The NASA philosophy and criteria for the design and flight of scientific balloons are set forth and discussed. The thickness of balloon films is standardized at 20.3 microns to isolate potential film problems, and design equations are given for specific balloon parameters. Expressions are given for: flight-stress index, total required thickness, cap length, load-tape rating, and venting-duct area. The balloon design criteria were used in the design of scientific balloons under NASA auspices since 1986, and the resulting designs are shown to be 95 percent effective. These results represent a significant increase in the effectiveness of the balloons and therefore indicate that the design criteria are valuable. The criteria are applicable to four balloon volume classes in combination with seven payload ranges.
NASA balloon design and flight - Philosophy and criteria
Advances in Space Research ; 13 , 2
1993-02-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
NASA balloon design and flight: Philosophy and criteria
Elsevier | 1992
|The Modified Nasa Balloon Design Criteria
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994
|The modified NASA balloon design criteria
AIAA | 1994
|Duration Flight of the NASA Super Pressure Balloon
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2009
|Duration Flight of the NASA Super Pressure Balloon
AIAA | 2009
|