Stratospheric super pressure vehicle

Abstract

Diurnal temperature cycles have always limited the flight durations of zero pressure balloons. The scientific ballooning community has endeavoured for a number of years to perfect a practical super pressure balloon in order to overcome this limitation. For the last two years, Winzen International has been involved in the stratospheric super pressure vehicle (SSV) programme. This report outlines the material selection process and includes detailed data on Emblem, the material selected for balloon fabrication. Emblem is a biaxially oriented nylon 6 from Allied Signal Corp. In order to seal the Emblem material properly, a new adhesive tape sealing technique was developed. This new method was used for the construction of two small prototypes and one balloon 23.2 m in diameter. This balloon was thoroughly inspected in an indoor full inflation test at the NASA/ Ames wind tunnel. After inspection, the balloon was deflated and delivered to a launch site where the first test flight was conducted. The balloon had ascended to near its float altitude when an electronic malfunction caused a premature termination of the flight. Two more SSV flight tests are scheduled for the later part of 1991.