Transcript SUBORBITAL AND SPECIAL ORBITAL PROJECTS DIRECTORATE

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) 824-1386
Fax: (757) 824-2149
[email protected]
National Council of Space Grant Directors Meeting
New York, NY
October 27-28, 2006
NASA Centers & Wallops Flight Facility …
Wallops Flight Facility
Wallops Island, VA
CSBF (Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility)
(Balloon Launch Contractor)
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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Antarctica Balloon Launch ….
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October 27, 2006
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Balloon Launch Facilities in Antarctica
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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NASA’s Scientific Balloons –
Physical Dimensions & Size Comparison
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The Earth’s Atmosphere
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Balloon Altitudes typically 30-35 km,
corresponding to pressures of 5-10 milli-bar,
residual atmosphere of 5-10 g/cm2, i.e. above
99-99.5% 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
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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Expected Flight Environment
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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)
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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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
110-130k ft (33.5-39.6 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)
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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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
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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
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BESS – Balloon Experiment with
Superconducting Spectrometer
Particle Astrophysics
Flown Over Antarctica
Dec 13, 2004 – Dec 21, 2004
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Student Opportunities
National Council of Space
Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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Student Access to Space
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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
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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Why Consider Balloons as an Educational Tool ?
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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
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What are Students Expected to Learn ?
Technical
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Management
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
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Project management
Project schedule and
deadlines
Milestones/Reviews
Communication skills
Systems engineering skills
Documentation skills
Presentation skills
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Available Opportunities
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Student Experiment*
Module (SEM-B)
SEM-B Case
Iridium Communication
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Piggy-Back*
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Cost Sharing - High Altitude
Student Platform (HASP)
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Purchase your own flight
HQ Space Grant Funded
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HASP Payload
* Requires coordination with and approval of the Scientist (PI)
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Grant Directors Meeting
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SEM-B Activities Status as of October 06’
Alaska
1
Maine
Vermont
Washington
Montana
2
Minnesota
Idaho
1
Wyoming
New York
Wisconsin
1
Oregon
1 1
Illinois
2 2
Nevada
California
1 1
Ohio
Indiana
Virginia
3 2
Kentucky
Missouri
1
Hawaii
Arizona
States Utilized SEM-B (30)
States have Not Utilized SEM-B (20+DC)
1 2
Tennessee
1
1
New
Mexico
Oklahoma
1
1
Mississippi
1 Elementary School (13)
1 Middle School (25)
1 High School (25)
Alabama
Texas
2
Louisiana
1
Rhode Island
Connecticut
1 2 1
New
Jersey
Delaware
Washington DC
North
Carolina
South
Carolina
Arkansas
1
Massachusetts
Maryland
2
Colorado
Kansas
2
West
Virginia
3
3
Utah
1 1
Pennsylvania
6 6 7 1 10
Iowa
2 2
4 1 3
1 3 2 2
Michigan
South
Dakota
Nebraska
1
New
Hampshire
1
North
Dakota
Georgia
1
3
Florida
1 College/University (3)
1 Other (School District, Organization, Home School) (24)
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Grant Directors Meeting
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High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)
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Is a collaboration between BPO and LSU/other Louisiana
organizations
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Fully dedicated to student experiments
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Experiment/payload funded by space grant
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BPO provides balloon and launch support
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First flight was launched from Ft. Sumner, NM on September 4,
2006 aboard an 11.82 MCF balloon.
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Payload weight was 1000 LBS
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Four institutions (7 payloads) participated
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Float altitude was 122 KFT
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Total flight time was 18 HRS., 11 MIN.
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Cosmo-Cam provided interactive video imaging
throughout the flight.
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The flight was an operations and science success. It
exceeded all preflight minimum requirements.
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HASP Pre-launch
Call for Payload for FY07 has been released, deadline is
Dec. 15th, check HASP website.
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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HASP Activities Status as of October 06’
Alaska
Maine
Vermont
Washington
New
Hampshire
North
Dakota
Montana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Wisconsin
Oregon
Idaho
Wyoming
Michigan
South
Dakota
Iowa
Ohio
Illinois
Indiana
Nevada
Utah
Maryland
Virginia
Kansas
Hawaii
Oklahoma
Washington DC
Kentucky
Missouri
North
Carolina
Tennessee
Arizona
Delaware
West
Virginia
Colorado
New
Mexico
New
Jersey
Pennsylvania
Nebraska
California
Rhode Island
Connecticut
South
Carolina
Arkansas
Alabama
Georgia
3
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States Utilized HASP (3)
States have Not Utilized HASP (47+DC)
Texas
1
Mississippi
Louisiana
Florida
1 College/University payloads (7)
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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National Council of Space
Grant Directors Meeting
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Oct.- 07
June-Sept. 07
July 07
June 07
April 07
Jan 07
Typical Student Payload Development & Flight Cycle
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Expenses ….
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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.
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Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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How to Contact NASA’s BPO ?
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Address: Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337 (Attention: Code 820)
BPO Chief/Mr. David Pierce (757) 824-1453
BPO Assistant Chief/Mr. David Gregory (757) 824-2367
BPO Technologist/Outreach/ Dr. Magdi Said (757) 824-1386
BPO Secretary/Ms. Rebecca Gramlich (757) 824-1480
Office Fax Number (757) 824-2149
BPO Website: www.wff.nasa.gov/balloons
For More info on HASP Contact:
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Professors T.G. Guzik and J.P. Wefel
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA U.S.A.
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(http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/)
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http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/documents/cfp/2006-2007/HASP_CFP_2006_v5.pdf (Application)
National Council of Space
Grant Directors Meeting
October 27, 2006
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