5.5.2 Manufacturing
NSC has the necessary tooling and equipment to produce custom balloons and
inflatable articles that are optimized for the specific mission. It can prototype a
balloon for a customer by using a wide variety of materials and techniques and can
satisfy demanding program schedules and requirements. With an extensive range
of custom in-house sealers, sewing machines, and test equipment, it can rapidly
construct specialized inflatables and balloons and test them.
NSC’s customers have included the following:
• NASA: Space and planetary technology (Venus, Mars & Titan).
• NOAA: Atmospheric research (in-situ measurements, tracers).
• NCAR: Driftsonde development (airborne sounding system).
• DoD: Tactical balloon systems and return vehicles (HASS).
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Laboratory.
• Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory.
• University of Washington.
• California Institute of Technology.
For more information go to:
https://www.nsc.aero
5.6 STRATOBUS
The Stratobus autonomous stratospheric airship from Thales Alenia Space is in
the High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) category, operating at an altitude of
20 km (65,000 ft). It is still in the planning stage but is intended for a wide range
of civil and military applications, including telecommunications, navigation and
surveillance. Its stratospheric position will be optimal for 4G and 5G telecomms
with signals being sent directly to end-user smartphones in just milliseconds.
Stratobus can carry payloads for the surveillance of borders and high-value
sites,
as well classical intelligence and reconnaissance applications such as:
• Video-surveillance of offshore platforms.
• Security against terrorism and drug-trafficking.
• Environmental monitoring (forest fires, beach erosion, pollution, etc.).
• Communications (internet, and 5G).
The concept sees significant increases in the area monitored by a single platform, especially by eliminating terrain masking. It also offers the ability to linger
5.6 Stratobus 107
NSC has the necessary tooling and equipment to produce custom balloons and
inflatable articles that are optimized for the specific mission. It can prototype a
balloon for a customer by using a wide variety of materials and techniques and can
satisfy demanding program schedules and requirements. With an extensive range
of custom in-house sealers, sewing machines, and test equipment, it can rapidly
construct specialized inflatables and balloons and test them.
NSC’s customers have included the following:
• NASA: Space and planetary technology (Venus, Mars & Titan).
• NOAA: Atmospheric research (in-situ measurements, tracers).
• NCAR: Driftsonde development (airborne sounding system).
• DoD: Tactical balloon systems and return vehicles (HASS).
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Laboratory.
• Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory.
• University of Washington.
• California Institute of Technology.
For more information go to:
https://www.nsc.aero
5.6 STRATOBUS
The Stratobus autonomous stratospheric airship from Thales Alenia Space is in
the High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) category, operating at an altitude of
20 km (65,000 ft). It is still in the planning stage but is intended for a wide range
of civil and military applications, including telecommunications, navigation and
surveillance. Its stratospheric position will be optimal for 4G and 5G telecomms
with signals being sent directly to end-user smartphones in just milliseconds.
Stratobus can carry payloads for the surveillance of borders and high-value
sites,
as well classical intelligence and reconnaissance applications such as:
• Video-surveillance of offshore platforms.
• Security against terrorism and drug-trafficking.
• Environmental monitoring (forest fires, beach erosion, pollution, etc.).
• Communications (internet, and 5G).
The concept sees significant increases in the area monitored by a single platform, especially by eliminating terrain masking. It also offers the ability to linger
5.6 Stratobus 107