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Have you ever seen a hot air balloon fly? Have you ever thought about how they are steer? Is there a steering wheel? What kind of controls and instruments are used?
In this video clip, Bill Costen tells us how you navigate a hot air balloon. The embedded video only plays part of the chat, but feel free to listen to the entire chat to learn more about Bill's experiences in hot air ballooning.
What does Bill Costen know about controlling a hot air balloon? Well, turns out, a whole lot. Bill was the first black pilot to hold a commercial balloon license. He was the first African American pilot to receive the “Ed Yost Master Pilot” award by the Balloon Federation of America in 2016. What is he doing now? Watch this video to find out!
As Bill mentioned, the wind can be different speeds and directions at different altitudes.
Since we now know that hot air balloons rely on weather, what tools are used to observe and keep track of these conditions and the hot air balloon’s location?
Radiosonde used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the early 1970s
Radiosonde
Radiosonde
The first is a radiosonde, which is a device that can be sent up on a balloon, usually reaching the upper atmosphere. The radiosonde collects data about pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction, transmitting it to a ground station. After the balloon bursts at a high altitude, the radiosonde descends using a parachute, but does not collect any more data. Only about 20% of radiosondes are recovered, but if you find one, make sure you return it! While this type of radiosonde was used in the 1970s, hundreds of weather balloons are still released daily throughout the world in order to make atmospheric measurements.
Theodolite
Theodolite
In order to estimate winds close to the ground, a small helium filled balloon called a pibal is released and the balloon is tracked manually by using a theodolite. While this can’t measure other atmospheric characteristics, this is a low-cost method to determine wind effects. This theodolite is from the mid 19th century, so technology has changed slightly, but the principle of use is the same.
How do you think this instrument works? How is it similar to a sextant/octant? How is it different from a sextant/octant?
Troughton & Simms Theodolite - from the National Museum of American History
What is a theodolite?
What is a theodolite?
The theodolite is basically a telescope that can be moved both vertically and horizontally in order to measure angles, which are then translated to plots such as these ones either by hand or electronically, depending on theodolite technology.
Plotter, Plot Board, Pibal-Rawin, Felsenthal
Computer, Weather Bureau, Felsenthal, Pibal
Weather Patterns
Weather Patterns
Other weather technologies can also be used to develop and confirm these findings before the balloon takes off. Have you heard of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? Why Albuquerque?
Turns out their weather and wind patterns are perfect for keeping hundreds of balloons at a time on track. Ginger Zee with teach us about that in this video clip. Feel free to watch the entire chat to find out more about ballooning.
Since you can’t steer a balloon, how do you know where you’ll land and how someone is going to find you to pick you up? In recent times, it is much easier to track a balloon’s position by using the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is the oldest Global Navigation Satellite System.
Have you used the GPS before? What devices do you have that access the GPS? What situations or locations have you been in when the system hasn't worked? Why do you think that is?
GPS Constellation
GPS Constellation
GPS development began in 1973 by the Joint Program Office to combine navigational efforts in the 1960s. In 1974, Rockwell International (now part of Boeing) was contracted to build satellites for the GPS. Eighteen of the satellites were launched by 1986, which made the system partially functional. Twenty-four satellites were in orbit by 1995, allowing for global coverage from what has been deemed the “GPS Constellation”. As of January 9, 2021, there are 31 operational satellites in the GPS constellation. These are a combination of both new and old satellites. This number and the type of satellites operating is continually updated and can be tracked online. These satellites fly approximately 12,550 miles (20,200 km) above the surface of the earth, which is medium earth orbit.
Throughout the world, there are various international systems that are being operated or developed for navigation in addition to the United States' GPS. These include GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), Beidou (China), IRNSS/NavIC (India), and QZSS (Japan).
Okay, great, the GPS exists, but how does it work?
There are four main steps to the GPS working:
There are four main steps to the GPS working:
Tracking stations use radio signals to determine orbits of GPS satellites.
Command center transmits orbital data, time corrections, and location of other satellites in the GPS constellation.
GPS satellites simultaneously transmit synchronized time and orbital data to Earth.
GPS receivers compute location using orbital data and the difference in arrival times of the signals of at least 4 satellites.
Want to find out about some awesome people and missions that hot air balloons have been involved with? Check out these stories and artifacts that are currently or have been in the past displayed at the museum.
What would you like to explore next?
What would you like to explore next?
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