suborbital and special orbital projects directorate overview of the nasa balloon program office...

SUBORBITAL AND SPECIAL ORBITAL PROJECTS DIRECTORATE

Overview of the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) and Potential

Student Opportunities

Dr. Magdi SaidBalloon Program Office – Wallops Flight Facility

Phone: (757) 824-1386Fax: (757) 824-2149

[email protected]

National Council of Space Grant Directors MeetingNew York, NY

October 27-28, 2006

October 27, 2006 2National Council of Space Grant Directors Meeting

NASA Centers & Wallops Flight Facility …

CSBF (Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility)

Wallops Flight FacilityWallops Island, VA

(Balloon Launch Contractor)


Antarctica Balloon Launch ….


Balloon Launch Facilities in Antarctica


NASA’s Scientific Balloons – Physical Dimensions & Size Comparison


The Earth’s Atmosphere

Balloon Altitudes typically 30-35 km, corresponding to pressures of 5-10 milli-bar, residual atmosphere of 5-10 g/cm2, i.e. above 99-99.5% of air mass.

Ambient Temperatures -25 to +5 C Heat transfer primarily by Radiation Shielding effects on Cosmic Rays, X-rays,

Gamma rays and UV nearly gone.

Really a Space Environment !!

Hence, ideal for use

As a test-bed for new Space TechnologiesTo enable important Science ObservationsOther potential practical applications


Expected Flight Environment

• Gets cold at the tropopause (~ -50o C)• Any water vapor will condense out and cause frost• Good vacuum ( < 0.02 atmosphere)• Landing can be rough (shock, trees, rocks, dragging)• High velocity during initial descent (~500 mph)


NASA’s Balloon Program(Facts & Capabilities)

Largest balloon flown by NASA 59.6 MCF (1.7M m3)

Highest altitude achieved by a NASA Balloon

160 k ft (4900 km)

Normal float altitude 110-130k ft (33.5-39.6 km).

Average number flown per year 20 balloons

Average duration (ZP) 12-36 hours

Longest Duration for ZP balloon (LDB) 42 days (Antarctica Dec/Jan 04)

Payload capacity Up to 8000 Lbs. (3600 kg)

The Balloon Program provides low cost, high altitude platforms to facilitate scientific exploration


Balloon Launch Sites Around the World

CREAM 41.9 Day 3-CircumpolarTrajectory Over Antarctica

Dec 04 – Jan 05

With International Overflight Approval, With International Overflight Approval, Northern Hemisphere 21+ Day Northern Hemisphere 21+ Day Flights Could Be AchievedFlights Could Be Achieved

BLAST Sweden To Canada BLAST Sweden To Canada Trajectory, June 12 to 16th, 2005Trajectory, June 12 to 16th, 2005


CREAMCREAM - Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass - Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass•Particle AstrophysicsParticle Astrophysics•NASA LDB Fight Duration Record Of NASA LDB Fight Duration Record Of Over 41 DaysOver 41 Days•Dec 16, 2004 – Jan 27, 2005Dec 16, 2004 – Jan 27, 2005

BESSBESS – Balloon Experiment with – Balloon Experiment with Superconducting SpectrometerSuperconducting Spectrometer

•Particle AstrophysicsParticle Astrophysics

•Flown Over Antarctica Flown Over Antarctica

•Dec 13, 2004 – Dec 21, 2004Dec 13, 2004 – Dec 21, 2004

Typical Science Payloads …..


Student Opportunities


Student Access to Space

Student access to testing in space is limited The Balloon Program will offer limited opportunities for space grant

recipients without impact on normal operations Depending on need, HQ may elect to provide space grant funding

for student dedicated flights Students will learn to prepare space qualified payloads Students will gain experience in space related technologies


Why Consider Balloons as an Educational Tool ?

Short project development cycle term (adequate for academic environment)

Student involvement, education and training during all phases of a mission

Fast Response to Scientific/Engineering Need Recoverable (“refurbish and re-fly’) - iterative learning Verification platform for Space Systems Affordable


What are Students Expected to Learn ?

Technical Experiment

development/design Fabrication Test and qualification for near

space operations Troubleshooting Integration Launch/operation aspects Recovery and de-integration Data analysis Refurbish/Re-fly

Management Project management Project schedule and

deadlines Milestones/Reviews Communication skills Systems engineering skills Documentation skills Presentation skills


Available Opportunities

Student Experiment* Module (SEM-B)

Piggy-Back*

Cost Sharing - High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)

Purchase your own flight HQ Space Grant Funded

SEM-B Case

Iridium Communication

HASP Payload* Requires coordination with and approval of the Scientist (PI)


Washington

Oregon Idaho

California

NevadaUtah

ArizonaNew

Mexico

Hawaii

Alaska

Montana

Wyoming

Colorado

NorthDakota

SouthDakota

Nebraska

Kansas

Oklahoma

Texas Louisiana

Arkansas

Missouri

Iowa

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Illinois

Mississippi

Alabama

Tennessee

Kentucky

IndianaOhio

Michigan

New York

PennsylvaniaNew

Jersey

WestVirginia

Virginia

Maryland

Washington DC

Delaware

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Maine

New Hampshire

Vermont

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

States Utilized SEM-B (30)States have Not Utilized SEM-B (20+DC)

Elementary School (13)

Middle School (25)

High School (25)

College/University (3)

Other (School District, Organization, Home School) (24)

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

23

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1 1

2 1

1

2 2

2

2

1 1

3

1

4 1 3

6 6 7 1 10

1 3 2 2

1 2 1

3

1 2

31

SEM-B Activities Status as of October 06’

2

1

1


Is a collaboration between BPO and LSU/other Louisiana organizations

Fully dedicated to student experiments Experiment/payload funded by space grant BPO provides balloon and launch support

First flight was launched from Ft. Sumner, NM on September 4, 2006 aboard an 11.82 MCF balloon.

Payload weight was 1000 LBS Four institutions (7 payloads) participated Float altitude was 122 KFT Total flight time was 18 HRS., 11 MIN. Cosmo-Cam provided interactive video imaging

throughout the flight. The flight was an operations and science success. It

exceeded all preflight minimum requirements.

Call for Payload for FY07 has been released, deadline is Dec. 15th, check HASP website.

High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)

HASP Pre-launch


Washington

Oregon Idaho

California

NevadaUtah

ArizonaNew

Mexico

Hawaii

Alaska

Montana

Wyoming

Colorado

NorthDakota

SouthDakota

Nebraska

Kansas

Oklahoma

Texas Louisiana

Arkansas

Missouri

Iowa

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Illinois

Mississippi

Alabama

Tennessee

Kentucky

IndianaOhio

Michigan

New York

PennsylvaniaNew

Jersey

WestVirginia

Virginia

Maryland

Washington DC

Delaware

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Maine

New Hampshire

Vermont

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

States Utilized HASP (3)States have Not Utilized HASP (47+DC)

College/University payloads (7)1

HASP Activities Status as of October 06’

1

3

3


Typical Student Payload Development & Flight Cycle

Applic

atio

n & S

elec

tion

Desig

n & F

abric

atio

n

Test

ing/

Qua

lifica

tion

Inte

grat

ion

Laun

ch

Analys

is

Jan

07

Apr

il 07

June

07

July

07

Oct

.- 0

7

June

-Sep

t. 0

7


Expenses ….

Participants are responsible for payload development cost and all associated logistics cost.

Typically, payload development cost is paid for through the respective space grant program.

Balloon Program will offer limited number of free rides (access to space) for the select participants.


How to Contact NASA’s BPO ?

Address: Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337 (Attention: Code 820) BPO Chief/Mr. David Pierce (757) 824-1453 BPO Assistant Chief/Mr. David Gregory (757) 824-2367 BPO Technologist/Outreach/ Dr. Magdi Said (757) 824-1386 BPO Secretary/Ms. Rebecca Gramlich (757) 824-1480 Office Fax Number (757) 824-2149 BPO Website: www.wff.nasa.gov/balloons

For More info on HASP Contact:

Professors T.G. Guzik and J.P. Wefel Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA U.S.A.

(http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/) http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/documents/cfp/2006-2007/HASP_CFP_2006_v5.pdf (Application)

suborbital and special orbital projects directorate overview of the nasa balloon program office...

Documents

antarctica balloon launch

antarctica slide

space environment

balloon launch facilities

balloon launch sites

bess balloon experiment

new space technologies

scientific exploration