Solar balloons are a simple and lightweight option for aerial exploration and meteorological data collection both terrestrially and on other planets. By using lightweight materials that absorb visual light and emit low levels of thermal radiation, solar balloons behave similarly to hot air balloons but can ascend to much higher altitudes. Unlike hot air balloons, which use an onboard heat source to raise the temperature of the internal air, solar balloons generate heat by absorbing solar radiation, providing a free source of lift and eliminating the need for carrying an extra tank of lighter-than-air gas or fuel. The solar balloons of the present invention include mechanical vents on the tops of the balloons to store and release hot air. Using these mechanical vents, the balloons can adjust altitude to enter regions of the atmosphere with different wind flows, which can lead to horizontal controllability of the platform.
SOLAR HOT AIR BALLOON VENT
2025-02-27
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64B LIGHTER-THAN-AIR AIRCRAFT , Luftfahrzeuge leichter als Luft |
Balloon Solar Observatory System
NTIS | 1966
|Mars Solar Balloon/GCMS Mission
NTRS | 1998
|