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Evolution of the NASA long-duration balloon programThe 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.
Document ID
19950034707
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Jones, W. Vernon
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Space Research
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
95A66306
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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