1. SUBORBITAL AND SPECIAL ORBITAL PROJECTS DIRECTORATE
Overview of the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) and Potential Student Opportunities
Dr. Magdi Said
Balloon Program Office – Wallops Flight Facility
Phone: (757)
Fax: (757)
National Council of Space Grant Directors Meeting
New York, NY
October 27-28, 2006

2. Wallops Flight Facility
NASA Centers & Wallops Flight Facility …
Wallops Flight Facility
Wallops Island, VA
CSBF (Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility)
(Balloon Launch Contractor)
October 27, 2006

3. Antarctica Balloon Launch ….
October 27, 2006

4. Balloon Launch Facilities in Antarctica
October 27, 2006

5. NASA’s Scientific Balloons –
Physical Dimensions & Size Comparison
October 27, 2006

6. The Earth’s Atmosphere
Balloon Altitudes typically km, corresponding to pressures of 5-10 milli-bar, residual atmosphere of 5-10 g/cm2, i.e. above % of air mass.
Ambient Temperatures -25 to +5 C
Heat transfer primarily by Radiation
Shielding effects on Cosmic Rays, X-rays, Gamma rays and UV nearly gone.
Really a Space Environment !!
Hence, ideal for use
As a test-bed for new Space Technologies
To enable important Science Observations
Other potential practical applications
October 27, 2006

7. Expected Flight Environment
Gets cold at the tropopause (~ -50o C)
Any water vapor will condense out and cause frost
Good vacuum ( < 0.02 atmosphere)
Landing can be rough (shock, trees, rocks, dragging)
High velocity during initial descent (~500 mph)
October 27, 2006

8. NASA’s Balloon Program (Facts & Capabilities)
The Balloon Program provides low cost, high
altitude platforms to facilitate scientific exploration
Largest balloon flown by NASA
59.6 MCF (1.7M m3)
Highest altitude achieved by a NASA Balloon
160 k ft (4900 km)
Normal float altitude
k ft ( km).
Average number flown per year
20 balloons
Average duration (ZP)
12-36 hours
Longest Duration for ZP balloon (LDB)
42 days (Antarctica Dec/Jan 04)
Payload capacity
Up to 8000 Lbs. (3600 kg)
October 27, 2006

9. Balloon Launch Sites Around the World
With International Overflight Approval,
Northern Hemisphere 21+ Day
Flights Could Be Achieved
BLAST Sweden To Canada
Trajectory, June 12 to 16th, 2005
CREAM 41.9 Day 3-Circumpolar
Trajectory Over Antarctica
Dec 04 – Jan 05
October 27, 2006

10. Typical Science Payloads …..
CREAM - Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass
Particle Astrophysics
NASA LDB Fight Duration Record Of Over 41 Days
Dec 16, 2004 – Jan 27, 2005
BESS – Balloon Experiment with Superconducting Spectrometer
Particle Astrophysics
Flown Over Antarctica
Dec 13, 2004 – Dec 21, 2004
October 27, 2006

11. Student Opportunities
October 27, 2006

12. Student Access to Space
Student access to testing in space is limited
The Balloon Program will offer limited opportunities for space grant recipients without impact on normal operations
Depending on need, HQ may elect to provide space grant funding for student dedicated flights
Students will learn to prepare space qualified payloads
Students will gain experience in space related technologies
October 27, 2006

13. Why Consider Balloons as an Educational Tool ?
Short project development cycle term (adequate for academic environment)
Student involvement, education and training during all phases of a mission
Fast Response to Scientific/Engineering Need
Recoverable (“refurbish and re-fly’) - iterative learning
Verification platform for Space Systems
Affordable
October 27, 2006

14. What are Students Expected to Learn ?
Technical
Experiment development/design
Fabrication
Test and qualification for near space operations
Troubleshooting
Integration
Launch/operation aspects
Recovery and de-integration
Data analysis
Refurbish/Re-fly
Management
Project management
Project schedule and deadlines
Milestones/Reviews
Communication skills
Systems engineering skills
Documentation skills
Presentation skills
October 27, 2006

15. Available Opportunities
Student Experiment* Module (SEM-B)
Piggy-Back*
Cost Sharing - High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)
Purchase your own flight
HQ Space Grant Funded
SEM-B Case
Iridium Communication
HASP Payload
* Requires coordination with and approval of the Scientist (PI)
October 27, 2006

16. SEM-B Activities Status as of October 06’
Alaska 1
Maine
Vermont
New
Hampshire
Washington 1
North
Dakota
Montana 2
Massachusetts 4 1 3
Minnesota
New York
Rhode Island 1
Wisconsin 1 3 2 2
Connecticut
Oregon
Idaho
South
Dakota
Michigan 1 1 1
New
Jersey
Wyoming
Pennsylvania 6 6 7 1 10 1 2
Iowa
Nebraska 2 2
Illinois
Ohio 2
Delaware
Indiana
West
Virginia
Nevada 2 2 3
Maryland 3 1
Utah 2 1 1
Colorado
Virginia
Washington DC
California
Kansas
Missouri
Kentucky 3 2 1 1 1
North Carolina
Tennessee 1 2
Hawaii 1
South
Carolina
New
Mexico
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Arizona
States Utilized SEM-B (30)
States have Not Utilized SEM-B (20+DC)
Elementary School (13)
Middle School (25)
High School (25)
College/University (3)
Other (School District, Organization, Home School) (24) 1 1 1
Alabama 1
Georgia 1 1 3
Mississippi
Texas
Louisiana
Florida 2 1
October 27, 2006

17. High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)
Is a collaboration between BPO and LSU/other Louisiana organizations
Fully dedicated to student experiments
Experiment/payload funded by space grant
BPO provides balloon and launch support
First flight was launched from Ft. Sumner, NM on September 4, 2006 aboard an MCF balloon.
Payload weight was 1000 LBS
Four institutions (7 payloads) participated
Float altitude was 122 KFT
Total flight time was 18 HRS., 11 MIN.
Cosmo-Cam provided interactive video imaging throughout the flight.
The flight was an operations and science success. It exceeded all preflight minimum requirements.
Call for Payload for FY07 has been released, deadline is Dec. 15th, check HASP website.
HASP Pre-launch
Two flight tests were conducted on the Mars Balloons in May. The latest analysis shows that the problem with the poly balloon is likely due to the parachute not completely opening, which caused excess velocity during inflation.
The poly balloon developed tears in the film. It appears from video analysis that the parachute did not fully deploy, which increased the aero stress on the balloon.
October 27, 2006

18. HASP Activities Status as of October 06’
Alaska
Maine
Vermont
New
Hampshire
Washington
North
Dakota
Montana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Rhode Island
Wisconsin
Connecticut
Oregon
Idaho
South
Dakota
Michigan
New
Jersey
Wyoming
Pennsylvania
Iowa
Nebraska
Illinois
Ohio
Delaware
Indiana
West
Virginia
Nevada
Maryland
Utah
Colorado
Virginia
Washington DC
California
Kansas
Missouri
Kentucky
North Carolina
Tennessee
Hawaii
New
Mexico
Oklahoma
South
Carolina
Arkansas
Arizona
Alabama
Georgia 3 3
Mississippi
States Utilized HASP (3)
States have Not Utilized HASP (47+DC)
Texas 1
Louisiana
Florida 1
College/University payloads (7)
October 27, 2006

19. Typical Student Payload Development & Flight Cycle
Design & Fabrication
Testing/Qualification
Integration
Launch
Analysis
Jan 07
April 07
June 07
July 07
Oct.- 07
June-Sept. 07
Application & Selection
October 27, 2006

20. Expenses ….
Participants are responsible for payload development cost and all associated logistics cost.
Typically, payload development cost is paid for through the respective space grant program.
Balloon Program will offer limited number of free rides (access to space) for the select participants.
October 27, 2006

21. How to Contact NASA’s BPO ?
Address: Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA (Attention: Code 820)
BPO Chief/Mr. David Pierce (757)
BPO Assistant Chief/Mr. David Gregory (757)
BPO Technologist/Outreach/ Dr. Magdi Said (757)
BPO Secretary/Ms. Rebecca Gramlich (757)
Office Fax Number (757)
BPO Website:
For More info on HASP Contact:
Professors T.G. Guzik and J.P. Wefel
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA U.S.A. (
(Application)
October 27, 2006