Demonstration of Fine Altitude Control on Stratospheric Balloons to Achieve a Desired Ground Track

摘要

In March of 2016, three stratospheric balloons were launched from Bend, Oregon over a period of 24 hours. The purpose of the mission was to demonstrate the use of real-time wind data to direct the balloons to a common landing point. This was done while avoiding restricted air space in Utah and Nevada. The three balloons were successfully directed on a path that carried them hundreds of miles apart during the flight. As they approached the western border of The White Sands Missile Range, a decision was made to bring the systems down in an area West of Las Cruses, NM. This decision was made while the balloons were over north-central Arizona. A termination point was selected and coordinated with the ARTCC in Albuquerque. Using altitude control to modify their ground tracks, the three balloons were directed to the same point for termination just north of Deming, NM. The three systems landed within a three mile radius of each other after a flight spanning 1,100 miles. The use of altitude control for directional steering has been demonstrated with varying levels of success throughout the history of stratospheric ballooning. The past uses of altitude steering are reviewed and a new assessment of the technique will be made in the context of real-time wind data, satellite telemetry, and real-time predictive algorithms. Various methods of altitude control will also be reviewed for their applicability to different mission scenarios.