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'lHE BALLOON PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT
Section 1. Introduction to Problem
On 1 November 1946. the Re.search Division of the College of
Engineering of New York University entered into Contract No. W28-099-ac-241
with Watson Laboratories, Air Materiel Command. Under this contract. the
University us canmissioned to design, develop and fly constant-level
balloons to carry instruments to altitudes tram 10 to 20 km, adjustable at
2 km intervals.
The following performance was specified:
a. Altitude shall be maintained within 500 meters
b. Duration of constant-level flight to be initially 6 to 8 hours
minimum; eventually 48 hours
c. The accuracy of pressure observations shall be comparable to that
obtainable with the standard Army radiosonde (~ 3 to 5 mb)
Monthly reports have been submitted to describe the progress of the
project, however, much data and details of technical nature were given only
in a qualitative way. It is intended to collect these data in this technical
report and to review at the same time the total achievement of this phase of
the project.
Section 2. Method of Attack
A. Balloons
A survey was made of previous attempts to produce a constant-level
balloon; such as. the experiments by Meisinger1 with manned balloons, the
shrouded meteorological balloon developed by Dewey and Almy2• the Japanese
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balloon bombs , and the clusters of meteorological balloons which have been
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used in cosmic ray investigations by Compton, Korff and others •
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