World View Enterprises Inc.

Rodger Farley

Taber Kyle MacCallum

Sebastian Padilla

G Ryan Lee

John Straus

Jared Leidich

John Zaniel Maccagnano

Tim Basta

Iain Beveridge

Sebastian A Padilla

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include one or more super-pressure balloons (SPB). One or more of the SPB's may include one or more interior volumes. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive an LTA gas therein to supplement the free lift of the LTA system. There may be an adjustable valve or vent to release the LTA gas. One or more of the interior volumes may be configured to receive ambient air to provide a variable downward force. The SPB may use a compressor to pump in ambient air. The compressor or another valve may release ambient air to decrease the downward force. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the one or more SPB's. The ZPB may supplement lift for the system.

Lighter than air balloon systems and methods

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) is attached in tandem with one or more air super-pressure balloons (SPB). The ZPB provides lift for the system while the SPB may provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. Various advanced performance targets relating to ascent rate, descent rate, range and maximum altitude are achievable with various scaled versions of the basic design of the LTA system. Advanced navigation and control techniques, such as more efficient high altitude station-keeping approaches, made possible with the LTA system are also described.

High altitude balloon systems and methods

Lighter-than-air (LTA) systems and methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB). A plurality of tendons may extend around and bias the SPB to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The LTA may include a payload.

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB) and/or a zero-pressure balloon (ZPB). The SPB may include two, three, four or more chambers. There may be more than one SPB. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. The zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the multi-chamber SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The SPB may have an internal barrier separating a lift gas compartment from a variable ballast air compartment.

Features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) is attached in tandem with one or more variable ballast air super-pressure balloons (SPB) having a continuous skin and multiple SPB compartments. The ZPB provides lift for the system while the multi-compartment SPB uses a centrifugal compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. Various performance targets relating to ascent rate, descent rate, range and maximum altitude are achievable with various scaled versions of the basic design of the LTA system. Navigation and control techniques, such as high altitude station-keeping approaches, are made possible with the LTA system.

High altitude balloon systems and methods using continuous multi-compartment super pressure balloon

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include a continuous multi-chamber super-pressure balloon (SPB). The SPB may include two, three, four or more chambers. There may be more than one such multi-chamber SPB. A ring may provide structural support between each chamber. A plurality of tendons may extend upwardly and downwardly from the ring around respective upper and lower chambers to bias each of the SPB chambers to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the continuous multi-chamber SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The multi-chamber SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The SPB may have an internal barrier separating a lift gas compartment from a variable ballast air compartment.

Continuous multi-chamber super pressure balloon

A high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system can include a zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) attached in tandem with one or more variable ballast air super-pressure balloons (SPB). The ZPB provides lift for the system while the SPB uses a centrifugal compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A solar array coupled with an elongated ladder assembly can be coupled to a payload support for a payload carried by the LTA system. Various advanced performance targets relating to ascent rate, descent rate, range and maximum altitude are achievable with various scaled versions of the basic design of the LTA system. Advanced navigation and control techniques, such as efficient high altitude station-keeping approaches, are made possible with the LTA system.

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Columbia, MD, United States of America

Rodger Farley