2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Inflatable Low Altitude Venus Balloon Using Water Vapor
| Project/Area Number |
14350515
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Aerospace engineering
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| Research Institution | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |
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Principal Investigator |
IZUTSU Naoki Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Scientific Balloon Center, Research Associate, 宇宙科学研究本部大気球観測センター, 助手 (90184639)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
YAMADA Tetsuya Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Research Division for Space Transportation, Research Associate, 宇宙科学研究本部宇宙輸送工学研究系, 助手 (10280554)
GOTO Ken Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Research Division for Spacecraft Engineering, Associate Professor, 宇宙科学研究本部宇宙輸送工学研究系, 助教授 (40300701)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2002 – 2005
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| Keywords | balloon / Venus exploration / Planetary exploration / Planetary entry capsule |
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| Research Abstract |
An inflatable cylindrical super-pressure balloon system, which enables a gondola to float at 35 km in altitude below the thick Venus clouds (atmospheric pressure:0.6 MPa, atmospheric temperature:180 degrees in centigrade) for a long duration, was investigated. A new and simple inflation system using water vapor was designed. The process of deployment from a Venus entry probe and inflation by means of large heat flux from the hot and thick atmosphere into the balloon envelope was numerically studied.
1 Improvement of balloon life time
Heat-resistant liquid crystal polymer films are to be suitable for the balloon envelope because of their excellent water vapor barrier feature. The envelope is to be coated with nickel and ruthenium by electroforming as well as diamond-like carbon. Water vapor permeability coefficients were experimentally measured at 200 degrees in centigrade. Consequently, it was cleared that this three-layer-coated liquid crystal polymer film has a possibility of extremely small permeability even in high temperatures so that a half-year floating can be possible in the Venus low altitude atmospher
2 Deployment and inflation of balloon in the Venus atmosphere
An optimum heat-resistant entry capsule was designed, which has a balloon deployment system combined with a container of a roll of balloon with 16 m in length. The process of deployment was numerically analyzed for the minimum loading on the balloon film. The inflation process was also simulated for various conditions, and an optimum descent speed was obtained. It was used for the design of a parachute system and the determination of the balloon surface area. Using these results, parameters obtained by experiments will give the final balloon system design properly.
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Research Products
(12 results)
