FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 July 2002
ALTADENA, CA - At the annual meeting of the Global
Disaster Information Network in Rome, Italy last month,
Global Aerospace Corporation introduced a new type of
satellite that could provide communications and remote
sensing data for disasters in remote areas of the world
that have no technological infrastructure.
Stratospheric Satellites consist of advanced NASA "super-pressure"
balloons that fly at 115,000 feet, combined with steering
systems and a solar array. They can carry remote sensing
or telecommunications payloads up to 2 tons, roughly
the size and weight of a small truck. According to Dr.
Alexey Pankine, a CalTech PhD and Project Scientist
at Global Aerospace, "Networks of Stratospheric
Satellites can be directed to group themselves, fly
over, and monitor disaster areas."
The super-pressure balloon component of the Stratospheric
Satellite was successfully flown in short NASA test
flights on June 2000 and March 2001. Since then, super-pressure
balloon development has continued with a goal of 100-day
flights. Global Aerospace developed a trajectory control
and solar array system for the balloon, allowing it
to be steered over disaster areas and powered over the
course of its long life. Advanced designs for the satellite
are projected to have a flight life of 3-10 years.
With a projected life-cycle cost of less than $400,000
per unit in production, Stratospheric Satellites are
a low-cost alternative to aircraft and space satellite
remote communications platforms. Like UAVs, Stratospheric
Satellites fly much closer to Earth than space satellites,
providing 20 times higher resolution surface images
and 160,000 times higher signal radar; but unlike UAVs,
Stratospheric Satellites cost 10 to 100 times less.
In addition to monitoring global disasters, Global
Aerospace is considering other uses for the new technology.
According to Kerry Nock, President of Global Aerospace,
"Because they are relatively inexpensive, can be
steered, are independently powered, and can carry a
large payload, they will be a cost effective way of
bridging the last mile in telecommunications coverage."
A constellation of 400 Stratospheric Satellites covering
most of the northern hemisphere is projected to cost
less than $160 million - less than the cost of most
space satellites including launch. Operations costs
are expected to be less than $10 million per year.
NASA has funded many of the key technologies for Stratospheric
Satellites and the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
(NIAC) has funded much of the development of the Stratospheric
Satellite concept itself. Global Aerospace Corporation
is a research and development corporation located in
Altadena, California. The company was founded in 1997
by former engineers and scientists from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory. Clients include NASA, JPL, NIAC, and Computer
Sciences Corporation.
Contact: Kerry Nock, (626) 345-1200
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