roswell

d. M~thods of Attack
(1) .4fter ~ survey of •;_vf.:.ilable literature in aerostatics £_r.d
after conferences with v&.rious balloon r.w.nU:ccturcrs [..ID Euthoritit:s it
is believed that th.s DG..sic problem cf ;:1£.intEining the 15 lbs. cf payloed
at constant altitude can test te solved ty using a non-extensible balloon
ani a device operatea by I-Jress'tll'e which drops ballast whenever the
balloon descends below a preset altitude.
The specifications for the equipment are ~s follows:
The balloon should be of large known volume, light in weight,
non-extensible, either transparent or highly reflective to
sole..r radiation. Rigging should. be used to O.istribute the
load evenly about the balloon.
A safety valve should be used to hold. the inflation appendix
of the balloon normally closed (as any hydrogen lost decreses
the time ;_Jossible at nominal constar1t altitude). The va.lve
would act as a safety vent if the balloon should rise appreciably
above the altitude where it is fully inflated, as there is danger
of rupturing the envelope unless the excess yressure is relieved.
The safety valve should be set to release ;>ressure before the
limit of the working stress of the balloon f~bric is reached.
If the eY.act volume of the balloon is known and the air density
vs. altit·u.de rele.tionship is determined on the 2.ay of i'light,
it is possible to compute the total lift of the gas in the
balloon at ~ny altitude. By adjusting th~ gross load to be
supported by the gas to equal the total lift at the uesired
altitude of flight, the balloon will level off at the datred
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