2014/02/26 by Sarah H. Miller, Robert Fesen, Miller, Sarah H. +83
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems #Spacecraft Dynamics and Control #Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies #astro-ph.CO #astro-ph.EP #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.IM #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1402.6706
This low resolution version of the report is 8.6 MB. For the high resolution version see: http://kiss.caltech.edu/study/airship/
arxiv created 2014/02/26 · arxiv updated 2014/02/28
The "Airships: A New Horizon for Science" study at the Keck Institute for Space Studies investigated the potential of a variety of airships currently operable or under development to serve as observatories and science instrumentation platforms for a range of space, atmospheric, and Earth science. The participants represent a diverse cross-section of the aerospace sector, NASA, and academia. Over the last two decades, there has been wide interest in developing a high altitude, stratospheric lighter-than-air (LTA) airship that could maneuver and remain in a desired geographic position (i.e., "station-keeping") for weeks, months or even years. Our study found considerable scientific value in both low altitude (< 40 kft) and high altitude (> 60 kft) airships across a wide spectrum of space, atmospheric, and Earth science programs. Over the course of the study period, we identified stratospheric tethered aerostats as a viable alternative to airships where station-keeping was valued over maneuverability. By opening up the sky and Earth's stratospheric horizon in affordable ways with long-term flexibility, airships allow us to push technology and science forward in a project-rich environment that complements existing space observatories as well as aircraft and high-altitude balloon missions.