Thermal regulation of balloon payload using electronic ink

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• causing a payload of a balloon to be placed in a first state wherein the payload includes a payload structure where an outer surface of the payload structure is comprised of an electronic ink covering, where in the first state, the electronic ink covering has first energy absorptive properties with respect to the thermal energy that enters the payload through the electronic ink covering,
• causing the payload of the balloon to change to a second state, where in the second state, the electronic ink covering has second energy absorptive properties that allow less thermal energy to enter the payload than when the electronic ink covering is in the first state.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• causing a payload of a balloon to be placed in a first state wherein the payload includes a payload structure where an outer surface of the payload structure is comprised of an electronic ink covering, where in the first state, the electronic ink covering has first energy absorptive properties with respect to thermal energy that enters the payload through the electronic ink covering, causing the payload of the balloon to change to a second state, where in the second state, the electronic ink covering has second energy absorptive properties that allow less thermal energy to enter the payload through the electronic ink covering than when the electronic ink covering is in the first state.