초록 ▼

A multi stage high-altitude data acquisition system comprising a first stage manned lighter-than-air, engine propelled aircraft and a second stage air-buoyant vehicle of stratospheric altitude attaining capability statically sustainable aloft by a sufficient quantity of lighter-than-air gas containe

A multi stage high-altitude data acquisition system comprising a first stage manned lighter-than-air, engine propelled aircraft and a second stage air-buoyant vehicle of stratospheric altitude attaining capability statically sustainable aloft by a sufficient quantity of lighter-than-air gas contained within an expandable envelope balloon to carry the vehicle to a stratospheric float altitude and transportable from ground level to a tropospheric launching altitude by the first stage aircraft from which the air buoyant vehicle and its partially expanded gas containing envelope is releasable at the launching level while the first stage aircraft is established in a flight condition of substantially zero airspeed. The first stage aircraft preferably is a rigid type airship having a silo within an interior bay of the airship of dimensions and configurations as will retain within the airship the air-buoyant vehicle and its lifting gas envelope partially expanded to a volume displaced by the lifting gas at the lower troposphere launching altitude.

대표청구항 ▼

A two stahe stratosphere altitude data acquisition system comprising a first and a second air-buoyant vehicle, said first vehicle comprising lighter-than-air gas containing means, data acquisition means, flight associated items and means supportingly affixing said data acquisition means and associat

A two stahe stratosphere altitude data acquisition system comprising a first and a second air-buoyant vehicle, said first vehicle comprising lighter-than-air gas containing means, data acquisition means, flight associated items and means supportingly affixing said data acquisition means and associated items to said gas containing means, said gas containing means being expandable to a volume as will displace an amount of air at a stratosphere float altitude equal to the weight of said first vehicle and containing an amount of lighter-than-air gas as will displace said volume of air at said stratosphere float altitude equal to the weight of said first vehicle, said second vehicle comprising a lighter-than-air aircraft having control and propulsive means for controlled flight operations of said aircraft at troposphere altitudes, releasable retaining means for retention of said first vehicle by said aircraft, said retaining means being operable from a vehicle retaining position to a position releasing said first vehicle from retention by and free of said aircraft at a selected troposphere launching altitude, said aircraft propulsive means including means creating vectored thrust forces of directions and amounts as establishes said aircraft in a level flight condition of substantially zero air speed, whereby said first vehicle can be launched from said aircraft into the troposphere under an essentially no wind condition for ascension to said stratosphere float altitude upon establishing said retaining means in said releasing position.