1. Jerald A. Balta January 24, 2007 Propulsion Team Preliminary Cost Analysis of Balloon Based Launch Vehicle
AAE 450 Spring 2008

2. Cost Estimates Balloon Launch Location – $30,000
Gas H $/m3
Gas He – $/m3
Polyethylene – $150,000 per 15.8 MC
Launch Location – $30,000
Production and Maintenance – $370,000
$200,000 personnel
$150,000 maintenance
$20,000 assembly
$ $25000 scaled
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Group Name (i.e.Trajectory Optimization)

3. Conclusions Future Work Cost of First Stage Balloon Modeling Code
H2 = $31611, $31793, $32664
He = $42429, $44106, $52499
Future Work
Balloon Modeling Code
Gondala
Second Stage
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Group Name (i.e.Trajectory Optimization)

4. References
Gizinski, Stephen J. and Wanagas, John D., “Feasibility of a Balloon-Based Launch System,” AIAA International Balloon Technology Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 1991
Defense Energy Support Center, “MISSILE FUELS STANDARD PRICES EFFECTIVE 1 OCT 2007,” Aerospace Energy Reference, November 2007
AAE 450 Spring 2008
Group Name (i.e.Trajectory Optimization)

5. Feasibility Analysis Values
Gizinski, Stephen J. and Wanagas, John D., “Feasibility of a Balloon-Based Launch System,” AIAA International Balloon Technology Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 1991
AAE 450 Spring 2008

6. Conceptual Drawing
Gizinski, Stephen J. and Wanagas, John D., “Feasibility of a Balloon-Based Launch System,” AIAA International Balloon Technology Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 1991
AAE 450 Spring 2008

7. Cost Code % Fixed Constants g = 9.80665; % m/s^2 % Mass Constraints
M_Gondala = ; %kg
M_Rocket = ; %kg
% Density of Gases
Density_Air = 1.292; %kg/m^3
Density_H = ; %kg/m^3
Density_He = ; %kg/m^3
% Lifting Force
Force_1_H = (Density_Air-Density_H)*g;
Force_1_He = (Density_Air-Density_He)*g
AAE 450 Spring 2008

8. Cost Code continued % Mass and Volume
% Mass of Balloon Material is neglected
Volume_H = (M_Gondala + M_Rocket)*g / (Force_1_H - Density_H * g)
Mass_Balloon_H = Density_H*Volume_H
Mass_H = M_Gondala + M_Rocket + Density_H * Volume_H
Volume_He = (M_Gondala + M_Rocket)*g / (Force_1_He - Density_He * g)
Mass_Balloon_He = Density_He*Volume_He
Mass_He = M_Gondala + M_Rocket + Density_He * Volume_He
% Cost analysis of First Stage (Including sea launch costs)
Balloon_Cost_H = *((Volume_H*(1/0.3048)^3/(15.8E6)))^(2/3)
Balloon_Cost_He = *((Volume_He*(1/0.3048)^3/(15.8E6)))^(2/3)
Cost_H = Volume_H * 0.11 * (1/0.3048)^3 + Balloon_Cost_H
Cost_He = Volume_He * 1.38 * (1/0.3048)^3 + Balloon_Cost_He
AAE 450 Spring 2008