5.10.4 Applications
Potential mission applications of a winged BGS are guiding near-space balloons
for scientific, communications and national defense purposes. In addition NASA
funded Global Aerospace to study the use of this technology for guiding balloons
performing Earth science. Guided stratospheric balloon platforms, moved around
the globe by the prevailing zonal stratospheric winds could profile concentrations
of ozone and trace constituents, monitor magnetic fields, radiative fluxes, global
weather, and climate and track hurricanes. Networks of guided balloon platforms
could be configured to provide independent observations and to validate the data
provided by other ground and space-based sensors.
Similarly, an advanced BGS could guide constellations of stratospheric balloon
communications platforms for providing cost-effective communications in rural
areas, where the cost of telephone or cellular infrastructure isn’t profitable, or
in locations where a disaster has disrupted conventional communications systems.
The cost of global constellations of balloons for communications or internet is a
tiny fraction of the investment of satellite constellations. Furthermore, balloons
have no detrimental implications for astronomical observations and they would
not contribute to growing problem of “space junk” in low Earth orbit.
Historically, space surveillance and missile detection missions were considered
to be applications of space satellite technology. However, satellites and their sensors are expensive due to the high cost of launch. A high launch cost necessitates
high reliability using block and functional subsystem redundancy because they
cannot easily be returned for repair. They require radiation-resistant electronic
parts and optics because they fly in a space radiation environment, and they have
complex and redundant computers and elaborate software designs which must
respond to subsystem failures. And satellites are increasingly becoming vulnerable to attack by relatively inexpensive anti-satellite weapons. The high cost of
major satellite systems and their increasing vulnerability has prompted serious
consideration of alternative means of meeting these important requirements.
In summary, the StratoSail BGS approach to balloon guidance:
• Permits balloons to remain at fixed density altitude.
• Avoids overflight of uncooperative countries.
• Increases the number of potential landing sites.
• Enables balloon to travel over desired locations.
• Passively exploits natural wind conditions.
• Does not require consumables.
• Avoids payload disturbances caused by propulsive trajectory control
methods.
• Requires very little electrical power and operates day/night.
• Offers a wide range of control directions regardless of wind conditions.
• Can be made of lightweight materials.
120 Commercial Corporations and Applications
Potential mission applications of a winged BGS are guiding near-space balloons
for scientific, communications and national defense purposes. In addition NASA
funded Global Aerospace to study the use of this technology for guiding balloons
performing Earth science. Guided stratospheric balloon platforms, moved around
the globe by the prevailing zonal stratospheric winds could profile concentrations
of ozone and trace constituents, monitor magnetic fields, radiative fluxes, global
weather, and climate and track hurricanes. Networks of guided balloon platforms
could be configured to provide independent observations and to validate the data
provided by other ground and space-based sensors.
Similarly, an advanced BGS could guide constellations of stratospheric balloon
communications platforms for providing cost-effective communications in rural
areas, where the cost of telephone or cellular infrastructure isn’t profitable, or
in locations where a disaster has disrupted conventional communications systems.
The cost of global constellations of balloons for communications or internet is a
tiny fraction of the investment of satellite constellations. Furthermore, balloons
have no detrimental implications for astronomical observations and they would
not contribute to growing problem of “space junk” in low Earth orbit.
Historically, space surveillance and missile detection missions were considered
to be applications of space satellite technology. However, satellites and their sensors are expensive due to the high cost of launch. A high launch cost necessitates
high reliability using block and functional subsystem redundancy because they
cannot easily be returned for repair. They require radiation-resistant electronic
parts and optics because they fly in a space radiation environment, and they have
complex and redundant computers and elaborate software designs which must
respond to subsystem failures. And satellites are increasingly becoming vulnerable to attack by relatively inexpensive anti-satellite weapons. The high cost of
major satellite systems and their increasing vulnerability has prompted serious
consideration of alternative means of meeting these important requirements.
In summary, the StratoSail BGS approach to balloon guidance:
• Permits balloons to remain at fixed density altitude.
• Avoids overflight of uncooperative countries.
• Increases the number of potential landing sites.
• Enables balloon to travel over desired locations.
• Passively exploits natural wind conditions.
• Does not require consumables.
• Avoids payload disturbances caused by propulsive trajectory control
methods.
• Requires very little electrical power and operates day/night.
• Offers a wide range of control directions regardless of wind conditions.
• Can be made of lightweight materials.
120 Commercial Corporations and Applications