Skip to main content
Book cover

Stratospheric Balloons

Science and Commerce at the Edge of Space

  • Book
  • © 2021

Overview

  • Describes how stratospheric balloons have been used for research and business
  • Covers the current state-of-the-art applications of stratospheric balloons
  • Includes over a hundred color photos of balloons, launchers, payloads, instruments and people

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)

Part of the book sub series: Space Exploration (SPACEE)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

eBook USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (11 chapters)

Keywords

About this book

Stratospheric balloons are powerful tools used to study the Earth and its atmosphere, as well as the greater cosmos beyond. This book describes the science and technology behind modern stratospheric ballooning, along with the surprising ways it has impacted our daily lives.


The book takes you through every step of the process, starting with an in-depth introduction to basic balloon types and their uses before delving into balloon construction and mission planning. Along the way, you will learn about the novel technologies that have radically changed these balloons and their ability to launch, control and navigate them over specific ground targets. Next follows an exploration of their incredible applications, including research in atmospheric science, cosmology and astronomy, earth studies, meteorology, and aerobiology, and also commercial capabilities such as Internet networks and high-altitude tourism.


The community of scientists,engineers, and entrepreneurs involved in stratospheric ballooning is only ever growing. This book shows you how these national and international efforts have truly soared in recent years, and it will be an enjoyable read for anybody interested in learning more about how science and commerce are conducted in the stratosphere, at the edge of space.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Cedar Park, USA

    Manfred “Dutch” von Ehrenfried

About the author

Manfred “Dutch” von Ehrenfried worked in the spaceflight, aviation and nuclear fields for about 25 years. He was a member of the original NASA Space Task Group for Project Mercury and was a NASA Flight Controller in the Mission Control Center for many Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Missions. He  also worked on some of the Apollo Lunar Experiment Packages. He also worked in the NASA Headquarters Space Station Task Force and the Program Office as a contractor for about 10 years 


As the sensor operator on the NASA High Altitude Aircraft, he worked with scientists to determine how best to obtain the data they wanted from their instruments and develop a flight plan to achieve their objectives. In conjunction with this work, he was an Apollo Pressure Suit test subject which included tests in the Zero G aircraft, centrifuge, and vacuum chamber. As part of this work, he was the NASA MSC Chief of Science Requirements and Operations Branch.


Bibliographic Information

Publish with us