The 2012 NASA ~532,200 m3 Super Pressure Balloon Test Flight

Abstract

Extended duration stratospheric flights to large science platforms and observatories are a goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Scientific Balloon Program. The cornerstone of developing this capability is the use of a Super Pressure balloon. The NASA Balloon Program Office has addressed a number of challenges in stepping up the volume and payload carrying capability for this balloon. A ~201,000 cubic meter super pressure balloon was designed and successfully test flown in December of 2008. This flight was launched near McMurdo Station in Antarctica, and the extended duration test flight was over 7 weeks in length at a constant altitude. It had an ~680 kg suspend payload. This flight was an unmitigated success and proved that a Super Pressure pumpkin balloon could be successfully built, launched, that it would deploy properly and then fly for an extended period in a pressurized state. The project approach has focused on incremental steps up in balloon volume and payload carrying capability. A ~422,400 cubic meter test flight Super Pressure balloon was built and flown in early 2011. This balloon has the capacity to lift ~1,800 kg to slightly over 33 km. This balloon was launched in early January of 2011 near McMurdo Station, Antarctica and flew one circumnavigation of the continent in just over 22 days. The balloon performed flawlessly for the duration of the flight. The balloon ascent was just as predicted, it fully deployed at initial float, and it maintained desired pressures during the entire flight. The balloon flew at a near constant pressure altitude for the entire flight with very little altitude variation. There was no evidence of any gas loss for the duration of the flight. The flight was ended by command when the balloon reached a location that afforded recovery of the payload and portions of the balloon within the same flight season. This was one of the desired flight criteria to recover the high dollar flight assets and for post flight testing of the balloon materials. This flight was another resounding success.