Superpressure balloon
A superpressure balloon (SPB) is a style of
Operation
In a variable-volume balloon, the
In contrast, a superpressure balloon experiences smaller changes in altitude without compensation maneuvers.
The disadvantage is that such balloons require much stronger materials than non-pressurized types.
Applications
Superpressure balloons (SPB) are typically used for extremely long duration flights of unmanned
In February 1974, Colonel Thomas L. Gatch Jr,
In March 2015, NASA launched a SPB to an altitude of 110,000 feet (34,000 m) for 32 days from New Zealand and landed it in Australia after a leak was detected.[6] This was the first time a SPB was flown for a long duration through the day and night cycle. When fully inflated, it was the size of a football stadium.
Google's
The SPB TRAVALB-2 surpassed previous Antarctic balloon flights by staying aloft for 149 Days, 3 hours, and 58 minutes after launch from the NASA Long Duration Balloon (LDB) site at LDB Camp, McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The operation was supported by National Science Foundation and United States Antarctic Program. [8] After the Travalb-1 launch abort, the Travalb-2 lifted off on 29 December 2019 to test NASA balloon trajectory predictions in Antarctica and to study electron losses from Earth's radiation belts. [9]
The
The
See also
References
- ^ "Scientific Balloons". NASA.gov. NASA. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Successful Flight Of NASA Prototype Super-Pressure Balloon In Antarctica". space-travel.com. January 27, 2009.
- ^ Shelquist, Richard (2010). "An Introduction to Air Density and Density Altitude Calculations". Shelquist Engineering.
- .
- ^ "Private flight: transatlantic balloon attempt". Flight International. 105 (3390). IPC Transport Press Ltd: 263. 1974. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ Chirgwin, Richard (28 April 2015). "NASA 'UFO' pops a leak, lands in outback Australia: Super Pressure Balloon flight terminated, 32 days into planned 100-day flight". The Register.
- ^ "Medium: "312 Days in the Stratosphere"". www.medium.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
- ^ "NASA Long Duration Balloon (LDB) site at LDB Camp, McMurdo Station". csbf.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "NASA campaign in Antarctica (IV)". stratocat.com. Stratocat.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- New York Times. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
External links
- NASA Superpressure balloon
- NASA Image of the Day "Aloft" showing a superpressure balloon over Antarctica.
- Nott's Super-pressure balloon