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Code 820: Balloon Projects Office

Trajectory Control System (TCS)

  • "What if" study on effects of TCS on CREAM II Flight
  • The Balloon Program has been assessing the concept of a TCS system with at least 1 m/s control authority
  • NASA looked at the effect of a minimal trajectory control system (TCS) with .5 meter/sec control authority on the trajectory of the actual Cream II balloon flight.
    • Actual Flight Track
  • Simulation of the balloon trajectory control simulation showed CREAM-II would have stayed over continent and made at least 3 orbits with very tight orbit control.
    • Simulation TCS Flight Track
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