Balloon Latitude Trajectory Control System 

Global Aerospace Corporation

Altadena, CA

The Balloon Latitude Trajectory Control System alters the trajectory of balloons so that they are no longer at the mercy of the winds. The lightweight system passively exploits natural wind conditions; consumes little power; operates day and night; offers a wide range of control directions; and does not require consumables. No other device like it exists.

• Successfully demonstrated performance of a fully-instrumented scale test model.
• Designed and fabricated lightweight full-scale wing and rudder.
• Successfully tested a prototype winch system.

• Expected NASA procurement for development of flight-qualified system.
• Other potential commercial applications include NASA Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) flight system component, conventional and long-duration scientific ballooning component for US and international balloon programs; global constellations of Stratospheric Satellites (StratoSat™ platforms); directed planetary balloon exploration; and sport ballooning.

• Potential procurement of NASA Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) project flight system component.
• GAC has leveraged Phase I and Phase II SBIR results to obtain NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funding to develop both Earth and Planetary Science applications for stratospheric balloons that utilize this technology. Potential Earth Science applications include:
• Climate Change Studies – Earth Radiation Budget;
• Radiosonde Network Replacement – Meteorology;
• Ozone Studies – Distribution, Loss;
• Global Circulation – Age of Air;
• Plate Tectonics - Magnetic field anomalies;
• Weather and adaptive sampling – Hurricanes and improved prediction;
• Hazard Detection and Monitoring – Early warning and improved communications

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Aviation

Curator: SBIR Support                10/25/05