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Title: Kestrel balloon launch system

Abstract

Kestrel is a high-altitude, Helium-gas-filled-balloon system used to launch scientific payloads in winds up to 20 knots, from small platforms or ships, anywhere over land or water, with a minimal crew and be able to hold in standby conditions. Its major components consist of two balloons (a tow balloon and a main balloon), the main deployment system, helium measurement system, a parachute recovery unit, and the scientific payload package. The main scope of the launch system was to eliminate the problems of being dependent of launching on long airfield runways, low wind conditions, and long launch preparation time. These objectives were clearly met with Kestrel 3.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
7368457
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-108591; CONF-9110499-1
ON: DE93016421
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Balloon systems and technology symposium and working conference, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 8-10 Oct 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; MILITARY EQUIPMENT; LAUNCHING; MILITARY STRATEGY; DATA ACQUISITION; BALLOONS; DIAGRAMS; FLIGHT TESTING; FLOWMETERS; HELIUM; LEVELS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; OPTICAL EQUIPMENT; PARACHUTES; PORTABLE EQUIPMENT; REMOTE CONTROL; SPATIAL RESOLUTION; TARGETS; WIND; AIRSHIPS; CONTROL; ELEMENTS; EQUIPMENT; FLUIDS; GASES; METERS; NONMETALS; RARE GASES; RESOLUTION; TESTING; 450000* - Military Technology, Weaponry, & National Defense

Citation Formats

Newman, M J. Kestrel balloon launch system. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Newman, M J. Kestrel balloon launch system. United States.
Newman, M J. 1991. "Kestrel balloon launch system". United States.
@article{osti_7368457,
title = {Kestrel balloon launch system},
author = {Newman, M J},
abstractNote = {Kestrel is a high-altitude, Helium-gas-filled-balloon system used to launch scientific payloads in winds up to 20 knots, from small platforms or ships, anywhere over land or water, with a minimal crew and be able to hold in standby conditions. Its major components consist of two balloons (a tow balloon and a main balloon), the main deployment system, helium measurement system, a parachute recovery unit, and the scientific payload package. The main scope of the launch system was to eliminate the problems of being dependent of launching on long airfield runways, low wind conditions, and long launch preparation time. These objectives were clearly met with Kestrel 3.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7368457}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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