SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Balloon”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1992

Is the earth's magnetotail balloon unstable?

In the past, the onset of magnetospheric substorms has been attributed to the plasma tearing mode instabilities. This paper investigates the ideal MHD ballooning instability of the near-and middle-tail magnetosphere region, as a first step toward determining whether it could trigger the tearing mode, by using the energy principle to investigate whether standard 2D tail models with the 'hard' ionospheric boundary condition are unstable to ballooning instability. Numerical results are presented for compressible ballooning modes that are symmetric about the center of the current sheet. It is shown that, for such a hard boundary condition, no reasonable magnetotail configuration exists that would be unstable to compressible symmetric ballooning but stable against interchange.

Lee, D.-Y.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A high resolution gamma-ray and hard X-ray spectrometer (HIREGS) for long duration balloon flights

The elements of a high resolution gamma-ray spectrometer, developed for observations of solar flares, are described. Emphasis is given to those aspects of the system that relate to its operation on a long duration balloon platform. The performance of the system observed in its first flight, launched from McMurdo Station, Antarctica on 10 January, 1992, is discussed. Background characteristics of the antarctic balloon environment are compared with those observed in conventional mid-latitude balloon flights and the general advantages of long duration ballooning are discussed.

Pelling, M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Balloon-based interferometric techniques

A balloon-borne triple-etalon Fabry-Perot Interferometer, observing the Doppler shifts of absorption lines caused by molecular oxygen and water vapor in the far red/near infrared spectrum of backscattered sunlight, has been used to evaluate a passive spaceborne remote sensing technique for measuring winds in the troposphere and stratosphere. There have been two successful high altitude balloon flights of the prototype UCL instrument from the National Scientific Balloon Facility at Palestine, TE (May 80, Oct. 83). The results from these flights have demonstrated that an interferometer with adequate resolution, stability and sensitivity can be built. The wind data are of comparable quality to those obtained from operational techniques (balloon and rocket sonde, cloud-top drift analysis, and from the gradient wind analysis of satellite radiance measurements). However, the interferometric data can provide a regular global grid, over a height range from 5 to 50 km in regions of clear air. Between the middle troposphere (5 km) and the upper stratosphere (40 to 50 km), an optimized instrument can make wind measurements over the daylit hemisphere with an accuracy of about 3 to 5 m/sec (2 sigma). It is possible to obtain full height profiles between altitudes of 5 and 50 km, with 4 km height resolution, and a spatial resolution of about 200 km, along the orbit track. Below an altitude of about 10 km, Fraunhofer lines of solar origin are possible targets of the Doppler wind analysis. Above an altitude of 50 km, the weakness of the backscattered solar spectrum (decreasing air density) is coupled with the low absorption crosssection of all atmospheric species in the spectral region up to 800 nm (where imaging photon detectors can be used), causing the along-the-track resolution (or error) to increase beyond values useful for operational purposes. Within the region of optimum performance (5 to 50 km), however, the technique is a valuable potential complement to existing wind measuring systems and can provide a low cost addition to powerful active (LIDAR) wind measuring systems now under development.

Rees, David↗

NASA NTRS1994

Balloon measurements of stratospheric HCl and HF by far infrared emission spectroscopy

We have analyzed atmospheric thermal emission spectra obtained with the balloon-borne FIRS-2 far infrared Fourier transform spectrometer during balloon flights from Palestine, Texas on May 12-13, 1988 and from Fort Sumner, New Mexico on September 26-27, 1989 and on July 4-5, 1990. Seven and two pure rotational transition lines in 100-205 cm(exp -1) range are analyzed for deriving vertical profiles of stratospheric HCl and HF, respectively. We obtain both the daytime and nighttime average vertical profiles from 15 to 50 km. We compare these profiles with the ones obtained in June, 1983 with the first version of FIRS spectrometer during the Balloon Intercomparison Campaign (BIC-2). BIC-2 results were revised to be consistent with the present analysis which uses the latest spectral parameters. According to our comparison results no increase is recognized for HCl but about 3 percent per year increase for HF from 1983 to 1990, assuming a linear trend. These annual increase rates are smaller than those reported by other groups. Recently Rinsland et al. (1991) and Wallace and Livingston (1991) reported long term behavior of total HCl and HF observed on Kit Peak between 1977 and 1990. As Kit Peak is located near both balloon launching sites, Palestine and Fort Sumner, we think our results are favorably comparable with theirs. Comparison results with ours and ground-based measurements will be presented and discussed.

Shibasaki, Kazuo↗

NASA NTRS1994

Mass and radius of cosmic balloons

Cosmic balloons are spherical domain walls with relativistic particles trapped inside. We derive the exact mass and radius relations for a static cosmic balloon using Gauss-Codazzi equations. The cosmic balloon mass as a function of its radius, M(R), is found to have a functional form similar to that of fermion soliton stars, with a fixed point at 2GM(R)/R approximately or equal to 0.486 which corresponds to the limit of infinite central density. We derive a simple analytical approximation for the mass density of a spherically symmetric relativistic gas star. When applied to the computation of the mass and radius of a cosmic balloon, the analytical approximation yields fairly good agreement with the exact numerical solutions.

Wang, Yun↗

NASA NTRS1994

Recent advances in the structual analysis of scientific balloons

The analysis of balloon envelopes by the finite element (FE) method is plagued by convergence problems. A pratical FE analysis approach is based on the fact that in thin shells with non-zero Gaussian curvature the membrane solution component is essentially decoupled from the bending solution component. A proxy-problem is solved by using a small artificial bending stiffness that assures convergence without significantly affecting the membrane solution component. This approach has been previously validated on slightly overpressurized balloon envelopes. Extensions of this approach to more difficult problems in the structural analysis of balloon envelopes are presented. The convergence forcing modelling measures are discussed. Implications of the findings of the analysis results to future balloon designs are also discussed.

Schur, W. W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Evolution of the NASA long-duration balloon program

The development of long-duration ballooning techniques to support flights of 1-2 ton payloads for periods up to 2 weeks, possibly even longer, offers a near-space scientific mission capability with an order of magnitude improvement over traditional balloon flights. This revolution in scientific research ballooning began with the solution of the manufacturing difficulties that plagued the program in the first half of the 1980's, and it has culminated in the early 1990's with three successive circumnavigations of the Antarctic continent in 9 to 14 day flights. A complementary capablity in the Northern hemisphere, which would approximately double the number of flights that could be supported each year, is needed to accommodate the trend for conventional payloads to be modified, or developed, for long-duration flights. Plans are already underway to employ the order-of-magnitude increased flight time for support of multi-flight research programs that will produce results comparable to some space missions. An overview of the current status and near-term plans for ballooning will be presented, along with a discussion of some major science initiatives that have been enabled.

Jones, W. Vernon↗

NASA NTRS1995

Global electrodynamics from superpressure balloons

Electric field and conductivity measurements in the stratosphere between November 1992 and March 1993 have been made using superpressure balloons in the southern hemisphere. Over 400 payload-days of data have been made during a record setting experiment called ELBBO (Extended Life Balloon Borne Observatories). This experiment resulted in 4 flights aloft simultaneously for over 2 months including one flight which lasted over 4 months. Electrodynamical coupling between the atmosphere and ionosphere is studied using the measured electric fields, and a simple empirical model of the stratospheric conductivity. Altitude profiles of conductivity have been obtained from several superpressure balloon flights using the large end-of-flight altitude swings on the last few days of each flight (as the balloon begins to loose superpressure). Coupling between the fields and atmospheric inertial waves has been observed. Effects and dynamics of the global circuit suggest that standard models are missing significant phenomena. Large scale ionospheric convection activity has been studied from the polar cap to the middle latitudes. Cusp latitude fields have been continuously measured for many days in a row.

Holzworth, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Substances To Fill Lighter-Than-Air Balloons

Various combinations of solid and liquid chemicals proposed as sources of hydrogen and other gases for inflating lighter-than-air balloons. In all cases energy used to propel balloon upward or downward comes from temperature differences in planet's atmosphere itself. Phase changes and/or reversible chemical reactions used to vary quantities of gases in balloons as functions of pressure and temperature and, as functions of altitude: provides means to control altitude of balloon.

Jones, Jack A.↗

NASA NTRS1968

Use of a Magnetic Azimuth-Indicator System Developed for Balloon Payloads of the Planetary Entry Parachute Program

An azimuth-sensing system was used for continuous ground monitoring of the azimuth orientation of the balloon-borne Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP) spacecraft. The system utilized two magnetic field sensors located in the spacecraft so as to produce a unique set of voltage outputs for any azimuth. Electronics onboard the spacecraft encoded the magnetometer outputs and fed the encoded signal to a C-band modulator which imposed the intelligence onto the radar tracking beacon pulses. A conveniently located ground radar received the modulated pulses and the magnetometer outputs were reproduced after demodulation. For fast, direct readout, an X-Y plotter was calibrated to cross plot the reproduced signal of the two magnetometers on a combination rectangular-polar graph indicating the correct true azimuth in real time. The method was used successfully on three of the PEPP balloon-borne spacecraft to determine when the spacecraft was pointed in the most advantageous direction for release from the balloon, at 130,000 ft altitude. The use of such a system of azimuth monitoring is suitable to balloon payloads which are virtually stable with respect to the horizontal but may be rotating about the vertical axis. Angular accuracies within plus or minus 10 deg. could generally be expected.

Darnell, Wayne L.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Balloon Flight Engineering Model: Overview

The Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a pair-production high-energy (greater than 20 MeV) gamma-ray telescope being built by an international partnership of astrophysicists and particle physicists for a satellite launch in 2006, designed to study a wide variety of high-energy astrophysical phenomena. As part of the development effort, the collaboration has built a Balloon Flight Engineering Model (BFEM) for flight on a high-altitude scientific balloon. The BFEM is approximately the size of one of the 16 GLAST-LAT towers and contains all the components of the full instrument: plastic scintillator anticoincidence system (ACD), high-Z foil/Si strip pair-conversion tracker (TKR), CsI hodoscopic calorimeter (CAL), triggering and data acquisition electronics (DAQ), commanding system, power distribution, telemetry, real-time data display, and ground data processing system. The principal goal of the balloon flight was to demonstrate the performance of this instrument configuration under conditions similar to those expected in orbit. Results from a balloon flight from Palestine, Texas, on August 4, 2001, show that the BFEM successfully obtained gamma-ray data in this high-background environment.

Thompson, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

CdZnTe Background Measurements at Balloon Altitudes with PoRTIA

Measurements of the CdZnTe internal background at balloon altitudes are essential to determine which physical processes make the most important background contributions. We present results from CdZnTe background measurements made by PoRTIA, a small CdZnTe balloon instrument that was flown three times in three different shielding configurations. PoRTIA was passively shielded during its first flight from Palestine, Texas and actively shielded as a piggyback instrument on the GRIS balloon experiment during its second and third flights from Alice Springs, Australia, using the thick GRIS Nal anticoincidence shield. A significant CdZnTe background reduction was achieved during the third flight with PoRTIA placed completely inside the GRIS shield and blocking crystal, and thus completely surrounded by 15 cm of Nal. A unique balloon altitude background data set is provided by CdZnTe and Ge detectors simultaneously surrounded by the same thick anticoincidence shield; the presence of a single coxial Ge detector inside the shield next to PoRTIA allowed a measurement of the ambient neutron flux inside the shield throughout the flight. These neutrons interact with the detector material to produce isomeric states of the Cd, Zn and Te nuclei that radiatively decay; calculations are presented that indicate that these decays may explain most of the fully shielded CdZnTe background.

Parsons, A.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Lavoisier: A Low Altitude Balloon Network for Probing the Deep Atmosphere and Surface of Venus

The in-situ exploration of the low atmosphere and surface of Venus is clearly the next step of Venus exploration. Understanding the geochemistry of the low atmosphere, interacting with rocks, and the way the integrated Venus system evolved, under the combined effects of inner planet cooling and intense atmospheric greenhouse, is a major challenge of modern planetology. Due to the dense atmosphere (95 bars at the surface), balloon platforms offer an interesting means to transport and land in-situ measurement instruments. Due to the large Archimede force, a 2 cubic meter He-pressurized balloon floating at 10 km altitude may carry up to 60 kg of payload. LAVOISIER is a project submitted to ESA in 2000, in the follow up and spirit of the balloon deployed at cloud level by the Russian Vega mission in 1986. It is composed of a descent probe, for detailed noble gas and atmosphere composition analysis, and of a network of 3 balloons for geochemical and geophysical investigations at local, regional and global scales.

Chaasefiere, E.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Balloon-Borne, High-Energy Astrophysics: Experiences from the 1960s to the 1980s

Observational high-energy astrophysics in the hard-x-ray and gamma-ray regions owes its development and initial successes to the balloon-borne development of detector systems, as well as pioneering observations, primarily in the timeframe from the 1960s to the 1990s. I will describe some of the first observations made by the Rice University balloon group in the 1960s, including the impetus for these observations. The appearance of SN 1987a led to several balloon-flight campaigns, sponsored by NASA, from Alice Springs, Australia in 1987 and 1988. During the 1980s, prototypes of instruments for the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory were flown on many balloon flights, which greatly enhanced the success of that mission.

Fishman, Gerald J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Meshed-Pumpkin Super-Pressure Balloon Design

An improved, lightweight design has been proposed for super-pressure balloons used to carry scientific instruments at high altitudes in the atmosphere of Earth for times as long as 100 days. [A super-pressure balloon is one in which the pressure of the buoyant gas (typically, helium) is kept somewhat above ambient pressure in order to maintain approximately constant density and thereby regulate the altitude.] The proposed design, called "meshed pumpkin," incorporates the basic concept of the pumpkin design, which is so named because of its appearance. The pumpkin design entails less weight than does a spherical design, and the meshed-pumpkin design would reduce weight further. The basic idea of the meshed-pumpkin design is to reinforce the membrane of a pumpkin balloon by attaching a strong, lightweight fabric mesh to its outer surface. The reinforcement would make it possible to reduce the membrane mass to one-third or less of that of the basic pumpkin design while retaining sufficient strength to enable the balloon to remain at approximately constant altitude for months.

Jones, Jack↗

NASA NTRS2020

Development of a Display Tool to Quality Control Weather Balloon Data for Space Launch Vehicles Using Python

Continuous atmospheric data analysis is an important factor for space launch vehicle design and operations. The balloon quality control tool was developed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (NEB) for monitoring quality control processes and verifying the automated flags created on the balloon data sets analyzed. The data sets currently analyzed are comprised of high-resolution and low-resolution balloon data from NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), co-located on the United States Air Force’s Eastern range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The NEB was tasked to perform a quality assessment of these data sets and needed a tool to confirm the quality control (QC) flags produced from an automated process and add additional QC flags if necessary. This Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed to visualize all of the data from these balloon sets, display any flags from the automated QC process, and add additional flags to variables if necessary. The GUI was developed in Python 3.6 utilizing different packages available such as pandas for data analysis and manipulation, NumPy for high-performance multidimensional array and tools to compute with and manipulate arrays, Matplotlib for plotting data and Tkinter to build the GUI.

Jessica K Headley↗

NASA NTRS2020

Development of a Display Tool to Quality Control Weather Balloon Data for Space Launch Vehicles

Jessica K Headley↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

SuperHERO (Super - High Energy Replicated Optics) Balloon Mission Concept

The SuperHERO hard-x-ray telescope is a proposed high-angular resolution successor to Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) successful High Energy Replicated Optic (HERO) and the HERO to Explore the Sun (HEROES) balloon missions. By utilizing recent advancements in MSFC’s replicated full shell, NiCo x-ray optic technology, SuperHERO will achieve its technical goal of demonstrating better than 10 arcseconds (arcsecs) angular resolution in half-power diameter (HPD) on a balloon platform. This represents a 6-fold improvement to the current state-of-the-art resolution for hard-x-ray, astrophysical telescopes and will allow for the observation of the high-energy-universe in unprecedented spatial detail. The SuperHERO balloon observatory will consist of seven coaligned, identical telescopes with a total focal length of 12-meters. Each telescope will pair a Mirror Module Assembly (MMA) comprised of NiCo shell optics matched to a CdTe Double-sided Strip Detector (CdTe-DSD) plane provided by iMAGINE-X Inc. and Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli-IPMU). Iridium coating applied directly to each shell will boost reflectivity into the hard-x-ray regime. Employing additional high-heritage technology, SuperHERO will have an open-truss carbon-composite gondola similarly used on the XL-Calibur balloon mission and will use the Wallops Arc-Second Pointer (WASP) system for attitude control

NickThomas↗