Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Originally envisioned to study upper atmospheric phenomena, the Rocket Balloon system (or Rocketball for short) has utility in a range of applications, including sprite detection and in-situ measurements, near-space measurements and calibration correlation with orbital assets, hurricane observation and characterization, technology testing and validation, ground observation, and education. A salient feature includes the need to reach space and near-space within a critical time-frame and in adverse local meteorological conditions. It can also provide for the execution of technology validation and operational demonstrations at a fraction of the cost of a space flight. In particular, planetary entry probe proof-of-concepts can be examined. A typical Rocketball operational scenario consists of a sounding rocket launch and subsequent deployment of a balloon above a desired location. An obvious advantage of this combination is the additional mission 'hang-time' rendered by the balloon once the sounding rocket flight is completed. The system leverages current and emergent technologies at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and other organizations.
Keywords:
Launch Vehicles and Launch Operations
Type:
IAA-B7-1301
,
7th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation/International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and German Aerospace Center (DLR); May 04, 2009 - May 08, 2009; Berlin; Germany
Format:
application/pdf
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