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T.U.F.F : The Utility of Live Tension Measurements for Scientific Ballooning and Flight Dynamics

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Abstract

Scientific balloon launches, like those done by the Maryland Space Grant Consortium Balloon Payload Program (BPP), allow research payloads to study and experiment efficiently at high altitudes. The BPP Tension Under Flight Forces payload (TUFF) team has developed a supplemental payload that measures flightline tension on balloon missions. In this paper, we present practical applications for the tension data acquired, including the determination of payload drag, measurement of swinging oscillation frequency, and atmospheric modeling. Through Python data analysis we have pinpointed the drag measurements of other payloads, observed swinging patterns in tension oscillations, and measured jetstream entrance and exit altitudes via tension variance caused by payload swinging. Tension payloads offer a simple and light way to measure these values, though with certain drawbacks, like their sensitive setup and calibration, which are also discussed in this paper. Although measurements and insights from the TUFF payload have not yet been applied to balloon flights, tension payloads could refine several parts of the ballooning process. Drag data can improve pre-flight helium calculations to allow for targeted ascent rates, while oscillation data can help understand payload flight conditions. Knowing more about flight conditions on ascent or during a float may enhance attitude stabilization payloads or safeguard cut-down modules, which are often rated to a maximum tension. Jetstream data is useful for balloon ground-track predictions and tracking. We hope to extrapolate these current applications to more widespread aerospace applications, like flight dynamics and controls, once our system has proven convenient and useful for scientific balloon launches.

Keywords: Tension, Payload, ballooning, near-space, nearspace, loadcell, strain guage, drag, oscillation, jet stream, jetstream

How to Cite:

Kuznetsov, J. J., Grammer, D. E., Maas, M., Lee, J. D., Villegas, J. O. & Moran, O., (2023) “T.U.F.F : The Utility of Live Tension Measurements for Scientific Ballooning and Flight Dynamics”, Academic High Altitude Conference 2022(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ahac.15632