film, the new film (often listed as SF-430) gave higher strength and ductility at
normal surface temperatures, making the shell better able to withstand dynamic
launch loads. The Raven-made balloon was launched from the Scientific Flight
Balloon Facility at Fort Sumner, NM on September 30, 2006 as flight 561NT. It
had a payload of 1,971 kg (4,033 lb) and total weight of 2,721 kg (6,000 lb). The
test exceeded all pre-flight basic requirements for the SF-430 film, as well as the
new Universal Terminal Package (UTP)-3.
For a general 2:34 minute video of Raven Engineered Films, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kd5wNb8Ayo
3.1.3 World View
World View Enterprises, Inc., is a private American near-space exploration and
technology company headquartered in Tucson, AZ. They were founded with the
goal of increasing access to, and the utilization of the stratosphere for scientific,
commercial, and economic purposes. The company designs, manufactures, and
operates stratospheric balloon flight technology for a wide variety of customers
and applications.
In 2017, they dedicated a new building that spans more than 135,000 ft
2
; long
enough to build balloon envelopes and parachutes. They claim it is the world’s first
building designed solely for developing stratospheric flight. World View manufactures and tests out balloons made to travel up to approximately 30 km (100,000 ft).
In addition to a stratospheric balloon manufacturing table 165 m (540 ft) long there
is a 100-foot-tall tower to test parafoils intended for use on stratospheric flights.
World View has designed, built and flown their Stratollite balloon. This is meant
primarily for internet and other applications. It inflates to 40 m (130 ft) tall and
23 m (75 ft) across, completely dwarfing conventional weather balloons. It can lift
a payload of 500 kg (1,100 lb) of equipment, including batteries, solar panels,
flight control electronics, tanks, heaters, a GPS transponder, 50-100 kg (110-220
lb) of cameras or other cargo, and a parachute to return everything to Earth at the
end of the flight. World View has a proprietary system that uses exterior balloons
(below the primary balloon) for altitude control. See Section 5.2 for a detailed
discussion of the company, its goals and its capabilities.
An affiliate company, Space Perspective, will also use the World View facilities
to manufacture balloon envelopes, parachutes, and support equipment for their
tourist business. See Chapter 5 for details.
3.1.4 Near Space
Near Space Corporation is a flight test provider supporting NASA’s JSC’s Flight
Opportunities Program. The Johnson Near Space Center, which is located at the
uncontrolled Tillamook Airport on the Oregon coast, first began operation in the
32 Balloon Elements
normal surface temperatures, making the shell better able to withstand dynamic
launch loads. The Raven-made balloon was launched from the Scientific Flight
Balloon Facility at Fort Sumner, NM on September 30, 2006 as flight 561NT. It
had a payload of 1,971 kg (4,033 lb) and total weight of 2,721 kg (6,000 lb). The
test exceeded all pre-flight basic requirements for the SF-430 film, as well as the
new Universal Terminal Package (UTP)-3.
For a general 2:34 minute video of Raven Engineered Films, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kd5wNb8Ayo
3.1.3 World View
World View Enterprises, Inc., is a private American near-space exploration and
technology company headquartered in Tucson, AZ. They were founded with the
goal of increasing access to, and the utilization of the stratosphere for scientific,
commercial, and economic purposes. The company designs, manufactures, and
operates stratospheric balloon flight technology for a wide variety of customers
and applications.
In 2017, they dedicated a new building that spans more than 135,000 ft
2
; long
enough to build balloon envelopes and parachutes. They claim it is the world’s first
building designed solely for developing stratospheric flight. World View manufactures and tests out balloons made to travel up to approximately 30 km (100,000 ft).
In addition to a stratospheric balloon manufacturing table 165 m (540 ft) long there
is a 100-foot-tall tower to test parafoils intended for use on stratospheric flights.
World View has designed, built and flown their Stratollite balloon. This is meant
primarily for internet and other applications. It inflates to 40 m (130 ft) tall and
23 m (75 ft) across, completely dwarfing conventional weather balloons. It can lift
a payload of 500 kg (1,100 lb) of equipment, including batteries, solar panels,
flight control electronics, tanks, heaters, a GPS transponder, 50-100 kg (110-220
lb) of cameras or other cargo, and a parachute to return everything to Earth at the
end of the flight. World View has a proprietary system that uses exterior balloons
(below the primary balloon) for altitude control. See Section 5.2 for a detailed
discussion of the company, its goals and its capabilities.
An affiliate company, Space Perspective, will also use the World View facilities
to manufacture balloon envelopes, parachutes, and support equipment for their
tourist business. See Chapter 5 for details.
3.1.4 Near Space
Near Space Corporation is a flight test provider supporting NASA’s JSC’s Flight
Opportunities Program. The Johnson Near Space Center, which is located at the
uncontrolled Tillamook Airport on the Oregon coast, first began operation in the
32 Balloon Elements