A report proposes ultralight balloon systems to carry a 10-kg payload, including scientific instruments for exploring the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune. The system masses to be transported to those planets would be kept low by not transporting balloon-inflating gases. Each system would include an upper balloon about 4 m in diameter (0.5 kg) connected via a small port (about 0.25 m in diameter) to a lower balloon about 15 m in diameter (6.4 kg). Through an opening in the lower balloon, the balloons would become filled with low-molecular-weight atmospheric gas (which has little methane content) during initial descent through the upper atmosphere. At some point in the descent, the opening would be closed. Thereafter, the collected gas would provide buoyancy in the higher-molecular-weight atmosphere (methane content ≈2 percent) in the exploration altitude range below the methane-cloud tops, and the lower balloon (used for collection only) would be dropped. The altitude could be held constant or could be regulated by alternately venting gas and dropping ballast, as is done on balloons in the terrestrial atmosphere.
This work was done by Jack A. Jones of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To obtain a copy of the report, "Ultra Light Balloon for Uranus and Neptune," access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Physical Sciences category.
NPO-20543
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Ultralight Balloon Systems for Exploring Uranus and Neptune
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Overview
The document presents a technical report on ultralight balloon systems developed for the purpose of exploring the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune. Authored by Jack A. Jones from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the report outlines a novel approach to atmospheric exploration that leverages lightweight balloon technology to transport scientific instruments and a 10-kg payload.
The proposed balloon system consists of two main components: an upper balloon with a diameter of approximately 4 meters, weighing 0.5 kg, and a lower balloon that is about 15 meters in diameter and weighs 6.4 kg. The design aims to minimize the mass of the system by not including balloon-inflating gases, which is crucial for maintaining a low overall weight during transport to these distant planets.
During the initial descent through the upper atmosphere, the balloons would fill with low-molecular-weight atmospheric gas, which has minimal methane content. This gas collection occurs through a small port connecting the upper and lower balloons. Once the balloons reach a certain altitude, the opening would be sealed, allowing the collected gas to provide buoyancy in the higher-molecular-weight atmosphere, which contains approximately 2% methane. The lower balloon, used solely for gas collection, would be dropped after this phase.
The report also discusses the operational strategies for altitude control, which could involve venting gas or dropping ballast, similar to techniques used in terrestrial balloon operations. This flexibility in altitude management is essential for conducting scientific measurements and observations in the desired atmospheric layers.
The document emphasizes the importance of this research for advancing our understanding of the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune, which are largely unexplored. By utilizing ultralight balloon systems, scientists can gather valuable data on these distant planets, potentially leading to new insights into their atmospheric composition and dynamics.
Overall, the report highlights the innovative engineering and scientific potential of ultralight balloon systems, showcasing JPL's commitment to exploring the outer planets of our solar system. The work is conducted under contract with NASA, reflecting a collaborative effort to push the boundaries of space exploration technology.
