Long-duration stratospheric research flights could allow scientists to collect
vast amounts of data continuously. As well as allowing for Earth observations
such as storm monitoring and forest fire tracking, such missions could benefit
NASA by maturing future space technologies.
Previously, technological challenges have limited the duration of stratospheric
balloon flights due to the lack of trajectory control necessary for longer flights.
World View has a system capable of making large altitude changes to achieve
meaningful trajectory control in the stratosphere. This innovative approach was
selected to receive funding through the NASA Research Announcement: Space
Technology – Research, Development, Demonstration and Infusion (REDDI)
2016 solicitation. Flight tests demonstrating the capability of the system placed
World View one step closer to shifting the status quo of lack of altitude control.
Fig. 5.6 The Stratollite fully inflated at float. The photo was taken by Travis Deyoe
using a Google Pixel 3 camera held up to the eyepiece of the Schulman 32 inch telescope
at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. It was taken after sunset, with the glow lighting the
balloon at float altitude. The bright spot on the upper right of the top balloon is a view of
the sunset distorted by the envelope. Copyright Travis Deyoe, Mount Lemmon SkyCenter,
University of Arizona
5.2 World View Enterprises 91
vast amounts of data continuously. As well as allowing for Earth observations
such as storm monitoring and forest fire tracking, such missions could benefit
NASA by maturing future space technologies.
Previously, technological challenges have limited the duration of stratospheric
balloon flights due to the lack of trajectory control necessary for longer flights.
World View has a system capable of making large altitude changes to achieve
meaningful trajectory control in the stratosphere. This innovative approach was
selected to receive funding through the NASA Research Announcement: Space
Technology – Research, Development, Demonstration and Infusion (REDDI)
2016 solicitation. Flight tests demonstrating the capability of the system placed
World View one step closer to shifting the status quo of lack of altitude control.
Fig. 5.6 The Stratollite fully inflated at float. The photo was taken by Travis Deyoe
using a Google Pixel 3 camera held up to the eyepiece of the Schulman 32 inch telescope
at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. It was taken after sunset, with the glow lighting the
balloon at float altitude. The bright spot on the upper right of the top balloon is a view of
the sunset distorted by the envelope. Copyright Travis Deyoe, Mount Lemmon SkyCenter,
University of Arizona
5.2 World View Enterprises 91