FINAL PRESENTATION AERO 485

High Altitude Balloon Flight

Presentation

AERO 485

Rahul J. Venkatraman

December 16, 2015Venkatraman 1

About Me

Home Town: Aberdeen, NJ

Interests: Spaceflight, Space Exploration, Astronautics,

Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, Astrodynamics

Balloon Flight Operations Experience

Aurora Alaska: Project Leader (Nov. 2011- April 2012)

High Altitude Balloon Club (HABC):

Co-founder (2012)

Undergraduate Leader & Mission Supervisor (2012-2015)

Notable Projects

Aurora Alaska

• Aurora Mass and Particle Detection (2012)

HABC

• Remote Launch System (RLS) (2013)

• Stratospheric Glider (2014)

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The TeamAdvisor: Dr. Sharath Girimaji• General Dynamics Professor of Aerospace

Engineering

• Joint Faculty - Professor, Mechanical

Engineering

• Interim Department Head, Department of

Ocean Engineering

• Chief Scientist, ASTRO Center

• Faculty Advisor, High Altitude Balloon

Club

Graduate Leader: Steven Anderson• B.S. Aerospace Engineering ’11

• Ph.D. student under Dr. Girimaji

• Balloon Inflation Expert

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Motivation

Study the great and become greater. --- Michael Jackson

Impossible? = I’m possible!

Do your job. --- Coach Bill Belichick

Earn it every single day…If you don’t believe in yourself,

who else would? --- Tom Brady

Past successes does not guarantee future results.

Dare to Dream. --- Dr. Kalpana Chawla

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Aerostats

Vessels

AirshipsNon-Rigid (Blimps)

Air Swimmers

Balloons

Sounding SPB’sZero –

Pressure

Hybrids

HelistatsKytoonHybrid Airship

Classification

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Aerostats

Vessels


Air Swimmers

Balloons


Pressure

Hybrids


Classification

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Aerostats

Vessels


Air Swimmers

Balloons


Pressure

Hybrids


Classification

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Aerostats

Vessels


Air Swimmers

Balloons


Pressure

Hybrids


Classification

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High Altitude Balloon ClubUsing high altitude balloons as a platform for science & engineering

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• Standard Atmosphere

• Aurora Borealis Study

• Long-Duration Balloon

Flights (LDBF)

• Tandem Flights (TF)

• Amateur Television (ATV)

• Physics Demonstrations

• PR Flights

• Stratospheric Glider

• Remote Launch System

(RLS)

• Payload Drop Tests

Projects

• 58 flights • 91.4% recovery rate

Timeline: 2011 – Present

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November 2011

• Project Alaska Team Created; Dr.Girimaji becomes Advisor

December 2011

• Development of Science Experiments

February 2012

• PR Flights to fund PROJECT AURORA ALASKA

March 2012

• Finalization of Science Experiments; Expedition moved to April

April 2012• 5-day expedition in Fairbanks, Alaska

September 2012

• HABC formed by the Alaska expedition team

Timeline: 2011 – Present

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May 2013• 1st Critical Design Review

September 2013

• Leadership updated

January 2014

• Recognized as an Organization of the Department of Aerospace Engineering

December 2014

• Stratospheric Glider project initiated

May 2015• 1st Glider Flight Test

Aurora Alaska

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Alaska Flights

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Experiments:1. Colors of the Aurora

2. Sounds of the Aurora

3. Standard Atmosphere

4. Life in the Aurora

5. Particle Capture

Remote Launch System

Subsystems

• Structure and Roof

• Hydrogen Regulation

• Hydrogen Detection

• Fill and Release

Mechanism

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- Project Leader

- Designed the balloon housing

- Structure analysis and load

testing

Critical Design Review Presentation

ObjectiveSounding balloons are unique method oftransportation to the near-space regions of theatmosphere. Unlike high-flying airplanes or rockets,sounding balloons currently allows the best exposureto regions of the atmosphere with its prolonged ascentto its target altitude. Projects are designed to fly onthese balloons to understand the near-spaceenvironment or study the aerodynamics of balloonflight through the atmosphere. These balloons can beused to it’s limits allowing it to reach its maximumburst altitude based on design specifications orcontrolled to remain buoyant at an a certain altitudefor a particular experiment.

Remote Launch SystemHydrogen gas is highly flammable, and thusdangerous to perform an inflation by hand. Oursolution is to create a mobile launch platform whichcan contain, inflate, and launch a payload-readyballoon from a safe distance. The RLS calls for a cagelike housing which can be built on the spot. The mainfeatures include the 640 square feet steel cage, witha retractable roof, the hydrogen rated inflationsystem which joins the gas tank to the balloon, therelease mechanism, and the hydrogen detectionsystem to monitor any gas leakage in key areas.

Figure 3. the RLS in its inflation configuration

Figure 4. RLS Subsystems

ConclusionThe RLS will provide opportunities to better theoverall balloon flight performance by reducing liftinggas costs, achieving new heights, and providinggreater experimental results. Helium will be used asthe lifting gas to test the system. Regular checks willbe perform to make sure all systems are fullyfunctional before flight. The RLS will be tested with

General Launch ProcedureThe Remote Launch System calls for modifications in the way a balloon launch is conducted. This includes pre-launch calculations of total lift, ascent rate, and burst altitude. The RLS will reduce the number of steps need to get a sounding balloon airborne.

1. Mount the payload on the launch stand tied off to the parachutes and empty balloon.

2. Place balloon in the fill-release mechanism attached to the main hose from the inflation system.

3. Close off the RLS with mesh protection or clear tarp.

4. Activate the hydrogen detectors before inflation.5. Activate inflation monitoring any hydrogen gas

leak. If sensors go off, immediately shut off the inflation system, and allow the existing gas in the balloon to escape by activating the release valve.

6. Once balloon has achieve the desired volume, shut off the inflation system and open the hatch.

7. Once hatch is full extended, activate the release mechanism allowing the balloon to take off.

Remote Launch System for H2 Balloon FlightsSteven Anderson, Christopher Cantu, Travis Dawsey, John Guthery, Dylan McGarry, Thomas Nguyen

Nicholas Ortiz, Christopher Salup, Rahul Venkatraman, Kimberly Webster

Advisor: Dr. Sharath Girimaji

AbstractBalloon flight has become a challenging project due tothe declining production of helium gas. Over the years,this synthesized gas has become rare and quite costly.Our best solution is to use even a better performancelifting gas: hydrogen. The gas is readily available,lighter, and provides even more lift (about 8-10%).More lift means more flight time and higher altitudeswhich allows better experiment performance.

Figure 1. An image overlooking College Station and Houston from over 100,000 feet.

Figure 3. A Tandem balloon launch with helium gas

1

2

3

Inflation System 1. H2 Tank

2. High Pressure Transducer

3. Regulator

4. Flashback Arrestor

5. Ball Valve

6. Valve Actuator

7. Low Pressure Transducer

8. Hose

Release Mechanism 1. Cam & Groove Connector

(Male)

2. Cam & Groove

Connector(Female)

3. Check Valve

4. Solenoids

5. Connector Rod and Clevis

H2 Detection System 1. PowerKnowz Hydrogen Sensor

2. HGDI-DR Hydrogen Gas

Detectors

3. MQ-8 Hydrogen Gas Sensor

Acknowledgements- Department of Aerospace Engineering- Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

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Stratospheric Glider

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Project Overview

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Project Leader

Aerodynamics Lead

Glider Design

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Applications

- High Altitude Surveillance- Monitoring natural environments

- Agriculture, land mapping and photography

- Atmospheric phenomena

- Glider Aerodynamics and Performance- Flight commands:

- Turning at various bank angles

- Stalls and dives(terminal velocity)

- Rolls and maneuvers

- Autonomous systems- Autopilot GPS/NAV

- Flight and holding pattern (circular flight paths)

Amazon Prime Air

Google Titan

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Project Outcomes

- Endurance- Optimized for maximum flight duration

- Can we make the glider fly for one hour?...two hours?...more?

- Highly stable > maneuverability

- Operation Feasibility- No runway required for takeoff or landing

- Low cost transportation to altitude via sounding balloon

- High recovery rate (based on trajectory forecasting)

- Future Project Improvements- Propulsion

- Small propeller use to increase aloft duration

- Power- Solar energy = longer flights.

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100

,00

0 ft.

Launch site

Launch site

Ascent

Loiter

Target

Release

Ascent Loiter

TargetReleas

e

X

Flight Path

y

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Internship

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Internship Experience

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• Computational Work

– Relative Humidity Determination for

Aerostats

• Flight Tests

– Parachute Test

– Parachute Alternative

– Reusable Balloons Flights

• Inflation Tests

– Superpressure Balloons (SPB’s)

– Ballonets

• Experiments

– Balloon Film Leak Mechanism

Organization Structure

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HABC

Mission Engineering

Systems Engineering

Risk Analysis and

Management

Mission Planning

Mission Operations

Mission Integration

Launch Operations

Trajectory Planning

Safety


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HABC

Mission Engineering

Systems Engineering

Risk Analysis and

Management

Mission Planning

Mission Operations

Mission Integration

Launch Operations

Trajectory Planning

Safety

Mission Engineering

• Theory/Design

– Aerodynamics and Thermodynamics

– Atmospheric Sciences

– Materials and Structures

– Statics and Dynamics

– Electrical Engineering

• Fabrication

– Soldering

– Building Circuit Boards

– Duct Tape, Zip Ties, and Super Glue

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HABC

Mission Engineering

Systems Engineering

Risk Analysis and

Management

Mission Planning

Mission Operations

Mission Integration

Launch Operations

Trajectory Planning

Safety

Mission Operations

• Technical Integration

– Incorporating procedures and its technicalities

• Mission Integration

– Flight Plan

– Trajectory

– Environmental Conditions

– Chance of Recovery

• Procedures and Regulations

– Flight Controllers

– FAA Compliance

– Recovery Protocols

– Amateur Radio License

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Mission Operations Management

Flight Activities

(FA)

Mission

Supervisor (MS)Advisor

Tracking

(TRAK)

Ground

Controller (GC)

ATC Comm.

(ATC)Trajectory

(TRAJ)

Flight Director

(FD)

Recovery

Flight

Lead

(FL)

Payload

Lead (PL)

Balloon

Comm.

(BCOM)

Inflation

Crew Ops

(ICO)

AGGIE-1

Flight

Lead

(FL)

Payload

Lead (PL)

Balloon

Comm.

(BCOM)

Inflation

Crew Ops

(ICO)

AGGIE-2

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HABC 43: TANDEM FLIGHT I• Mission Objective: To study the nature of two balloons

in flight subjected to atmospheric effects

– Relative distance

– Altitude

– Ascent

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TF-I Results

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

AL

T(f

t)

TIME (HH:MM) (UTC)

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

AL

T(f

t)

TIME (HH:MM) (UTC)

MAX HEIGHT (ft) 90949.01866

FLIGHT TIME

(hh:mm) 2:07:12

MAX HEIGHT (ft) 100481.9914

FLIGHT TIME

(hh:mm) 3:02:44

Current Altitude

Record

AGGIE 1

AGGIE 2

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TF-I Results

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TF-I: IMAGES

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TF-I: IMAGES

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Systems Engineering 101

• “The multidisciplinary application of analytical, mathematical and scientific principles to formulating, selecting and developing a solution that has acceptable risk, satisfies user operational needs and minimizes development and life cycle costs while balancing stakeholder interests.”

---ABET definition of Engineering

• Tools: – Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

– Gantt Chart

– Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

• Approach:– Engineering: Design, Constraints, Methods, Evaluation and Testing…

– Reliability: Redundancy, Optimization, Robust…

– Risk Management, Failure Analysis, Contingency Plan…

Source: AERO 401

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Risk Management

Balloon flights ARE risky– Premature burst

– Power/electronics failure

– L.O.S

– Landing site

– Environmental changes

– Crash landings

Mitigation– Preparation, timing, and execution

– Team cooperation

– Common sense

– Redundancy, reliability, and responsibility

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Outcomes and Experience

• Team Player

• Creative Thinking

• Leadership

• Adventurous

• Self-Motivation

• Situational Awareness

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Notable MembersAlejandro Azocar ’14

Past:

• B.S. Aerospace Engineering

• 4.0 GPR

• NASA JSC Co-op

• Alaska Project Support

Currently:

• Ph.D. Student Biomedical

Engineering at Northwestern

University

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Notable MembersFrans Ebersohn ‘10

Past:

• B.S. & M.S Aerospace

Engineering

• NASA JPL Intern

• Alaska Project Graduate Team

Currently:

• Ph.D. Student at University of

Michigan in Plasma Physics

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Notable MembersKimberly Webster ‘13

Past:


• Bell Helicopter Intern

• Alaska Project Team and

HABC Member

Currently:

• Engineer at Bell Helicopter

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Notable MembersMegan Woodring ‘14

Past:


• Boeing Intern

• Alaska Project Graduate Team

and HABC Member

Currently:

• Structural Engineer at Boeing

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Notable MembersRahul Venkatraman ‘13

Past & Current:


• Raven Aerostar Intern

• AIAA TAMU President (2013-2015)

• Alaska Expedition Leader and

HABC Member

Future:

Environmental and Thermal Operating Systems (ETHOS)

Flight Controller at NASA Johnson Space Center

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Flight Description Date # LAUNCH LOCATION

Project Aether & TAMU Aurora Team

11/2011

FLIGHT 1 Test Flight I

12/10/2011 1 WOLF PEN CREEK PARK COLLEGE STATION, TX

FLIGHT 2 Test Flight II

3/8/2012 1 WOLF PEN CREEK PARK COLLEGE STATION, TX

EA FLIGHTS

EA FLIGHT (NY)

EA FLIGHT (SF)

EA FLIGHT (LV)

EA FLIGHT (UK)

EA FLIGHT (GER)

PR Flights Feb. 21- 25, 2012 11 3 2 2 2 2

FLIGHT 3 Test Flight III 3/17/2012 1 Lott, TX

FLIGHT 4 Test Flight IV 3/28/2012 1 Temple, TX

Record of Flights

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AA FLIGHTS (UGRAD)

TETHERED FLIGHT

EXPERIMENT FLIGHTS

EXPENDABLE FLIGHT

(4/5 – 4/9)/2012 4 FAIRBANKS, AK

AA FLIGHTS (GRAD) 18 DENALI/FAIRBANKS, AK

HABC 38 HABC I 10/13/2012 1 WOLF PEN CREEK PARK COLLEGE STATION, TX

HABC 39 Standard Atmosphere Flight Attempt 1

3/2/2013 1

HABC 40 Standard Atmosphere Flight Attempt 2

4/12/2013 1 CEDAR CREEK, TX

HABC 41 8/15/2013 1 CEDAR CREEK, TX

HABC 42 10/12/2013 1 CEDAR CREEK, TX

Record of Flights

CEDAR CREEK, TX

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HABC 43 TANDEM FLIGHT (TF-I) 11/2/2013 1 Eddy, TX

HABC 44 TF-II 12/13/2013 1 Stonewall, TX

HABC 45 ATV-I 3/1/2014 1 Cedar Creek, TX

HABC 46 ATV-II 4/12/2014 1 CEDAR CREEK, TX

HABC 47/48 FLIGHT (47) ASTRO (48)

5/9/2014 5/10/2014

2 FREDERICKSBURG, TX BASTROP, TX

HABC 49 REU 1 POLO FIELDS (TAMU) COLLEGE STATION, TX

HABC 50 TF-III 10/25/2014 1 POLO FIELDS (TAMU) COLLEGE STATION, TX

Record of Flights

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HABC 51

Physics & Engr. Festival Demonstration Flight

3/28/2015 1 MITCHELL PHYSICS BLDG. COLLEGE STATION, TX

HABC 52 OTS-I ICARUS GL-01

5/2/2015 1 POLO FIELDS (TAMU) COLLEGE STATION, TX

HABC 53A OTS-II ICARUS GL-02

7/14/2015 1 POLO FIELDS (TAMU) COLLEGE STATION, TX

HABC 54 NTV (Japan) 10/10/2015 1 GAUSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GAUSE, TX

HABC 54A HABC 54B HABC 54C

NTV (Japan) 10/17/2015 3 GAUSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GAUSE, TX

HABC 55 NTV (Japan) 11/13/2015 1 AVERY RANCH PARK ROUND ROCK, TX

Record of Flights

Questions?

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FINAL PRESENTATION AERO 485

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