the unique opportunities of ballooning

LSU 08/06/2004 Ballooning Opportunities 1

The Unique Opportunities of Ballooning

T. Gregory Guzik

Louisiana State University

Scientific Ballooning Roadmap Workshop

August 10, 2004


Justifying the Balloon Program

• In my view1 there are three primary reasons that justify enhancement of the NASA scientific balloon program

1. Unfettered innovation leading to scientific advances

2. Space mission prototype development and testing

3. Aerospace workforce (human capital) training

1The state of Louisiana has issued the following warning about this presentation and disassociates itself from all views, opinions, conjectures, arguments, statements, measurements, calculations, facts, figures, logic and blatant lies contained therein. This is a work of opinion. Names, characters, places, and incidents have been changed to protect the guilty. Any resemblance to actual federal agencies, projects or programs, currently funded or on the chopping block, is entirely coincidental.


Unfettered Innovation• Ballooning is significantly less expensive and highly risk

tolerant compared to all other NASA programs– Fewer, more effective personnel leads to lower cost

• Minimum number of personnel are required and these are focused on solving issues rather than certification documentation

– Timescale from concept to flight is short• 3 – 5 years for balloons compared to decade or more for satellites

– Untried, high risk technologies can be incorporated• Satellites usually require established “heritage”

• These fundamental characteristics promote innovation that is the bedrock for new scientific discoveries

• Ballooning usually leads to the opening of new fields of study– Development of X-ray & Gamma-ray astronomy is a classic example

• Ballooning is the “seed corn” that yields a new crop of missions


Prototype Development• The large cost of space missions requires that there be

assurance that systems will function as advertised and development be within time & cost constraints– Providing the basis for this assurance is an ideal role for balloon

platforms

• Near-space testing of techniques, sensors and systems raises the Technology Readiness Level.– Fast turn-around & low cost allows concepts to be developed, tested,

evaluated, redesigned and retested to optimize systems

• Competing concepts for space missions could be initially funded for development & flight as balloon payloads– Comparison now based on flight data rather than simulations

• Development of a balloon payload space mission prototype provides basis for accurate time and cost estimates– Reduces risk and saves on overall mission cost


A Problem with THE Vision• The President’s Commission on Implementation of United States

Space Exploration Policy devotes a full section in their report to education, workforce development and public engagement.

“…a workforce of great technical skill in their chosen disciplines will be required in implement the system of systems that will accomplish the space exploration vision.” (p. 42)

“The workforce required for the United States to prosper as a nation is not begin trained adequately.” (footnote p. 41)

“…2001 Hart-Rudman Commission … warned that the failure of math and science education was the second largest national security threat facing America.” (footnote p. 41)


The suggested solution• The President’s Commission recommends (8-1) that NASA

partner with universities to develop a “virtual” space academy

“…goals of which are: 1) to provide tangible experiences that prepare students for a future in a space-related field, and 2) to bridge the divide between engineering and science training.” (p. 44)

“…consist of university-based science and engineering experiments to train young scientists and engineers, …” (p. 44)

“…designed to provide senior undergraduate and/or graduate-level experience for integrated engineering/science teams that teach systems engineering and science/engineering integration…” (p. 44)

• Isn’t this what university-based NASA supported science should be doing already??? Why not???


Wherefore art thou Next Generation?

• NASA has a complex assurance certification process for space missions that is problematic for most universities– Many universities uncompetitive when proposing for space missions.– Those with previous flight experience must off load much of the payload

development to NASA Centers or Aerospace companies in order to cope.– Project life-cycles of a decade or more are inconsistent with most degree

programs

• Result is that most students are never exposed to the excitement and practical experience associated with developing a space mission– Given academic schedules, students only see a “snap-shot” of the full

project life-cycle• Might be able to gain some prototype testing OR data analysis experience

– Students have very limited hands-on training even during internships• High risk & high cost to train students with flight hardware


University Ballooning and the Workforce

• Developing balloon payloads at universities can address the workforce development issue!– The primary function of a university is student education and training– University students are in resident full time, so they can participate in a

balloon project without impacting their degree program– Balloon payload development timescales are short enough so students

can gain experience through ALL project phases– Students can have direct, hands-on contact with the experiment – Involve undergraduate and graduate students across fields of study, race,

citizenship and gender

• During the ATIC project at LSU we have involved over 50 students from physics, engineering, computer science and other fields

• The Space Grant student ballooning program currently involves over 30 states and provides “introductory” experiences


The Dark Cloud• A great concern of mine is that NASA continues to attempt to

impose a “mission” rationale and/or structure on the ballooning program– Will likely stifle the very advantages (innovation, “seed corn”, test

bedding, workforce development) that NASA currently enjoys from the program.

• The fact that a balloon “mission” is not a space “mission” can always be used to remove balloon payloads from consideration– Residual atmosphere and limited exposure will always be perceived as an

issue

• Imposing the risk avoidance mechanisms associated with “mission structure” can have great impact– Increased personnel, extended life-cycle, increased cost– Move large portions of development out of the university– Preclude student involvement in all phases of the experiment


Dr. Guzik’s Patent Remedy1

• Extra funding to expand capability of scientific ballooning– Longer duration, higher altitude, heavier payloads, steering

• Develop expanded capability by funding “deltas” on existing hardware, software and personnel– Do not reinvent the wheel!

• Extra funding for SR&T program to increase the number of university-based scientific balloon payload development programs– Goal should be to have a major scientific balloon program (or significant

involvement) in every state

• Extra funding for SR&T program to support participation / mentoring of underrepresented institutions– Extra funding at PI institutions to support the mentoring as well as

funding at the underrepresented institution to support participation

• Maintain (or increase) high risk tolerance in balloon program1Guaranteed to cure hair loss, headaches, premature aging, corns, bunions, flat feet and snake bites. Continue use even if rash develops. All sales are final and non-refundable

the unique opportunities of ballooning

Documents