval. If the event was associated with this storm system and not energetic proton precipitation, the observations imply an electrified Southern Ocean storm and major perturbations in stratospheric conductivity driven by a tropospheric disturbance. This event represents a poorly understood source for global circuit current. Precipitating energetic proton data from Akebono and NOAA POES spacecraft show significant >16 MeV precipitation was occurring at the location of PPB 8 but not PPB 10, suggesting that proton precipitation was, in fact, the responsible coupling mechanism.     

Detection of solar neutrons on a long duration balloon flight

The observation of large solar flares on high altitude balloons requires long duration balloon flights because large flares are infrequent and cannot be predicted with enough reliability and lead time to allow a conventional balloon to be launched and reach altitude before the flare occurs. With the many weeks at float altitude expected for a long duration flight, the probability of “catching” a large flare during solar maximum becomes reasonably high and the study of phenomena which heretofore have required a satellite become accessible to a balloon platform. One example of this type of experiment is the observation of neutrons produced by the interaction of flare accelerated nucleons with the solar atmosphere. Because the neutrons are produced immediately by the flare accelerated particles and are unaffected by their transmission through the upper solar atmosphere and the intervening magnetic fields, their observation at 1 A.U. will provide direct information on the flare acceleration process. Specifically, a measurement of the neutron energy and time spectra will yield the energy spectrum of the charged nucleons in the interval 50 to 500 MeV/amu, the charged particle anisotropy, the height of the acceleration region for limb flares, and information on the two-stage acceleration process. Because the γ-ray spectrum is also sensitive to these factors, a combined neutron and γ-ray measurement will provide a much more stringent test of flare models than either done separately. CWRU and the University of Melbourne have designed the EOSCOR (Extended Observation of Solar and Cosmic Radiation) detector to have the necessary sensitivity to detect neutrons from a flare 0.1 the size of the 4 Aug. 1972 event and to be compatible with the constraints of the long duration balloon system. The detector has been test flown on short duration balloon flights and calibrated at E_n = 38, 58, and 118 MeV. It is planned to launch it on a long duration balloon flight from Australia in December 1982 when simultaneous γ-ray observations will be possible with the SMM and/or HINTORI satellites.     

Measurements of upper atmosphere wind and temperature from meteorological rocket experiments during winter 1979

This institute conducted a series of meteorological rocket experiments for the upper-atmospheric sounding in the winter of 1979. Within the overlap altitude range with balloon flights, a comparison of the results with the standard radiosonde data indicated that the rocket-borne system was reliable. The measurements from foru rocket flights for the region between 20 and 30 km showed a degree of compatibility to each other while those for above 30 km differed considerably from one another. At low latitude, the temperature profiles in the winter stratosphere in general showed a reasonably good agreement with the U.S. Standard Atmospheric Supplements, 1966 (USSAS 66). A temperature of 2–24°C lower than the USSAS 66, however, was recorded in the lower mesosphere. Above 30 km the maximum diurnal variation in temperature was 9°C or so. In the winter, the wind profile showed the westerlies and the maximum wind velocity of 92.1 Msec^?1 was obtained from these experiments at the height of 60 km.     

Technology development for a long duration,mid-cloud level Venus balloon

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.     

Magnetospheric application of high-altitude long-duration balloon technology: Daylight auroral observations

Daylight auroral imaging is a proposed application of the NASA high-altitude long-duration balloon technology. This paper discusses the theoretical background of this application and test observations, for proof of the feasibility. It is demonstrated that nitrogen auroral emissions in the near-infrared band are detectable at altitudes of 35–40 km and above using a near-infrared InGaAs camera. The purpose of such observations is to identify auroral small-scale structures that are manifestations of auroral particle accelerations and the solar wind – magnetosphere – ionosphere interaction. Use of this new approach will enable studies of the dayside aurora, low-latitude aurora, and storm-time and substorm-time auroral conjugacy.     

武汉中层大气中频雷达及其初步探测结果

首先简要地讨论了武汉中频雷达观测原理和设备的组成，该雷达测量60-100km高度的大气风场和电子密度，风场采用分布天线测量技术和全相关分析方法得到，电子密度通过微分吸收和微分相位技术获得，初步观测结果表明：（1）武汉上空冬季60-100km高度的纬向风多为西风，风速为30-50m/s，经向风速为10-20m/s，垂直风速较小，一般在5m/s以内，（2）60-100km高度范围的大气风场和电子密度均有明显的日变化，风场在某些时段和高度区间有较强的风剪切出现。（3）80km以上高度大气的风场和电子密度存在较明显的扰动现象，它可能与大气波动过程有关。     

深空测控网干涉测量系统在“鹊桥”任务中的应用分析

在"嫦娥4号"任务的第一阶段—"鹊桥"阶段,北京航天飞行控制中心利用佳木斯及喀什深空站对"鹊桥"进行了干涉测量观测,获取了实时与事后的高精度测角观测量,有效支持了任务的实施。两深空站需同时完成测控任务,无法交替射电源观测来进行系统差标校,基于此系统采用了长时间隔、在航天器观测前及双站结束后观测射电源的标校方法,在地月转移段、月球至L2转移段、Halo轨道形成段开展了多次干涉测量观测,所获得的时延、时延率结果直接应用于事后联合轨道确定,结果表明:深空网的时延观测精度约为3 ns。     

Study of >100 GeV electrons with BETS detector using a long duration balloon flight in Antarctica

We have observed cosmic-ray electrons from 10 to 1000 GeV by a long duration balloon flight using Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) in Antarctica. The observation was carried out for 13 days at an altitude of 35 km in January 2004. The detector is an imaging calorimeter composed of scintillating-fiber belts and plastic scintillators inserted between lead plates. The geometrical factor of detector is about 600 cm²sr and the total thickness of lead absorber is 9 radiation lengths. The performance of the detector has been confirmed by the CERN-SPS beam test and also investigated by Monte-Carlo simulations. New telemetry system using a commercial satellite of iridium, power supply by solar batteries, and automatic level control using CPU have successfully been developed and operated during the flight. We have collected 5.7 × 10³ events over 100 GeV including nearly 100 candidates of primary electrons.     

A balloon-borne sun-tracking multichannel photometer for atmospheric aerosol measurements

A balloon borne multichannel photometer for measurement of atmospheric scattering in the near ultraviolet and the visible wavelength regions has been developed at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad for study of the size distribution and number density of aerosols at tropospheric and lower stratospheric altitudes. The instrumentation involves tracking the sun in elevation and scanning in azimuth. The payload was recently flown on a 100 kg. balloon from the Hyderabad Balloon Facility on 18 April 1984. The balloon reached a float altitude of 35 km and good quality data has been obtained from an altitude of 6 km upto float altitude. Data analysis is still in progress. The present paper details the instrument design and presents a few illustrations of the instrument performance from this flight.     

TIMED卫星探测的全球大气温度分布及其与经验模式的比较

利用TIMED卫星遥感探测的全球温度分布与NRLMSISE-00大气经验模式进行了对比研究.研究表明,在中间层下部以下的高度范围内,经验模式与卫星探测的大气温度分布有很好的一致性.但是比较发现,在中层顶区域,经验模式的计算结果与实测结果有较大的差异.卫星探测表明,在春分季节的低纬地区中层顶区存在稳定的逆温层,但是经验模式不能给出低纬地区春分季节中间层逆温层的分布特征.卫星观测表明在全球范围内中层顶有两个非常不同的高度,一个处于100km附近,另一个处于85km附近,但是经验模式不能给出这一中层顶高度的分布特征.同时在低热层,经验模式计算的温度分布与卫星遥感的探测结果有很大的差异.      

Balloon-borne,high-altitude gravimetry

Gravity measurements from a high-altitude balloon can verify global and upward-continued gravity models. A gravimeter suspended beneath a balloon is in a dynamic, and largely unpredictable, environment sensing accelerations due to gravity and balloon motions. Independent measurements of balloon motions using inertial navigation data combined with ground tracking data will allow for separation of balloon-induced accelerations from gravitational accelerations. Analysis of these data must estimate: 1) vertical gravimeter accelerations due to motion and gravity, 2) horizontal velocity to estimate the Eötvös effect, and 3) gravimeter position for comparison with gravity models. The first engineering test flight occurred on 11 October 1983, during the seasonal wind reversal and was very successful. Flight duration was approximately seven hours, with two hours of data collected at each of 30 km and 26 km altitudes. The results include gravity estimates, design criteria for future flights and feasibility analysis for vertical gravity profiles during ascent and descent.     

月球中继通信卫星系统发展综述与展望

中继通信是一些月球探测任务中必须解决的关键问题,特别是月球背面和两极地区的着陆和巡视探测任务以及载人登月任务。对国内外月球中继通信卫星的研究和发展情况进行了综述,在对月球中继通信任务需求分析的基础上,从中继通信体制选择、轨道选择等方面对月球中继通信任务的实现途径进行了分析,并对月球中继通信技术的未来发展进行了展望。     

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.     

海尔-波普彗星离子尾的间断和波动

给出海尔-波普彗星近日点附近大尺度观测的结果.指出:1997年2月16、17和18日海尔-波普彗星等离子尾部分有断尾事件发生.观测时刻的离子尾内物质运动速度约为50km／s;离子尾射线向主尾主轴的并拢速度约为0.080'／s.1997年3月3日海尔-波普彗星离子尾有波动现象发生.波动发生在距离彗星密度中心约130×104km,偏离主轴30°处,振幅约20×104km、其离子束宽度约8×104km、波动的相速度约为200km／s.      

Validation of SAGE II data inversions by the European correlative experiments

An European program of correlative experiments has been organized in order to validate SAGE II data during three periods of observation over Europe (November 1984, April 1985, October 1985). About ten groups from France, Belgium, Germany and Italy were participating. The correlative data are lidar aerosol profiles, soundings of ozone profiles, and balloon observations, including limb photographies, polarimetric measurements of the aerosol scattered light and nitrogen dioxide extinction measurements. Results of the comparisons between SAGE II inverted data and correlative data are presented. The analysis of the aerosol correlative observations with the SAGE II four aerosol channel data, in term of profile and size distribution is perfectly consistent and provide a good indirect validatioin. The NO₂ comparison shows a good agreement between SAGE II and correlative data.