Stratospheric Balloons: Science and Commerce at the Edge of Space

Note: The final Contents will only go to two digits; the three digits shown only serve to help the editor and I keep track of the text. Not all areas have been researched down to three digits.

Frontispiece                                                                                                              

Dedication                                                                                                     

Acknowledgments                                                                                                    

Preface                                                                                              

1    Introduction

2   Stratospheric Balloon Descriptions

            2.1 Types

            2.2 Zero Pressure Balloons

                        2.2.1 Ultra High Altitude Balloons

            2.3 Super Pressure Balloons

                        2.3.1 Program Goals

                        2.3.2 The Balloon

                        2.3.3 Size and Shape

                        2.3.4 Test Flights

            2.4 Long and Ultra Long Duration Balloons

                        2.4.1 Long Duration Balloons

                        2.4.2 Ultra Long Duration Balloons

            2.5 Commercial Stratospheric Balloons

                        2.5.1 Loon

                        2.5.2 World View

                        2.5.3 Space Perspective

                        2.5.4 Raven Aerostar

                        2.5.6 International Corporations and Others

3   Balloon Elements

            3.1 Balloon Envelopes

                        3.1.1 Schjeldahl/Winzen

                        3.1.2 Raven Aerostar

                        3.1.3 World View

                        3.1.4 Near Space

                        3.1.5 Other Balloon Envelopes

            3.2 Parachutes

                        3.2.1 The Basic Design

                        3.2.2 Raven Aerostar

                        3.2.3 World View

                        3.2.4 Other Manufacturers

            3.3 Instrument Carriers/Gondolas

                        3.3.1 CSBF

                        3.3.2 Sage Cheshire Aerospace

                        3.3.3 Space Perspective

                        3.4.1 Ground

                        3.4.2 Flight

            3.5 Technology Examples

                        3.5.1 Trajectory Control

                        3.5.2 Other Trajectory Control

                        3.5.3 Future Technology Needs

4  Mission Drivers and Operations

            4.1 Drivers

                        4.1.1 Pre-Mission

                        4.1.2 Requirements and Constraints

                        4.1.3 Range and Safety

                        4.1.4 Overflight Planning

            4.2   Mission Operations

                        4.2.1 Real-Time Planning and Coordination

                        4.2.2 Flight Safety

                        4.2.3 Real-Time Weather and Winds

                        4.2.4 Command & Control

                        4.2.5 Recovery Operations

                        4.2.6 Post Flight Analysis

5   Commercial Corporations and Applications

            5.1 Loon

                        5.1.1 Historical Timeline

                        5.1.2 Equipment

                        5.1.3 Software

                        5.1.4 Collaboration

            5.2 World View Enterprises

                        5.2.1 Stratollites

                        5.2.2 Stratocraft

                        5.2.3 Pointing Control

                        5.2.4 Ballast and Attitude Control

            5.3 Space Perspective

            5.4 Raven Aerostar

                        5.4.1 Flight Services

                        5.4.2 Field Support

                        5.4.3 Training Program

                        5.4.4 Flight Systems

                        5.4.5 Airships

                        5.4.6 Parachutes

            5.5 Near Space Corporation

                        5.5.1 Flight Operations

            5.6 Stratobus

            5.7 Zero to Infinity

                        5.7.1 Boostar

            5.8 ISTAR

                        5.8.1 Long Duration Balloon

                        5.8.2 Circumpolar Flight

                        5.8.3 Antarctic Flight

            5.9 HASP

                        5.9.1 Purpose

6  Launch Sites

            6.1 U.S.

            6.2 International

7 Scientific Flight Types

            7.1 Atmosphere

                        7.1.1 Earth Radiation Budget

                        7.1.2 Aeronomy

                        7.1.3 Aerobiology

                        7.1.4 Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs)

            7.2 Earth Studies

            7.3 Solar, Astronomy and Cosmology

                        7.3.1 BOOMERANG

                        7.3.2 superTIGER

            7.4 Instrument and Technology Development

                        7.4.1 BOBCAT

                        7.4.2

            7.5 Recent and Future Flights

                        7.5.1 2017-2020 Flights

                        7.5.2 COSI

                        7.5.3 GUSTO

                        7.5.4 ASTHROS

8  Accomplishments

                        8.1.1 Earth and Atmosphere

                        8.1.2 Cosmology

            8.2 Commercial Successes

                        8.2.1Internet Service

                        8.2.2 Sensors

                        8.2.3 Ground Support Equipment (auto launchers)

            8.3 Country Accomplishments

9  The Balloon World          

            9.1 Scientific Organizations

                        9.1.1 Wallops Flight Facility

                        9.1.2 Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

                        9.1.3 Support Contractors

                        9.1.4 National Science Foundation

                        9.1.5 National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration

                        9.1.6 JPL

                        9.1.7 NMSU

            9.2 University Scientists and Students

                        9.2.1 High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)

                        9.2.2 Scientists Flight Examples

            9.3 International Organizations and Countries

                        9.3.1 Canadian Space Agency

                        9.3.3 Japanese Space Agency

                        9.3.4 European Union

                        9.3.6 Thales Alenia/Hispasat/Leonardo

                        9.3.7 The Netherlands

                        9.3.9 Brazil

                        9.3.10 Australia

                        9.4.1 Air Force

                        9.4.2 Space Data

                        9.4.3 Security and Utilities

10 Educating the Next Generation

            10.1 Funding Sources

                        10.1.2 NSF

                        10.1.3 Battelle

                        10.2 1University of Wyoming LIFT

                        10.2.2 Sisters High School RISE

                        10.2.4 EOSS/University of Colorado

                        10.2.5 New Mexico State University

                                    10.3.1 Raven Aerospace

                                    10.3.2 StratoStar

            10.4 Youthful Entrepreneurs

11 Conclusions

Appendices (Potential as time and space permits)

Appendix 1 A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF

Appendix 2 Scientists and Engineers

Appendix 3 Network and Internet Communications

Appendix 4 Short Stories    

Appendix 5 Quotes

Appendix 6 Planetary Balloons

References, Internet Links and Videos

Glossary and Terminology

About the Author

Index