High altitude balloon systems and methods

A method of controlling a lighter than air (LTA) system, comprising:

• using a LTA gas in a first balloon to provide an upward lifting force to the LTA system to ascend a payload to a first altitude along a first helical path within a first range of latitude and longitude coordinates;
• controlling a diameter of the first helical path by controlling a rate of release of ambient air from a second balloon;
• after ascending the payload to the first altitude, receiving ambient air into the second balloon to descend the payload to a second altitude less than the first altitude along a second helical path within a second range of latitude and longitude coordinates;
• controlling a diameter of the second helical path by controlling a rate of intake of the ambient air into the second balloon;
• after descending the payload to the second altitude, releasing ambient air from the second balloon and using the LTA gas in the first balloon to provide an upward lifting force to the LTA system to ascend the payload to a third altitude along a third helical path within a third range of latitude and longitude coordinates;
• controlling a diameter of the third helical path by controlling a rate of release of ambient air from the second balloon;
• after ascending the payload to the third altitude, receiving ambient air into the second balloon to descend the payload to a fourth altitude less than the third altitude along a fourth helical path within a fourth range of latitude and longitude coordinates;
• and
• controlling a diameter of the fourth helical path by controlling a rate of intake of the ambient air into the second balloon, wherein the first range of latitude and longitude coordinates, the second range of latitude and longitude coordinates, the third range of latitude and longitude coordinates, and the fourth range of latitude and longitude coordinates are all within a persistence envelope over an area of interest.