The capability to fly a balloon payload at a constant pressure altitude using a fixed-volume envelope has existed for decades. However, the fixed-volume envelopes are expensive relative to latex balloons for small payloads (less than or equal to 100 lbs). A capability to fly small packages at a constant GPS-referenced altitude using latex balloons has been developed at Iowa State University. The concept uses multiple balloons of differing sizes, GPS position data, and a ballast system. The hold altitude does not need to be determined pre-launch, allowing for holding at an altitude based upon in-situ sensor data in real time. The system has been flight tested and used for a research mission by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory through a contract with the University of Iowa. Although not an automated system, it has the potential to be automated at a future date.
Geo-Referenced Altitude Hold for Latex Balloons
Eighth International Conference on Engineering, Construction, Operation, and Business In Space; Fifth International Conference and Exposition and Demonstration on Robotics for Challenging Situations and Environments ; 2002 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Space 2002 and Robotics 2002 ; 324-331
2002-06-07
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Geo-Referenced Altitude Hold for Latex Balloons
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
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