Development of a super-pressure balloon with a net for long duration flight

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24246138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Saito Yoshitaka 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (50300702)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): NAKASHINO Kyoichi 東海大学, 工学部, 准教授 (60408028) ; AKITA Daisuke 東京工業大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (30435812) ; GOTO Ken 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (40300701)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAMURA Keisuke 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 助教 (80271526) ; MATSUO Takuma 明治大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (80406834)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 科学観測気球 / スーパープレッシャー気球 / 膜構造物 / 網 / 非線形有限要素法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Scientific balloons have weak points that the balloons can not fly long duration flights. To solve the problem, we have been developing a super-pressure balloon by covering its film with a net. We have developed element technologies for large balloons and confirmed balloon design through series of inflation tests of small balloons and numerical simulations. Finally, we have succeeded in developing a super-pressure balloon with a volume of 2,000 m3, a weight of 54 kg, and capability to withstand differential pressure of 1,000 Pa. This balloon can fly a long duration flight at an altitude of 22 km with a payload of 40 kg to perform, for example, meteorological observations. This is the first super-pressure balloon in Japan with a capability to perform scientific experiments.

Free Research Field

気球工学