Process and apparatus for exploring the atmosphere of a planet
AssigneeOffice National d'Etudes et de Recherche Aerospatiales (ONERA)
InventorsJoseph Taillet, Jean Maulard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For exploring the high density high temperature atmosphere of a planet at a stabilized altitude, a buoyant assembly comprising an inflatable envelope is used. A container connectable with the envelope and containing a liquid selected to vaporize in the planet atmosphere to an extent which decreases above the stabilized altitude and increases under the stabilized altitude, is launched into the planet atmosphere with the envelope in folded condition.
Claims8
A process for exploring the high density high temperature atmosphere of a planet other than Earth at a substantially predetermined altitude, comprising carrying from the Earth into said atmosphere a buoyant assembly comprising an inflatable closed envelope and a container connectable with said envelope and containing one compound stored in liquid form, selected to vaporize in said atmosphere to an extent which decreases above said altitude due to temperature decrease and which increases under said altitude, and having a molecular weight lower than the average molecular weight of said atmosphere.
An apparatus for exploring the atmosphere for Venus at a predetermined constant altitude, comprising:
- a gas tight, rigid enclosure;
- means for opening said enclosure in said atmosphere above said predetermined altitude;
- and a buoyant assembly located in folded condition in said enclosure;
- said buoyant assembly comprising:
- a first gas tight deformable inflatable envelope accomodating a first container containing water, said first container being constructed to fracture under the pressure forces developed by water vapour at a first altitude in said atmosphere,
- a second gas tight deformable inflatable envelope accomodating a second container containing a fluid selected from the group consisting of toluene, 2-octene(cis) and anisol, said second container being constructed to fracture under the pressure forces developed by said fluid at a second altitude lower than said first altitude,
- and a payload commensurate in weight with the buoyancy of said envelopes and connected to said envelopes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.