A review on the recent progress in materials selection, development and characterization for ultra long duration balloon (ULDB) missions

Abstract

Ultra long duration balloon missions can greatly enable many new scientific investigations. Scientists over the years have shown that nearly all balloon-borne scientific investigations could benefit from longer exposure at latitude at a greatly reduced cost when used as atmospheric satellites. Up to the present, no super pressure balloons, capable of supporting a payload over 200 kilograms at more than 30,000 meters have been developed. Current materials efforts are targeting the development of super pressure structure capable of supporting a suspended weight of approximately 1600 kilograms and for an altitude of 36000 meters. The work presented here focuses on the research and development efforts made to date to develop, select and characterize materials suitable for these Ultra Long Duration Balloon Missions (ULDB).