suborbital and special orbital projects directorate · 2003-07-08 · suborbital and special...
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SUBORBITAL AND SPECIAL ORBITAL PROJECTS
DIRECTORATE
Balloon Working Group
Balloon Program Technology DevelopmentsDebbie Fairbrother
June 30, 2003
Aerobots&
Airships
Applic
ation
Specif
ic
R&D
Balloons
ApplicationSpecific
R&DTethered Vehicles
ApplicationSpecific
R&D
Common Enabling Technologies &
Tools
June 2003 Page 3Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Technology Resources
Balloon Program Office− 3 Technology Mangers with 4th starting mid-July− Maintain WFF Balloon Research and Development Laboratory− Numerous development projects being conducted by PSL and
NASA− University Grants
University of North Texas – MaterialsGeorge Washington University – Structural AnalysisNorth Carolina State University – Fiber Protection
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)− 1 Phase I, 2 Phase II’s, negotiating on 2 Phase III’s
Internal GSFC− IR&D and B&P
June 2003 Page 4Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Technology Focus Areas
• Materials• Vehicle Design & Development• Structural Analysis• Operations & Support Systems• Performance Modeling• Planetary Balloons
June 2003 Page 5Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Balloon Research & Development Laboratory
The Balloon Research & Development Laboratory has evolved into a specialized facility for the testing of thin films. The
flight environment of scientific balloon imposes some unique testing considerations.
Cold Brittleness Test ChamberPermeability Testing Toughness Tester
June 2003 Page 6Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
The ULDB Technology Developments
New Balloon DesignNew Construction TechniquesNew Coextruded Balloon Film New PBO Load Tendons
June 2003 Page 7Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
The “Big 60” – A New NASA Balloon
The “Big 60”, a 60 million cubic foot balloon, was designed and built in response to a science need to reach
a higher altitude than obtainable with current NASA standard balloons. The thin co-extruded film used was a
spin-off from the ULDB development.
Flight SpecificationsLaunch Site: Lynn Lake, CAN
Launch Date: 8-26-02
Float Altitude: 160.3 kft (GPS)
Flight Time: 22 hrs, 22 minutes
Suspended Wt: 1546 lbs
Science Wt: 452 lbs
Balloon SpecificationsVolume: 1.69 MCM (59.84 MCF)
Gore Length: 228.6 m (750.14 ft)
# of Gores: 202
Shell: 10 µm (0.4 mil)
Cap: 13 µm x 2 (0.52 mil x 2)
Balloon Wt: 1248.3 kg (2752 lbs)
June 2003 Page 8Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Iridium Electronics Package
The Iridium Electronic Package was developed to enableglobal communications to and from a balloon platform
through the Iridium constellation of satellites.
Advantages:Global CoverageLow CostCompact and Light WeightReliable
ULDB Pathfinder Project
90 kg to 30-33.5 km
June 2003 Page 9Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Remote Autonomous Instrument Data Acquisition System (RAIDAS)
The Remote Autonomous Instrument Data Acquisition System is an independent “add-on” box for any LDB or
ULDB mission to collect data from a specific sensor.
RAIDAS Spec’s
– Eppley’s Precision Infrared Radiometer (PIR) Pyrgeometer
– Thermistors
– Power
– Data Acquisition & Storage
– GPS Integration in process
Flight 498N – May 26, 2001
June 2003 Page 10Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Balloon Trajectory
Rio de Janeiro,Sao Paulo
Johannesburg, Pretoria
Mean Float Path
Alice Springs
Mean Float Path for Alice Springs Launch
June 2003 Page 11Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Trajectory Control System
Global AerospaceStratosail TCS
TCS Mounted on Representative Gondola (TIGER) Beneath 20 MCF Balloon
June 2003 Page 12Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Ballooning at Mars
A superpressure pumpkin balloon is being developed to satisfy the science need for an aerial platform at Mars.
The aerial deployment and inflation of the balloon while descending on a parachute imposes some unique
challenges to the development effort.
June 2003 Page 13Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Flight Testing from Hawaii
June 2003 Page 14Balloon Technology, NASA Balloon Working Group
Aerial Deployment Video
CDR
Advanced Solar Power Systems
Modular Ballooncraft Bus PDR Demo
Cryogenic Cooling System
Standard Fine Pointing System
Next Generation Bus
Lightweight Gondola Systems
Solar Independent Power Systems
Power Systems
Systems
Bus
Heavy ULDB Validation (CREAM Mission)
Medium ULDB
Extreme Altitude ULDB
40H MCF Operational
Extreme Altitude Zero-Pressure
Super Heavy Lift Zero-Pressure
Next Generation ULDB
LDB/ULDB Hybrid Class
Airship Evaluation & Demo
Airship Test Flight
Tethered Evaluation
Tethered Platform Demonstration
Zero-Pressure
Hybrid
ULDB
Airships & Tethered
VehiclesSystems
Ballooncraft Systems
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Pumpkin Inflations
Mars
End-to-End Test Flight
Mars Scout 2011 AO
First Possible Mars Balloon Mission
Titan
Venus
Cassini- Huygens Probe Released
Materials Development
Model Atmosphere
Materials Development
Model Atmosphere
Airship Evaluation
StratosailDemo
Propeller Demo
Shock Reduction
Dispersion Reduction
Operational System Flight
Mission Safety Tools
Trajectory Control Systems
Mechanical Systems Enhancements
Demonstration Test Bed
Operational Workstation
Guided Parafoil
Operational and Safety
Support Systems
Planetary Vehicles
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012