by Anna Mracek
What is Steve Fossett trying to do?
The goal behind Solo Spirit is to fly around the world in a free-floating balloon. This means that the balloon cannot have the aid of any control other than in the vertical direction (up and down). The rest of the steering must be left to the winds, specifically the jet stream which circumnavigates (goes around) the world in a fairly predictable path. The theory is to adjust the balloon's altitude so that it is caught in the underside of the jet stream and is whisked around the world and back to South America. However, wind currents aren't completely predictable and the main jet stream doesn't maintain a set altitude or an exact path. Because of these complications, Steve Fossett and his Meteorological Team have to make corrections to Solo Spirit's altitude on a regular basis to try to keep the balloon caught in the right air currents.
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The Solo Spirit Mission is incredible in its own right. The elements of adventure, setting records, and following in the same tradition as explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan and Charles Lindbergh make Steve Fossett's flight an amazing experience. Yet the importance of the flight extends beyond adventure and excitement. There is much to be learned from this mission, both about Earth and about how to explore other worlds in the Solar System.
The Aerobot Science Payload, on loan to Washington University from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is the link between adventure and science. The payload is a sensor pack attached to the outside of the gondola. It is designed to take virtually continuous readings about the atmosphere surrounding it and relay them via satellite to the Payload Operations Center (POC) at Washington University. The Aerobot Science Payload data is a valuable tool for understanding Earth's atmosphere. If successful, the payload will provide comprehensive atmospheric data from around the planet. Scientists use such data in their efforts to study atmospheric degradation in the Southern Hemisphere and learn about our planet.
Balloons similar to Solo Spirit are being considered for planetary exploration. An unpiloted balloon with a comparable instrument package to the Aerobot Science Payload could circle Venus, Mars, or any other planet with an atmosphere. The data gathered would tell us about the origin of the planet, its weather patterns, and the geology of the planet's surface. The Solo Spirit Aerobot Science Payload data will provide a model for what to expect when circling another planet with a similar payload.
So as Steve Fossett embarks on an awe-inspiring adventure, the little white box on the side of his cabin will be laying the groundwork for many more adventures to come.
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Fossett's previous attempt to circumnavigate the world in a balloon began on New Year's Eve (December 31, 1997) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Rising off of the snow-covered baseball field Steve Fossett waved at his launch team, supporters in the stands, and the world. The St. Louis Arch is visible above the stadium in two of the pictures.
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