2003 EARTH SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
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Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: |
Synopsis |
| NASA LAUNCHES THE LARGEST SUPER-PRESSURE BALLOON EVER FLOWN | G03-004A | 03/17/03 | 00:14:46 | NASA has successfully launched a revolutionary research balloon from Alice Springs, Australia, opening a new frontier for high-altitude research. The gigantic Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) may ultimately unlock a new era in scientific research by carrying telescopes and experiments weighing several tons to the brink of space for 100 days or more.
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TAPE CONTENTS: |
| ITEM (1): ULDB Floats to the Edge of Space - The Ultra Long Duration Balloon lifted off March 17, 2003, from Alice Springs, Australia and soared to the edge of space, beginning its jurney around the world. This is one of the latest test flights in a project that aims to transform the way scientists use balloons. If all goes well, ULDB could carry scientific experiments and telescopes larger than Hubble Space Telescope on 100-day missions.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (2): Launch and Descent of the ULDB Animation - The full scale ULDB is the largest single-cell super-pressure balloon ever flown. Unlike current scientific balloons it is completely sealed, as the gas is not vented to relieve pressure. The new super-pressure balloon can then maintain lift, size and shape and not lose significant altitude due to atmospheric influences. At launch, the balloon is partially inflated with helium. The helium expands as it rises, inflating the balloon, as shown in the animation. When fully inflated, the massive ULDB - would just fit inside a domed football stadium. The balloon system will come back down to Earth under a controlled descent.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (2): ULDB Beauty Pass Animation - The ULDB is the largest single-cell, super-pressure (fully- sealed) balloon ever flown. It is designed to support missions for up to 100 days and float above 99 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. The pumpkin-shaped balloon is composed of a lightweight polyethylene film about the thickness of ordinary plastic food wrap. High strength Zylon load tendons, which run from the top to the bottom of the balloon, carry the pressure load of the system. The ULDB is designed to lift 6,000 lbs to an altitude of 110,000 feet.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (4): The ULDB Science Payload Animation - The ULDB is designed to float above 99 percent of Earth's atmosphere and at the edge of space, offering a very low cost option to scientists studying deep space and Earth. It will enable scientists to look into deep space and observe celestial events such as cosmic rays, anti-matter, and supernovas. A ULDB-type balloon may soon be inflated in the atmosphere of another planet, sending visuals of its surface or taking atmospheric data of temperatures, magnetic anomalies or air pressures. Scientists will command the instrument and receive data on computers through satellite links. This ULDB will be carrying a 6,000 lb (2721.5 kg) payload and may be visible from the ground with telescopes.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (5): Altitude Comparison Animation - Day and night temperatures, and barometric pressure differences affect the altitude of current long duration balloons because they are 'open systems' like hot air balloons. The ULDB is a 'closed system' enabling it to maintain a more constant altitude. Conventional high-altitude scientific balloon flights typically last a few days to a week, because temperature changes from day to night ultimately causing the balloon to lose gas and then altitude. One way to keep conventional balloons up longer is to launch them in the Earth's polar regions where there are long periods of daylight or long periods of night. Even though this animation is exaggerated it shows changes in volume that conventional balloons experience during day night cycles.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (6): Size Comparison Graphic - This graphic shows a comparison between the ULDB at launch and at altitude with the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The ULDB is approximately 500 feet tall and consists of 20 acres of a special polyethylene composite material and 20 miles of seams.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (7): Small Prototype of Today's ULDB - The ULDB has a pumpkin-shaped design and is the largest single-cell, super-pressure balloon ever flown. At launch it is partially inflated with helium with the balloon expanding as it rises. The material used was developed specifically for this project. The skin is made up of three layers of Polyethylene. The longitudinal tendons are braided rope cords and run from the top of the balloon to the bottom to handle the pressure load.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (8): NASA Tests Design Concept For ULDB B-ROLL - On October 23, 1999 at St. Sumner, NM, NASA successfully conducted a test flight of a pumpkin-shaped balloon that was one-tenth the volume of the new ULDB. This footage includes preparation and launch of the nearly half-sized prototype.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (9): Material Testing For the ULDB B-roll - Wallops Flight Facility developed new materials for this mission. The footage shows stress testing of a fabric-film laminate, developed during the initial development stage of ULDB when a spherical balloon design was under consideration. The new material must withstand environmental stresses that the balloon will encounter at 115,000 feet for 100 days. These stresses include temperature variations, pressure, and ultraviolet radiation.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (10): Manufacturing Methods Test Balloon's Skin - Inflating a 30-foot diameter Ultra Long Duration Balloon model, constructed out of a specially designed fabric-film laminate, to its bursting point gives engineers insight into the durability and strength of balloon manufacturing methods. During the initial stage of ULDB, scientists investigated a spherical balloon design. Since this testing, researchers switched to the pumpkin shaped balloon design that uses a co-extruded Polyethylene film is used for the shell material.
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (11): Historical Launch of a Traditional Tear-Shaped Balloon B-roll - The typical zero-pressure balloons have a smooth surface and look like upside-down teardrops. They vary in altitude by several thousands of feet, and can only stay afloat for short periods of time compared to ULDB. Zero-pressured balloons can lift large payloads, but they cannot fly as long as ULDB can.
Courtesy: NASA
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Earth Science Gallery