Proceedings Seventh Afcrl Scientific Balloon Symposium

The report contains the papers presented at the Seventh AFCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium held in September 1972. The papers were presented in three sessions: Tethered and powered balloons, balloon-borne experiments, and instrumentation and balloon technology. In the area of tethered balloons, papers were presented on cables, drag and stability characteristics, hull design and analysis, and the results of scientific experiments using tethered balloons as sensor platforms. Papers were presented on a powered spherical balloon and a survey of possible power sources for use by this system. Presentations during the balloon-borne experiments and instrumentation session included manned balloon flights, precision pointing and control platforms and instrumentation, recovery parachute performance, gondola motion analyses, a balloon radar altimeter, and an overview of French scientific ballooning activities. During the balloon technology session a review was made of the flight results and performance of balloons with volumes in excess of 20 million cubic feet, shape and stress analysis of both nonreinforced and reinforced materials, and fabric tinting to increase solar absorptivity.

This publication contains the papers presented at the Sixth AFCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium held in June, 1970 to promote the exchange of current information among balloon designers, developers, and flight managers and researchers engaged in scientific balloon programs. Subjects include: balloon-borne experiments in high-energy astrophysics, detection of atmospheric tides near 48 km, sun-oriented atmospheric optics, a proposed balloon mission in the Venus atmosphere, a panel on balloon materials and testing, telemetry and balloon-control instrumentation, advanced balloon technology, high altitude station-keeping balloons, the AFCRL tethered-balloon facility, advances in meteorological balloons, and superpressure balloons in the tropical stratosphere.

This publication contains preprints of papers presented at the Eighth AFCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium, 30 September to 3 October 1974, held at Hyannis, Mass. The papers are grouped in accordance with the five symposium sessions: powered balloons, tethered balloons, free balloon technology, balloon-borne experiments, and special applications

Published herein are the papers presented at the second annual AFCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium covering the advances shown in balloon design, materials, instrumentation, meteorology, and scientific applications since the last symposium held in Boston on 25, 26 and 27 September 1963. Balloon technology presentations include stress studies, new balloon films, sensing elements, telemetry systems and a new balloon locating system. Applications and experience in working with tethered, meteorological and sounding balloons are discussed. In addition, information is presented on such existing programs as BAL-AST, and Surveyor and such proposed projects as the "AFCRL Stratospheric Humidity Program" and "The Mars Balloon."

The document covers a series of papers given at the fifth AFCRL scientific balloon symposium. The subjects were selected to cover the most recent developments in balloon technology and examples of the use of balloons for research purposes. The symposium is intended to provide an exchange of information for the developers of balloon systems and provides an excellent opportunity for scientists to discuss potential balloon capabilities and applications for the accomplishment of scientific programs. Balloon technology presentations included recent material investigations, tandem balloon stress analysis, balloon instrumentation, tethered balloons, cryoinflation feasibility studies and proposed launching techniques for large balloon systems.

The document is comprised of a series of papers presented at the Fourth AFCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium in September 1966. The range of subject matter was purposely selected to cover both the major branches of balloon technology and a limited number of topics having a common disciplinary background. It was intended to provide, thereby, the exchange of information on capabilities and requirements essential to the orderly advancement of this technology.

This publication contains papers presented at the Ninth AFGL Scientific Balloon Symposium, 20 October to 22 October 1976, held at Wentworth By-The-Sea, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.