A Platform for Active Stabilization of High-Altitude Balloon Payloads

Abstract

Weather balloon payloads are commonly used by atmospheric researchers and enthusiasts to gain insight about the upper atmosphere. Balloon payloads are often unstable during flight due to high wind speeds that are experienced in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere. High Altitude Visual Orientation Control (HAVOC) is a platform of cold gas thrusters designed to control the azimuth of high-altitude balloon payloads to counteract high wind conditions. HAVOC’s active control scheme uses valves that direct the flow of pressurized gas into two sets of nozzles that can generate torque in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This counteracts the rotation induced by wind and other forces encountered during a high-altitude balloon flight. The HAVOC design is discussed including its methods of measuring and controlling balloon payload rotation. Data from preliminary flights is presented, demonstrating the system’s ability to reduce payload rotation to a user defined ±40 deg s-1 for a duration of 1 hour and 49 minutes, and to maintain a fixed payload azimuth within ±30 deg for 1 hour. In addition, we present possible uses for the HAVOC system tailored to the type of user, including atmospheric researchers, videographers, and students.

TGFs, Gamma‐Ray Glows, and Direct Lightning Strike Radiation Observed During a Single Flight of a Balloon‐Borne Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer

“…While the focus of this paper is on data collected during a specific HELEN balloon flight, details about the development, calibration, and validation of the HELEN system can be found in Helmerich (2020). The utilization of balloon‐based platforms presents certain challenges, including unstable balloon payload rotation (Stark et al., 2023), unpredictable balloon trajectories due to convection events (Lee & Yee, 2017), and effects from flying in high‐noise electric fields (Zeng et al., 2016). However, this study has focused on minimizing these impacts.…”

Insights on Polar Day Antarctica Radio Propagation Using Amateur Radio Beacons on Circumnavigating Balloons

“…Radiosonde data from weather balloon flights have been used to determine the radio refractive index of and the conditions of radio wave propagation in the atmosphere [13]. Tethered balloons have served as a telemetry link platform for remote areas, enabling access to radio links beyond the reach of ground-based systems; these balloons provide a means to establish communication over the horizon in locations that would otherwise be inaccessible [14,15].…”