A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications
Accessibility is today's space frontier. Our need for wide-band global communications, earth imaging an sensing, atmospheric measurements and military reconnaissance is endless but growing dependence on space-based systems raises concerns about potential vulnerability. Military commanders want...
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
1990
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ftunivnotexas:info:ark/67531/metadc1212401 2023-05-15T13:31:56+02:00 A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications Epley, L.E. (CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA)) United States. Department of Defense. 1990-08-31 Pages: (60 p) Text https://doi.org/10.2172/6525013 https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1212401/ English eng Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA) other: DE91002668 rep-no: UCRL-CR-105118 grantno: W-7405-ENG-48 doi:10.2172/6525013 osti: 6525013 https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1212401/ ark: ark:/67531/metadc1212401 Surveillance Temperature Effects Flight Testing Meteorology Pressure Effects Historical Aspects Equipment 58 Geosciences Launching Military Equipment 580000 -- Geosciences Airships Design Performance Testing 450000* -- Military Technology Weaponry & National Defense Balloons 45 Military Technology And National Defense Uses Report 1990 ftunivnotexas https://doi.org/10.2172/6525013 2020-01-11T23:08:29Z Accessibility is today's space frontier. Our need for wide-band global communications, earth imaging an sensing, atmospheric measurements and military reconnaissance is endless but growing dependence on space-based systems raises concerns about potential vulnerability. Military commanders want space assets more accessible and under direct local control. As a result, a robust and low cost access to space-like capability has become a national priority. Buoyant vehicles, free floating in the middle stratosphere could provide the kind of cost effective access to space-like capability needed for a verity of missions. These vehicles are inexpensive, invisible and easily launched. Developments in payload electronics, atmospheric wind modeling and materials combined with ever-improving communications and navigation infrastructure are making balloon-borne concepts more attractive. The fundamental question is whether a free floating balloon, used in a pseudo-satellite role, has value in a military system. Flight tests are ongoing under NASA sponsorship. Following these tests NASA intends to use the vehicles for research in the Antarctic. The concept is being reviewed by other agencies interested in stratospheric research. We believe that LDFFF systems have applications in areas of communications, surveillance and other traditional satellite missions. Dialogue with the broader community of space users is needed to expand the applications. This report reviews the status of the recent flight tests and presents an overview of the concept of Long Duration Free Floating Flight for military applications. 12 refs., 13 figs. Report Antarc* Antarctic University of North Texas: UNT Digital Library Antarctic The Antarctic |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of North Texas: UNT Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivnotexas |
language |
English |
topic |
Surveillance Temperature Effects Flight Testing Meteorology Pressure Effects Historical Aspects Equipment 58 Geosciences Launching Military Equipment 580000 -- Geosciences Airships Design Performance Testing 450000* -- Military Technology Weaponry & National Defense Balloons 45 Military Technology And National Defense Uses |
spellingShingle |
Surveillance Temperature Effects Flight Testing Meteorology Pressure Effects Historical Aspects Equipment 58 Geosciences Launching Military Equipment 580000 -- Geosciences Airships Design Performance Testing 450000* -- Military Technology Weaponry & National Defense Balloons 45 Military Technology And National Defense Uses Epley, L.E. (CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA)) A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
topic_facet |
Surveillance Temperature Effects Flight Testing Meteorology Pressure Effects Historical Aspects Equipment 58 Geosciences Launching Military Equipment 580000 -- Geosciences Airships Design Performance Testing 450000* -- Military Technology Weaponry & National Defense Balloons 45 Military Technology And National Defense Uses |
description |
Accessibility is today's space frontier. Our need for wide-band global communications, earth imaging an sensing, atmospheric measurements and military reconnaissance is endless but growing dependence on space-based systems raises concerns about potential vulnerability. Military commanders want space assets more accessible and under direct local control. As a result, a robust and low cost access to space-like capability has become a national priority. Buoyant vehicles, free floating in the middle stratosphere could provide the kind of cost effective access to space-like capability needed for a verity of missions. These vehicles are inexpensive, invisible and easily launched. Developments in payload electronics, atmospheric wind modeling and materials combined with ever-improving communications and navigation infrastructure are making balloon-borne concepts more attractive. The fundamental question is whether a free floating balloon, used in a pseudo-satellite role, has value in a military system. Flight tests are ongoing under NASA sponsorship. Following these tests NASA intends to use the vehicles for research in the Antarctic. The concept is being reviewed by other agencies interested in stratospheric research. We believe that LDFFF systems have applications in areas of communications, surveillance and other traditional satellite missions. Dialogue with the broader community of space users is needed to expand the applications. This report reviews the status of the recent flight tests and presents an overview of the concept of Long Duration Free Floating Flight for military applications. 12 refs., 13 figs. |
author2 |
United States. Department of Defense. |
format |
Report |
author |
Epley, L.E. (CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA)) |
author_facet |
Epley, L.E. (CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA)) |
author_sort |
Epley, L.E. (CIRRUS Aerospace Corp., Burke, VA (USA)) |
title |
A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
title_short |
A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
title_full |
A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
title_fullStr |
A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
title_full_unstemmed |
A system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
title_sort |
system architecture for long duration free floating flight for military applications |
publisher |
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
publishDate |
1990 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.2172/6525013 https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1212401/ |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
other: DE91002668 rep-no: UCRL-CR-105118 grantno: W-7405-ENG-48 doi:10.2172/6525013 osti: 6525013 https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1212401/ ark: ark:/67531/metadc1212401 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2172/6525013 |
_version_ |
1766022682791378944 |