Scientific Ballooning

by Yajima, Nobuyuki; Izutsu, Naoki; Imamura, Takeshi; Abe, Toyoo

• ISBN13: 9780387097251
• ISBN10: 0387097252
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-12-12
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

The subject of this book is stratospheric balloons used for scientific observations and for the development of space technology and balloons that are used for aerological observations. These balloons attain flight altitudes more than three times those of passenger planes. They transport payloads ranging from several hundred kilograms up to several tons into the earth's stratosphere. The density of the atmosphere at these altitudes is less than 1% that at the earth's surface. In addition, as part of planetary exploration, this book includes planetary balloons sent to float over other planets that have atmospheres, such as Mars and Venus. The general term used to describe these sorts of activities is scientific ballooning.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
History of Ballooning	p. 1
Advent of Balloons	p. 1
First Uses for Scientific Observation	p. 3
The Age of Modern Scientific Ballooning	p. 5
Overview of Balloons	p. 9
Stratospheric Balloons	p. 9
Rubber Balloons	p. 11
Planetary Balloons	p. 12
Remarkable Characteristics of Scientific Ballooning	p. 12
References	p. 14
Engineering Fundamentals of Balloons	p. 15
Buoyant Force and Attainable Altitude of Balloons	p. 15
Principle of Buoyancy	p. 15
Effect of Buoyancy from a Gas	p. 16
Attainable Altitude	p. 17
Balloon Configurations	p. 19
Historical Background and Overview of Problems	p. 19
Natural-Shape Balloon Concept	p. 24
Expansion of Design Concepts for Balloons with Load Tape	p. 34
Balloon Systems	p. 44
Zero-Pressure Balloons	p. 45
Super-Pressure Balloons	p. 48
Special-Purpose Balloons	p. 51
Motion of Balloons	p. 53
Balloon Flight Model	p. 55
Vertical Motion of Balloons	p. 58
Horizontal Motion of Balloons	p. 65
Balloon Heat Balance	p. 66
References	p. 74
Stratospheric Balloons	p. 77
The Earth's Atmosphere	p. 77
The Composition of the Atmosphere	p. 77
Vertical Structure	p. 78
Hydrostatic Equilibrium	p. 79
Meridional Distribution of Temperature	p. 82
Meridional Distribution of Zonal Winds	p. 83
Waves in the Atmosphere	p. 86
Balloon System Configurations	p. 90
Balloon Configurations	p. 90
Suspension System	p. 93
Basic On-Board Equipments	p. 98
Optional Equipments	p. 101
Ground Facilities	p. 104
Launch Site	p. 104
Communication Facilities	p. 105
Other Facilities and Equipments	p. 109
Launch and Flight	p. 110
Acquisition and Use of Meteorological Data	p. 110
Injection of Lifting Gas and Balloon Launch	p. 115
Flight Control	p. 122
Flight Control Apparatus	p. 125
Flight Termination and Payload Recovery	p. 130
Long-Duration Flight Technology	p. 131
Flight Safety and Security	p. 135
The Manufacture of Balloons	p. 137
Film Materials	p. 137
Design	p. 141
Manufacturing Process	p. 142
Structural Strength	p. 146
Quality Control	p. 149
Rubber Balloons Used for Meteorological Observations	p. 151
Outline of Meteorological Rubber Balloons	p. 151
Ascent Speed of Rubber Balloons	p. 154
Achievable Altitudes of Rubber Balloons	p. 155
Utilization of Balloons	p. 156
Scientific Observations	p. 156
Engineering Experiments	p. 161
Routine Meteorological Observations	p. 163
References	p. 171
Planetary Ballooning	p. 173
Atmospheres of Planets	p. 173
Atmospheres of Terrestrial Planets	p. 173
Atmospheres of Jovian Planets	p. 176
Background of Planetary Ballooning	p. 177
Characteristics of Planetary Balloons	p. 177
History of Planetary Ballooning	p. 178
Peculiarities of Planetary Balloons	p. 178
Examples of Planetary Balloons	p. 179
Venus Balloons	p. 179
Mars Balloons	p. 188
Other Balloons	p. 190
Scientific Observations Through Planetary Ballooning	p. 190
Photographic and Spectroscopic Observation of Planetary Surfaces	p. 191
Meteorological Observation	p. 191
Measurement of Atmospheric Components	p. 191
Measurement of Remnant Magnetism	p. 192
Observation of Lightning and Radar Exploration	p. 192
References	p. 192
The Future of Scientific Ballooning	p. 195
Future Trends in Balloon Technology	p. 195
Payload Weight, Flight Duration, and Flight Altitude	p. 195
Long-Duration Balloon Flight Technology	p. 196
Control of Flight Path	p. 196
Applications to Information Networks	p. 196
Planetary Balloons	p. 197
Future Trends in Balloon Applications	p. 198
Increasing the Scale of Experimental and Observation Systems	p. 198
The New Role of Balloons in the Satellite Era	p. 198
Effects of Balloon Technology on Other Fields	p. 200
Linkage with Airship Technology	p. 200
Applications to Space Structures	p. 200
Applications to Ground Structures	p. 201
References	p. 202
How Archimedes Demonstrated the Existence of Buoyant Force	p. 18
Another Natural-Shape Balloon Formulation	p. 43
Balloon Recovery in Japan is Hard Work	p. 136
Leave it up to the Wind when Flying, Leave it up to the Feet when Manufacturing	p. 150
Tateno Aerological Observatory: Making a Mark on History	p. 170
Where Research is Presented	p. 201
Appendices	p. 205
Abbreviations	p. 209
Index	p. 211
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