System and method for varying airship aerostatic buoyancy

An airship comprising:

• a plurality of frame members defining a support structure for a hull of the airship;
• an outer envelope defined by the hull;
• a plurality of bladders disposed within the outer envelope, the plurality of bladders including an outer bladder and at least one internal bladder disposed within the out bladder, each of the outer bladder and the at least one internal bladder retaining a volume of a lighter-than-air gas for lifting the airship;
• a plurality of valves operatively coupled to at least one of the bladders;
• a computer configured to operate the valves to vary aerostatic buoyancy of the airship to achieve a desired lift force;
• and
• wherein the outer bladder is positioned within an upper portion of the outer envelope, and one or more compartments is positioned within a lower portion of the outer envelope.