vii
This book is dedicated to all of the scientists, graduate students, engineers, technicians, managers and administrators that supported the scientific balloon flights of
past generations; to the corporations and organizations that have pioneered the use
of stratospheric balloons for commercial applications; and to the international scientific organizations and commercial enterprises that also strive, in their own
unique way, to advance the state of the art of ballooning.
A special dedication goes to those students, of all ages, who are participating
in ballooning as part of their studies of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. While they may not yet know their future career paths, it is to be
hoped that some of them will join the next generation of balloonists and that
their participation will lead to a better understanding of our place in the universe. At least we know from others who blazed the trail before them, that their
lives and society will be enriched by their efforts.
This book is also dedicated to those in a position to guide NASA in its use of
balloon programs for the advancement of science, including the Science Mission
Directorate at NASA Headquarters which funds the Balloon Program. Within that
organization are the various science divisions that manage, support, and fund scientific balloon missions.
And this book is dedicated to the organizations that conduct balloon missions,
notably the Wallops Flight Facility of the Goddard Space Flight Center, which
includes the Balloon Program Office and their operational site; the Columbia
Scientific Balloon Facility.
And last, but not least, this book is dedicated to the students who have actually
taken part in launching balloons as part of their studies. Not only have they been
working towards graduating, they have been learning the fundamentals of balloon
operations including pre-flight preparations, flight operations, recovery, and postflight analysis. This book is therefore dedicated to the next generation of balloon
scientists, engineers and technicians, for they are the future.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all of the scientists, graduate students, engineers, technicians, managers and administrators that supported the scientific balloon flights of
past generations; to the corporations and organizations that have pioneered the use
of stratospheric balloons for commercial applications; and to the international scientific organizations and commercial enterprises that also strive, in their own
unique way, to advance the state of the art of ballooning.
A special dedication goes to those students, of all ages, who are participating
in ballooning as part of their studies of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. While they may not yet know their future career paths, it is to be
hoped that some of them will join the next generation of balloonists and that
their participation will lead to a better understanding of our place in the universe. At least we know from others who blazed the trail before them, that their
lives and society will be enriched by their efforts.
This book is also dedicated to those in a position to guide NASA in its use of
balloon programs for the advancement of science, including the Science Mission
Directorate at NASA Headquarters which funds the Balloon Program. Within that
organization are the various science divisions that manage, support, and fund scientific balloon missions.
And this book is dedicated to the organizations that conduct balloon missions,
notably the Wallops Flight Facility of the Goddard Space Flight Center, which
includes the Balloon Program Office and their operational site; the Columbia
Scientific Balloon Facility.
And last, but not least, this book is dedicated to the students who have actually
taken part in launching balloons as part of their studies. Not only have they been
working towards graduating, they have been learning the fundamentals of balloon
operations including pre-flight preparations, flight operations, recovery, and postflight analysis. This book is therefore dedicated to the next generation of balloon
scientists, engineers and technicians, for they are the future.
Dedication