Lighter-than-Air Systems

The Lighter-than-Air (LTA) Systems engineers perform design, analysis, development, and testing of LTA autonomous vehicles for military and scientific applications. This includes terrestrial high altitude airships, balloons, aerostats, and planetary LTA vehicles. The engineering team also provides design, fabrication, and integration of high pressure hydraulic and gas systems for industrial and aerospace applications.

William D. Perry, Acting Section Manager

HiSentinel 80 Long Endurance Stratospheric Airship Inflation test was conducted in the AlamoDome.

LTA Capabilities

Design Capabilities

Complete balloon systems
Complete high-altitude airship systems
Super-pressure hull designs
Thermal and stress analysis
Command and control electronics
Sensors
Telemetry systems
Communication systems
Tracking systems
- GPS
- ARGOS
Precision inflation systems
Ballast and venting systems
Energy storage systems
Solar arrays
Power management
Autonomous navigation
Airship propulsion systems
Termination and recovery systems
Ground stations and data display
Antenna pointing systems

Fabrication Capabilities

SwRI-procured
- Super pressure balloons
- High-altitude airship hulls
- Recovery parachute systems
SwRI fabrication
- Electronic subsystems
- Ballast subsystems
- Venting systems
- Communications systems
- Solar arrays
- Energy storage
- Propulsion system
Integrate compete balloons and airships

Testing Capability

Subsystem testing
- Functional
- Thermal altitude
- Load
- Electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC)
- Shock and vibration
Integrated testing
- System level functional
- Communications
- Autonomous navigation
- Flight termination systems
Flight test
- Launch and ascent
- Pressures and temperatures
- Venting
- Ballast
- Communications
- Energy generation and storage
- Autonomous navigation
- Propulsion
- Flight termination
- Recovery

Sentinel in the Sky

Division Publications

Space Systems Department Space Science and Engineering Division
SwRI Technical Divisions SwRI Home

March 25, 2013