High-altitude balloon experiment: a testbed for acquisition, tracking, and pointing technologies

Timothy J. Schneeberger; Ken W. Barker

doi:10.1117/12.156595

1 October 1993 High-altitude balloon experiment: a testbed for acquisition, tracking, and pointing technologies

Timothy J. Schneeberger, Ken W. Barker

Proceedings Volume 1950, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing VII; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156595
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The mission of the High-Altitude Balloon Experiment (HABE) is to acquire supporting data, validate enabling technologies, and resolve critical acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) and fire control issues in support of future space-based precision pointing experiments. The use of high-altitude balloons offers a relatively low-cost, low-vibration test platform, a recoverable and reusable payload, worldwide launch capability, and a 'near- space' emulation of the future space systems operational scenarios. The HABE platform design is based on several previous spacecraft designs, and includes coarse gimbal pointing, infrared and visible passive tracking, active fine tracking, internal auto alignment and boresighting, and precision line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization functions. A broad overview of the HABE balloon and payload system is presented, and the similarities and differences between high-altitude balloon and spacecraft design approaches are discussed. The special design features and operational conditions for ATP experiments aboard high-altitude balloon platforms are reviewed with HABE used as a design reference.

Citation Download Citation

Timothy J. Schneeberger and Ken W. Barker "High-altitude balloon experiment: a testbed for acquisition, tracking, and pointing technologies", Proc. SPIE 1950, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing VII, (1 October 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.156595

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