Solvable Problems & Solutions
I always say, most balloon people have to be good generalists because mastering a field that is niche like balloons doesn’t offer the luxury to also dive deep in your discipline. I’ll be the first to tell you when I’m not an expert, but here is a list of problems I’ve solved in the past.
Altitude & Flight Stability Issues
- Burst failures before reaching your target altitude
- Burst failures after stabilizing at float
- Not maintaining float altitude as expected
- Not changing float altitude as expected as a result of a command
- Balloons that tilt rather than fly at the expected angle
Leak & Structural Integrity Failures
- Leaky balloons that never stabilize at float
- Leaky balloons limiting duration or altitude range
- Fittings or penetrations that don’t remain leak-tight at cold temperatures or under pressure
- Stress risers that create leaking pinholes up and down the balloon
- Stress risers that open large leaking holes in unexpected locations
- Film defects missed in manufacturing that cause leaks
Manufacturing & Assembly Defects
- Incomplete manufacturing seals that peel open in flight and leak
- Misaligned asymmetric balloon gores or tack points that cause bursts or leaks
- Repairs that caused bursts or leaks undetected until postmortem failure analysis
Ballonet & Internal Systems Failures
- Ballast air-bags (ballonets) that don’t deploy to their full volume
- Ballast air-bags (ballonets) that burst inside the balloon
- Ballast air-bags (ballonets) that obstruct pumping or venting air
Mechanical & Ground Handling Issues
- Tangling or twisting balloons, tendons, or cables
- Fill equipment that damages the balloon pre-flight without detection
- Solar panel spars that penetrate the balloon
- Tendons that break in flight causing a burst
Termination & Control System Failures
- Valves that don’t open or don’t close when you want
- Flight termination systems that prematurely actuate
- Flight termination systems that unintentionally damage the balloon
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