UHAB would add another capability for scientists with relatively light payloads
who desire to maximize mission time and altitude.
The UHAB platform further offers the opportunity to extend the duration of
mid-latitude flights through the implementation of Radiation-Controlled
Ballooning.
This concept was designed to take stratospheric measurement of cyclical radiation levels at different altitudes between 20-40 km (65,600-131,000 ft) in response
to the daily cycles of solar radiation. These are referred to as RACOON balloons.
2.3 SUPER-PRESSURE BALLOONS (SPB)
The very first prototype of a super-pressure balloon was the one constructed in
August 1783 by the Roberts brothers for Professor Jacques Charles (of Charles’
Law fame). It was a sealed hydrogen filled balloon constructed using a rubber coated
fabric. It was unmanned and burst during the ascent. Then in December, Jacques and
Nicolas-Louis Robert lifted off in a hydrogen balloon from the area that is now the
location of the Eiffel Tower, and flew for over two hours. About 400,000 spectators
were estimated to have watched, including Benjamin Franklin and his son.
Fast forward now about two hundred years to the modern era. There are opposing requirements among the users of both scientific and commercial balloons.
Some want altitude, some want larger payloads, others want duration, some want
to look at the Earth and its atmosphere, and others desire to look out toward the
heavens. NASA not only faces the challenge of meeting the scientists’ requirements and providing the system capabilities but also has the responsibility to control costs while developing the necessary technologies and capabilities. At the same
time, there were studies on various polyethylene films, advances in balloon systems technologies, and ground support systems and facilities in various locations.
In 1991, the Balloon Working Group was established to counsel NASA on the
performance and plans of the NASA Balloon Program with particular emphasis
on the operation and support of what was then known as the National Scientific
Balloon Facility (NSBF).
1
The group is a forum for the exchange of information
on balloon systems, operational support, and those scientific developments that
affect the Balloon Program. There are 12 members, one of whom is the NASA
Balloon Project Scientist who serves as Chairman. The others were appointed
from the principal scientific disciplines that were served by ballooning and from
the technical and management support areas of importance to the NASA Balloon
Program. Members are appointed by the Director, Goddard Space Flight Center.
The NASA Headquarters Balloon Program Scientist is an ex-officio member.
1
In 2006, NASA renamed it the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in honor of the
Space Shuttle astronauts.
16 Stratospheric Balloon Descriptions
who desire to maximize mission time and altitude.
The UHAB platform further offers the opportunity to extend the duration of
mid-latitude flights through the implementation of Radiation-Controlled
Ballooning.
This concept was designed to take stratospheric measurement of cyclical radiation levels at different altitudes between 20-40 km (65,600-131,000 ft) in response
to the daily cycles of solar radiation. These are referred to as RACOON balloons.
2.3 SUPER-PRESSURE BALLOONS (SPB)
The very first prototype of a super-pressure balloon was the one constructed in
August 1783 by the Roberts brothers for Professor Jacques Charles (of Charles’
Law fame). It was a sealed hydrogen filled balloon constructed using a rubber coated
fabric. It was unmanned and burst during the ascent. Then in December, Jacques and
Nicolas-Louis Robert lifted off in a hydrogen balloon from the area that is now the
location of the Eiffel Tower, and flew for over two hours. About 400,000 spectators
were estimated to have watched, including Benjamin Franklin and his son.
Fast forward now about two hundred years to the modern era. There are opposing requirements among the users of both scientific and commercial balloons.
Some want altitude, some want larger payloads, others want duration, some want
to look at the Earth and its atmosphere, and others desire to look out toward the
heavens. NASA not only faces the challenge of meeting the scientists’ requirements and providing the system capabilities but also has the responsibility to control costs while developing the necessary technologies and capabilities. At the same
time, there were studies on various polyethylene films, advances in balloon systems technologies, and ground support systems and facilities in various locations.
In 1991, the Balloon Working Group was established to counsel NASA on the
performance and plans of the NASA Balloon Program with particular emphasis
on the operation and support of what was then known as the National Scientific
Balloon Facility (NSBF).
1
The group is a forum for the exchange of information
on balloon systems, operational support, and those scientific developments that
affect the Balloon Program. There are 12 members, one of whom is the NASA
Balloon Project Scientist who serves as Chairman. The others were appointed
from the principal scientific disciplines that were served by ballooning and from
the technical and management support areas of importance to the NASA Balloon
Program. Members are appointed by the Director, Goddard Space Flight Center.
The NASA Headquarters Balloon Program Scientist is an ex-officio member.
1
In 2006, NASA renamed it the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in honor of the
Space Shuttle astronauts.
16 Stratospheric Balloon Descriptions