Patent attributes
Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include a continuous multi-chamber super-pressure balloon (SPB). The SPB may include two, three, four or more chambers. There may be more than one such multi-chamber SPB. A ring may provide structural support between each chamber. A plurality of tendons may extend upwardly and downwardly from the ring around respective upper and lower chambers to bias each of the SPB chambers to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the continuous multi-chamber SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The multi-chamber SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The SPB may have an internal barrier separating a lift gas compartment from a variable ballast air compartment.
