NA24OARX021G0060
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose:
Abstract:
Spaceloon is developing a novel controlled altitude ballooning (CAB) platform to perform bi-directional sampling across multiple atmospheric layers, from the troposphere to the mesosphere.
To date, state-of-the-art high-altitude platforms are limited to the stratosphere.
National Weather Service (NWS), twice a day, globally uses unidirectional radiosonde and rawinsonde platforms for recording weather observations, creating a void in atmospheric observations on a daily time scale and at altitude scale.
With five times increased observation at two times higher altitudes, CAB will enable new climate observing and monitoring capabilities and dramatically improve forecast modeling.
Spaceloon's patent-pending CAB technology is a hardware and software combination that alters and controls the balloon size within its burst limits, enabling the balloon's expansion and contraction multiple times in a single flight.
CAB facilitates controlled ascent and descent throughout the atmosphere from the ground to the mesosphere.
As opposed to conventional assumptions, the ascent rate changes with altitude and is correlated with the energy state and power management of the balloon.
In Phase-I, we achieved CAB's control alteration capability for flight ascent profile, collecting atmospheric dynamic and thermodynamic measurements.
In Phase-II, we will achieve control descent capability with flight recovery and perform mesospheric (>50 km) test flights.
Summary of the anticipated results:
The proposed Phase-II research will result in a market-ready operational platform for novel measurement capabilities from the ground to the mesosphere above 50 km.
Phase-II activities will build on the laboratory and field testing conducted in Phase-I, maturing our technology to be highly reliable and fully recoverable.
Toward the end of Phase-II, we anticipate CAB carrying a payload of more than 3 kg.
In a typical use scenario, the balloon will follow a defined profile during flight transport.
The attached payload will collect the atmospheric observations along the flight path, and then completing the profile bring the payload back to the ground.
CAB will follow the profile pattern by performing controlled ascent to altitudes of more than 50 km followed by altitude descent of more than 10 km in one cycle.
We anticipate CAB will perform three such cycles of controlled ascent and descent in a single flight and then, with complete control descent, bring down the attached payload to the ground safely.
We anticipate the flights will be fully recoverable and retrievable.
Abstract:
Spaceloon is developing a novel controlled altitude ballooning (CAB) platform to perform bi-directional sampling across multiple atmospheric layers, from the troposphere to the mesosphere.
To date, state-of-the-art high-altitude platforms are limited to the stratosphere.
National Weather Service (NWS), twice a day, globally uses unidirectional radiosonde and rawinsonde platforms for recording weather observations, creating a void in atmospheric observations on a daily time scale and at altitude scale.
With five times increased observation at two times higher altitudes, CAB will enable new climate observing and monitoring capabilities and dramatically improve forecast modeling.
Spaceloon's patent-pending CAB technology is a hardware and software combination that alters and controls the balloon size within its burst limits, enabling the balloon's expansion and contraction multiple times in a single flight.
CAB facilitates controlled ascent and descent throughout the atmosphere from the ground to the mesosphere.
As opposed to conventional assumptions, the ascent rate changes with altitude and is correlated with the energy state and power management of the balloon.
In Phase-I, we achieved CAB's control alteration capability for flight ascent profile, collecting atmospheric dynamic and thermodynamic measurements.
In Phase-II, we will achieve control descent capability with flight recovery and perform mesospheric (>50 km) test flights.
Summary of the anticipated results:
The proposed Phase-II research will result in a market-ready operational platform for novel measurement capabilities from the ground to the mesosphere above 50 km.
Phase-II activities will build on the laboratory and field testing conducted in Phase-I, maturing our technology to be highly reliable and fully recoverable.
Toward the end of Phase-II, we anticipate CAB carrying a payload of more than 3 kg.
In a typical use scenario, the balloon will follow a defined profile during flight transport.
The attached payload will collect the atmospheric observations along the flight path, and then completing the profile bring the payload back to the ground.
CAB will follow the profile pattern by performing controlled ascent to altitudes of more than 50 km followed by altitude descent of more than 10 km in one cycle.
We anticipate CAB will perform three such cycles of controlled ascent and descent in a single flight and then, with complete control descent, bring down the attached payload to the ground safely.
We anticipate the flights will be fully recoverable and retrievable.
Awardee
Funding Goals
18 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION 19 WEATHER-READY NATION 20 HEALTHY OCEANS 21 RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Miami,
Florida
331964524
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Space Balloon Technologies was awarded
Project Grant NA24OARX021G0060
worth $649,994
from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Miami Florida United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.021 NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY24 NOAA SBIR Phase II.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
Bi-directional Platform for data collection up to the Mesosphere
Abstract
SpaceLoon is developing a novel Controlled Altitude Ballooning (CAB) platform to perform bi-directional sampling across multiple atmospheric layers, from the troposphere to the mesosphere. To date, state-of-the-art high-altitude platforms are limited to the stratosphere. National Weather Service (NWS), twice a day, globally uses unidirectional radiosonde and rawinsonde platforms for recording weather observations, creating a void in atmospheric observations on a daily time scale and at altitude scale. With five times increased observation at two times higher altitudes, CAB will enable new climate observing and monitoring capabilities and dramatically improve forecast modeling. SpaceLoon’s patent-pending CAB technology is a hardware and software combination that alters and controls the balloon size within its burst limits, enabling the balloon’s expansion and contraction multiple times in a single flight. CAB facilitates controlled ascent and descent throughout the atmosphere from the ground to the mesosphere. As opposed to conventional assumptions, the ascent rate changes with altitude and is correlated with the energy state and power management of the balloon. In Phase-I, we achieved CAB’s control alteration capability for flight ascent profile, collecting atmospheric dynamic and thermodynamic measurements. In Phase-II, we will achieve control descent capability with flight recovery and perform mesospheric (>50 km) test flights.
The proposed Phase-II research will result in a market-ready operational platform for novel measurement capabilities from the ground to the mesosphere above 50 km. Phase-II activities will build on the laboratory and field testing conducted in Phase-I, maturing our technology to be highly reliable and fully recoverable. Toward the end of PhaseII, we anticipate CAB carrying a payload of more than 3 kg. In a typical use scenario, the balloon will follow a defined profile during flight transport. The attached payload will collect the atmospheric observations along the flight path, and then completing the profile will bring the payload back to the ground. CAB will follow the profile pattern by performing controlled ascent to altitudes of more than 50 km followed by altitude descent of more than 10 km in one cycle. We anticipate CAB will perform three such cycles of controlled ascent and descent in a single flight and then, with complete control descent, bring down the attached payload to the ground safely. We anticipate the flights will be fully recoverable and retrievable.
Topic Code
9.6
Solicitation Number
NOAA-OAR-TPO-2024-2008239
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 11/19/24
Period of Performance
9/1/24
Start Date
8/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$650.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$650.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to NA24OARX021G0060
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
NA24OARX021G0060
SAI Number
NA24OARX021G0060-001
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
1305N2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA
Funding Office
1333BR OFC OF PROG.PLANNING&INTEGRATION
Awardee UEI
E1QHQ1L53CG3
Awardee CAGE
82EU0
Performance District
FL-28
Senators
Marco Rubio
Rick Scott
Rick Scott
Modified: 11/19/24