Global stratospheric balloon constellations

A revolutionary concept is discussed for a global constellation and network of hundreds of stratospheric superpressure balloons that can address major scientific questions relating to Earth science. Global Aerospace Corporation is proposing this role for a new generation of stratospheric platform based on advanced balloon technology, called the StratoSat. StratoSat constellations can address issues of high interest to the Earth science community including global change, especially tropical circulation and radiation balance; global and polar ozone; hurricane forecasting and tracking; global circulation; and global ocean productivity. StratoSat constellations operating at a 35-km altitude and for 5 to 10 years in duration could augment and complement satellite measurements and possibly replace satellites for making some environmental measurements. The keys to this new concept are (a) affordable, long-duration balloon systems, (b) balloon trajectory control capability, and (c) a global communications infrastructure. Technology for these very long-duration and guided stratospheric balloons is summarized, constellation geometry management is discussed, international overflight issues are explored, and the StratoSat system design is described. (C) 2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.