This project aimed to design, test, build and pilot a system to control the elevation of a helium balloon at high altitude by evacuating helium or releasing ballast. This control capability is the first step toward “station keeping,” that is, the ability to maintain and direct the location of the balloon above the Earth. Station keeping capabilities would allow the BOREALIS group to carry out long-duration flights and increase the possibilities for experimentation in the future. Previous projects sponsored by the Montana Space Grant BOREALIS Lab have worked toward this goal with varying degrees of success. This attempt combined three separate systems: a ballast dropper, a ventilation valve, and an end-of-flight mechanism. The valve system has been redesigned to address several issues from previous iterations, namely smooth valve actuation. The two most significant improvements were the use of an ACME threaded motorized screw in place of a threaded rod and the addition of smooth ceramic guide poles in place of 3D printed tracks. The trigger mechanism has also been redesigned to take advantage of the lift of helium to allow the balloon to move away from the valve system. This new design reduces friction and better utilizes lifting gases for balloon valve system separation. The valve constructed as part of this project was thoroughly tested at the Montana State University Cold Lab and flew in two separate balloon launches. On both launches, the separation mechanism worked perfectly, but the valve experienced problems. These problems were later attributed to the engine driver's inability to operate at the low temperatures present at altitude. We continue to work and test the design to resolve current issues and produce a fully functional system.

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