Trajectory simulation for single balloons and networks Original Research Article

An understanding of the characteristics of trajectories of constant-altitude stratospheric platforms is important for scientific balloon flights because science observation sequences, safety planning, overflight negotiations, launch site selection, and recovery operations are affected by trajectory. Supported by NASA, Global Aerospace Corporation (GAC) has developed a Trajectory Simulation and Prediction System (TSPS) for NASAʹs Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) Project. We identified desirable launch dates based on historical trajectory dispersion. None of the launch sites that were studied exhibits significantly less dispersion than the other launch sites. However, latitude dispersion grows with flight duration, and trajectory dispersion growth is significant from 30- to 100-day flights. We also discuss work supported by the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) where trajectory simulation techniques are applied to constellations of hundreds of balloons. We evaluate the prospects of managing the geometry of such constellations by using trajectory control systems.