Non-Standard Ascent Rate Balloons
Fast Ascenders
Global
Western has an in-house program for the development of fast ascending
helium balloons. These balloons' OML (outer mold line) is based
on the same aero-fluid dynamic data and formulas used to make airships
and blimps. Interest has been expressed by the Severe Storms Lab
at the University of Oklahoma, and other invstigators involved in the
landmark VORTEX II tornado study field expedition of 2009.
Further development is needed and this is an on-going task.
Extra Low Drag Aerostat (ELDA) intended for fast ascents for atmospheric sounding or storm sounding.
Slow rising balloons/ Solar Tetrahedral Balloons or Tetroons
Solar
balloons are the most rare of all aerostats. Solar balloons have
many different and interesting characteristics when compared to more
common types of balloons. Since the solar balloons are filled
with air, the need for an always inconvenient high pressure helium
cylinder is avoided. Solar balloons are normally intended to
reach a maximum altitude of 50,000 to 60,000 feet MSL, and can be
launched at dawn or later in the day. A feature/benefit of solar
balloon is that the flight is terminated at sunset, followed by a
gentle descent in twilight and soft landing. In the polar
regions, the continuous illumination of summertime could give rise to
flights of days or even weeks. Global Western has conducted
numerous solar balloon flights with excellent results.
A
slow ascent rate balloon, solar heated, air filled. This balloon
carried a 5 pound payload to over 50k feet for a steady float until
sunset.