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to manufacture and require
The hope is that the Big Space
The intention is to pressurise
highly engineered deployment
Balloons science capsule could be
the top section of the science
mechanisms.
re-used in further missions, many capsule to an inhabitable envi-
There’s also the possibility of
of Nasa’s and ESA’s scientific pay- ronment to see how these mate-
using the technology developed
loads go on to make multiple rials perform in the space environ-
in interplanetary balloon mis- flights, and some of technology ment, technology used in buildsions. At an altitude of around
developed for this project could ing the science capsule, could
120,000 feet plus, the Atmosphere be used in other space missions.
be scaled up to build a manned
is very similar in density to that at
Although the Big space
space vehicle in the future.
ground level on Mars, one of the
Balloon is an un-manned project,
instruments the science capsule the science capsule aims to be
may carry could be to detect
a fairly large structure, approx 2
micro organisms in the earths metres in diameter by 2 metres
upper atmosphere, technology
The Big Space Balloon has the
high, so could demonstrate the potential to be the Worlds biggest
that could be then transferable potential of this technology for
to a future Mars or Venus mission
Be part of something big
possible manned space flight
vehicles.
scientific outreach program.
The project is aiming to
have a large element of public
ICY SCIENCE | WINTER 2013- 2014