Stratospheric Platform Project

Abstract

Stratospheric airship, that is ultra long duration high altitude airship, is somewhat different from conventional design airship. Mission altitude is about 20km, because winds are relatively weak around that altitude through the year. Solar cell and regenerative fuel cell equipped airships are able to be geostationary against air stream for long duration without fossil fuel exhaust to atmosphere, that is environment-friendly. Design point of view, no mass change is essential during mission flight, soit is necessary for altitude control to close airship hull against superheat phenomenon. Development of super pressurized hull structure with new high tensile strength material is critical technology for this flight vehicle. Airship design, tracking and control are very sensitive to wind condition, so the cooperation of meteorologists and aerospace engineers is very important for this challenging project.