| Abstract: | This paper describes the results of the initial phase of a program being conducted to develop systems and procedures to maximize ballast and lifting gas usage on board an atmospheric research balloon. Computer programs, for both analog and digital computer systems, have been developed to predict the motion of a zero-pressure balloon. Comparison of the flight trajectory of a typical scientific balloon observed by the National Scientific Balloon Facility with the predicted trajectory obtained using the computer programs developed in the course of this study indicates close agreement except during the transient phase of the motion. |
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