ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program

Preliminary Program Concept

Balloon Program Concept.doc

Copyright © ASRI 2001

Copyright and conditions of use

 

Document Control

Amendment Log

Table of Contents

Copyright and conditions of use................................................................................ 3

Document Control............................................................................................................ 3

Amendment Log..................................................................................................................... 4

Table of Contents............................................................................................................. 5

1     Document Overview.................................................................................................... 7

1.1     Document Purpose............................................................................................... 7

1.2     Document Handling and Control................................................................... 7

1.3     Source DID................................................................................................................ 7

1.4     DID Derivation.......................................................................................................... 7

1.5     Document Structure.......................................................................................... 7

1.6     Definitions................................................................................................................ 7

1.6.1     Internal Definitions.................................................................................................. 7

1.6.2     External Definitions................................................................................................. 8

1.6.3     Precedence of Definitions...................................................................................... 8

1.7     References............................................................................................................. 8

2     ProJECT BACKGROUND................................................................................................. 9

2.1     Overview................................................................................................................... 9

2.2     Types of Balloon Flight..................................................................................... 9

2.2.1     Pressure Balloons.................................................................................................. 9

2.2.2     Zero Pressure Balloons........................................................................................ 10

2.3     Lifting Gases.......................................................................................................... 10

2.3.1     Hydrogen.............................................................................................................. 10

2.3.2     Helium................................................................................................................... 11

2.3.3     A Lifting Comparison between Helium and Hydrogen......................................... 11

2.4     High Altitude Balloon Organisations......................................................... 11

2.4.1     International Amateur Organsiations.................................................................... 11

2.4.2     Australian Amateur Organisations....................................................................... 12

2.5     Mission Objectives Of Other Organisations........................................... 12

2.5.1     Altitude Record Attempts..................................................................................... 12

2.5.2     Amateur Radio Communications......................................................................... 12

2.5.3     Remote Sensing................................................................................................... 12

2.5.4     Payload Monitoring............................................................................................... 13

2.5.5     Secondary Launches........................................................................................... 13

2.5.6     Biological Experimentation................................................................................... 13

3     possible arsi PROGRAM objectives.................................................................... 14

3.1     Overview................................................................................................................. 14

3.2     Hostile Environment Design Experience................................................... 14

3.3     Radio Communications....................................................................................... 14

3.4     Telemetry and Data Gathering Experience.............................................. 15

3.5     Mission Planning................................................................................................... 15

3.6     Operational Experience................................................................................... 15

4     ASRI Project outline................................................................................................ 16

4.1     Overview................................................................................................................. 16

4.2     Program Outline.................................................................................................. 16

4.2.1     Balloon Fundamentals.......................................................................................... 16

4.2.2     Small Scale Balloon Flights.................................................................................. 16

4.2.3     Medium Scale Balloon Flights.............................................................................. 17

4.2.4     Large Scale Balloon Flights.................................................................................. 17

4.2.5     Mega Scale Balloon Flights.................................................................................. 17

4.3     Facilities.................................................................................................................. 17

4.4     Services.................................................................................................................. 18

4.5     Materials................................................................................................................. 18

4.6     Funding..................................................................................................................... 18

4.7     Other Support..................................................................................................... 19

4.8     Synergies................................................................................................................ 19

4.9     Project Structure............................................................................................ 19

4.9.1     Core Personnel..................................................................................................... 19

4.9.2     Other Important Team Members......................................................................... 20

 

 

 

1                       Document Overview

1.1               Document Purpose

The purpose of this Project Concept is to outline the potential benefits of an ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program. It explores the relationship between a balloon program and the other ASRI projects and the opportunities for complementing these projects. This document is a pre-cursor to the feasibility study outlined in the ASRI Approval Process.

1.2               Document Handling and Control

This Project Concept document for the ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program is to be handled in accordance with the Document Control requirements in the forematter.

There are no restrictions on release of this document, although the document author might restrict release of drafts until formally reviewed. All information contained herein remains copyright ASRI.

1.3               Source DID

N/A

1.4               DID Derivation

N/A

1.5               Document Structure

 

1.6               Definitions

1.6.1       Internal Definitions

Terms and abbreviations used in this document are defined below:

BOM                                      Bureau of Meteorology

DID                                         Data Item Description

JAESAT                                Joint Australian Engineering Satellite

PA                                          Product Assurance (superset of Quality Assurance)

PM                                         Project Management

Program                                An enduring management structure encompassing an ongoing series of time-limited activities, usually projects, conducted around a common theme, such as launch vehicles or satellites. ASRI has four programs:

·        Hypersonics Program

·        AUSROC Launch Vehicle Program

·        Satellite Program

·        Small Sounding Rocket Program

Project                                   A time-limited activity with a defined purpose, such as building and launching a microsatellite.

1.6.2       External Definitions

Further definitions are contained in higher-level project documents (if any), the ASRI Glossary of Terms and the ECSS Glossary of Terms.

1.6.3       Precedence of Definitions

Should there be a conflict in definitions, the following order of precedence applies:

·        Section 1.6.1 of this document

·        ASRI Glossary of Terms

·        ECSS Glossary of Terms

1.7               References

Documents referenced in this Project Proposal are described below:

·        ASRI ECSS Tailoring Schedule

·        ASRI Glossary of Terms

·        ECSS-P-001A – ECSS Glossary of Terms

·        Next reference

ASRI reference documents are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) from the ASRI Project Resources Library at www.asri.org.au.

ECSS documents are available from www.estec.esa.nl/ecss.

2                       ProJECT BACKGROUND

2.1               Overview

ASRI currently as two programs that deal with payloads designed for launch. The Small Sounding Rocket Program (SSRP) and the Satellite Program. The SSRP is deigned to provide expertise in developing payloads that will reach an altitude of about 7km. The total flight time is restricted to less than 15 minutes. The satellite program is designed to produce payloads that will be placing in orbit and have an expected life measured in years.

The SSRP provides an avenue for developing the engineering expertise to develop equipment resistant to the stresses and strains of launch. The short duration of the flight and the relative low altitude that the payload reaches means that it does not provide an insight into the environmental conditions that exist in space. The short duration of the SSRP flights also limits the experience that can be gained in operational matters.

An ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program would provide a stepping-stone between the SSRP and the satellite program by providing longer mission times and an environment closer to that experienced by a satellite payload.

The inclusion of an ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program bridges the two programs by filling in the gap between the short flight times and low altitude environment of the sounding rocket flights and the long mission times and high altitude conditions of the satellite program. A balloon program would provide altitudes in excess of 30,000 metres and flight durations measured in hours. This would allow the development and testing of payloads in an environment that is closer to those that would be experienced by payloads in the satellite program. It would also provide a mission of sufficient length that experience in ground control and data gathering would be feasible.

By combining the lessons learnt in the SSRP and the ASRI High Altitude Balloon Program, it will be possible to build more robust payloads for future satellite projects. Problems with telemetry and command functions can be tested in a near space environment and the equipment recovered to analyse any failures or problems.

2.2               Types of Balloon Flight

2.2.1       Pressure Balloons

Pressure balloons are normally used for the smaller sized balloons and are manufactured from Latex or a similar substance. The normal party balloon represents this type of construction. The surface of the balloon expands as it rises. Normally, the balloon will rise until the expansion causes the balloon to rupture. It is, however, possible for these balloons to reach an altitude where the lift only balances the weight of the payload and the balloon will hover. In this case, diffusion through the balloon’s membrane will ultimately limit the ability to maintain altitude.

2.2.2       Zero Pressure Balloons

Zero pressure balloons do not rely on the balloon to confine the gas within its envelope and to exclude the rest of the atmosphere. A zero pressure balloon is essentially open like a hot air balloon and like a hot air balloon, the lift gas is confined to the top of an open bag. As the balloon rises, the lifting gas expands, expelling the heavier atmosphere out the bottom of the balloon. In the case of the zero pressure balloon, the balloon does not need to stretch to accommodate the increasing volume of the lifting gas. As a result, it is easier to make a balloon that does not allow the gas to permeate through the balloon’s membrane. This design is more commonly used for balloons that are designed to have a long flight time.

2.3               Lifting Gases

2.3.1       Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the lightest gas, provides the most lift and is relatively inexpensive to produce. It is, however, extremely volatile and care must be taken when producing and handling it. When mixed with the oxygen of the atmosphere, it is capable of being ignited by static electricity discharges, so extra caution is required in area with low relative humidity. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) uses Hydrogen in their meteorological sounding programs. As a result, expertise is relatively common and the BOM could provide advice on safety and operational procedures.

Hydrogen Technical Data		Transport Information
Molecular Weight Propane	2.02	UN Number	1049
Boiling Point	-252.8OC	Hazchem	2SE
Relative Density (air=1)	0.070	Class	2.1
Specific Volume (15OC)	12.01m3/kg	CAS Registry No.	133-74-0
Flammability Limits in Air	4.0-75%	BOC Gases MSDS No.	051
Odourless, Colourless, Highly Flammable

2.3.2       Helium

Helium is heavier than Hydrogen and consequently provides less lift. It is also more expensive than hydrogen. Because Helium is an inert gas, it is much safer to use. The risk of explosion is absent, so only the normal precautions for handling gases under pressure need be observed when transporting the gas and launching the balloon. This relative safety of the Helium reduces the dependence on permanent facilities required to prepare a hydrogen balloon for launch. There are numerous flights around the world where the balloon is inflated in and released from paddocks without any permanent facilities.

Technical Data		Transport Information
Molecular Weight Propane	4.0026	UN Number	1046
Boiling Point	-268.9OC	Hazchem	2T
Relative Density (air=1)	0.138	Class	2.2
Specific Volume (15OC)	0.531m3/kg	CAS Registry No.	7440-59-7
Odourless, Colourless, Non Flammable		BOC Gases MSDS No.	049

 

2.3.3       A Lifting Comparison between Helium and Hydrogen

According to airship experts helium provides 97% as much lift as hydrogen even though the helium atom is twice as large as hydrogen. One cubic metre of hydrogen will lift 1 kg and so 1 cubic metre of helium will lift about 970 grams. Additional information can be found in "An Introduction to Airships" by Edwin Mowforth, "Airships Today and Tomorrow" by O.Nethernift or "Airship Technology" by Dr Khori.

2.4               High Altitude Balloon Organisations

2.4.1       International Amateur Organsiations

There are a number of organizations in the USA and Europe that conduct high altitude balloon flights. Most of these organizations have links to Amateur Radio clubs to simplify the provision of communications between the payload and the ground station(s). Many of these groups have web sites detailing their activities and the equipment that they have developed. The list below is by no means extensive, but does indicate that the missions can be successful using private resources.

Edge Of Space Sciences - Promoting Science and Education through High Altitude Balloons and Amateur Radio

HABITAT - High Altitude Basic Investigation Testing And Tracking

NSTAR – Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio

2.4.2       Australian Amateur Organisations

Although there are a number of professional organizations that conduct high altitude balloon flights, there are few, if any, amateur organizations that are conducting high altitude scientific balloon flights. There are a few organizations that have expressed the desire to conduct such flights, but it would appear that they have not progressed to the point of a significant launch. The organization below was formed with the express purpose of conducting a launch program, but was terminated over an inability to get insurance.

Amateur Radio Experimenters Group – This group formed on the basis of an attempt to carry out a launch program “Skyhook”.

2.5               Mission Objectives Of Other Organisations

2.5.1       Altitude Record Attempts

A few of the current amateur balloon organizations have the primary objective of reaching the highest possible altitude for the class of balloon being used. In these cases, the payload’s primary purpose is to record the altitude that the balloon reached. The complexity of the payloads is relatively low, since it’s prime purpose is to return GPS data.

2.5.2