Trajectory Optimization for Balloon Flight Planning

 

Roland R. Draxler

 

Weather and Forecasting, Vol. 11, No. 1, Pages 111 - 114, March 1996

                                                             

Abstract. The recent solo trans-Pacific balloon flight was used as a test case to evaluate multiple trajectory techniques to select different pathways based upon potential variations in balloon altitudes.  Altitude changes between 3 km and 8 km above ground resulted in predicted ending locations varying from the Hawaiian Islands to the Atlantic coast, after five days travel.  The method can be used to select optimum flight altitudes based upon forecast meteorological fields.

 

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