PAROR System: Payload recovery system for Balloon Experiments

Abstract

HE CNES balloons sub-directorate conducts many missions using aerostatic vehicles for the international scientific community. Balloon experiments are mainly used for studies related to the dynamics or the chemistry of the atmosphere and for astronomy. They also serve for the validation of satellite instruments. CNES has been working for several years on improving the balloon systems overall safety and on reducing the potential landing zone size for the balloon envelope and flight train (payloads and servitude system). As part of these improvements, CNES, with the support of DGA-TA (Direction Generale pour l’Armement / Technique Aeronautique), is designing a system for flight train recovery using a parachute sequence with delayed opening (the system is called PAROR for “PARachute a Ouverture Retardee”). The goal is to improve the precision landing for the aerostats. The system principle is to allow a fast descent of the flight train under a pilot chute to minimize the drift and its associated uncertainty, and then to open the main parachutes to land at an acceptable velocity (less than 6 m/s). The fast descent would be done from the release altitude (about 30-40 Km / 100,000130,000 ft) up to less than 1 Km / 3,200 ft. In parallel, a simulation tool has been developed to model both drop zones (Balloon envelope and flight train) taking into account all the uncertainties on ballistics and on wind conditions during the descent. The tool also identifies the landing areas topological context (roads, railroads, buildings, high-voltage lines, ...).