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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Remote sensing and sensor testing via hot air balloons

Conference ·
OSTI ID:390821
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
  2. Army Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (United States)
  3. DARPA High Performance Computing Applications, Arlington, VA (United States); and others

Tethered and free-flying manned hot air balloons have been demonstrated as platforms for various remote sensing asks and sensor testing and atmospheric measurements. These platforms are inexpensive to operate, do not cause atmospheric disturbances as do higher speed platforms, and are extremely stable and free of vibrations inherent in aircraft structures. The equipment operated and tested on the balloons in connection with this project includes a prototype multispectral imaging spectrometer, high resolution CCD cameras, mid- and far-infrared cameras, a radiometer, FTIR spectrometers, video recording equipment and portable power generators carried beneath the balloon providing power to the equipment The experiments conducted on and from the balloon include chemical effluents characterization, atmospheric propagation through slant paths, obscurants imaging and scene reflectance. 7 refs.

OSTI ID:
390821
Report Number(s):
CONF-960613--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English