Imagine gracefully soaring high above the Earth's surface, mapping the planet in stunning detail and precision. This might sound like a job for a satellite or high-flying piloted aircraft, but there's a new player in the game of aerial imaging: stratospheric balloons. Balloons are set to transform the way we view our planet, offering a host of benefits over traditional imaging methods.
Stratospheric Balloons: A Clear View from Above
Stratospheric balloons are helium or hydrogen-filled envelopes designed to float at altitudes of around 17 to 30 kilometers above the Earth's surface. At these heights, they can capture significantly higher resolution data than satellites (which often fly around 600 - 800 kilometers above Earth), at costs that are significantly cheaper than both satellite and aircraft operations. Furthermore, recent advances in stratospheric balloon technology and atmospheric modeling allow balloons to be easily maneuvered and directed above specific target areas on-demand, providing greater flexibility and responsiveness than most fixed-orbit satellite operations.
Cost-Effective and High-Quality Imaging
One of the most compelling advantages of stratospheric balloons is their cost-effectiveness. Launching satellites into space can be a prohibitively expensive endeavor, with costs ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. Piloted imaging aircraft burn fuel and require expensive logistical planning and operations, including moving specialized aircraft around the world and paying hangar fees. In contrast, stratospheric balloon launches are considerably cheaper, with the primary cost being launch operator labor (where one balloon launch operator can deploy and recovery ~3-5 balloons in just a few hours). This cost advantage will soon allow for more frequent data capture than ever before, fueling workflows that enable efficient, remote planning and management of the physical world.
In addition to being cost-effective, stratospheric balloons also produce superior image quality when compared to satellites. Due to their closer proximity to the Earth's surface, stratospheric balloons can capture images with resolutions as high as 10 centimeters per pixel, whereas satellite imagery typically offers resolutions of around 30 centimeters per pixel. This means that images captured by stratospheric balloons can reveal significantly more detail, making them invaluable for monitoring and analyzing changes in land use, vegetation, and urban development.
10cm GSD imagery captured from an Urban Sky Microballoon™
Carbon-Neutral Imaging: A Greener Approach
Stratospheric balloon operations are carbon neutral, making them an environmentally friendly option for aerial imaging. In contrast, launching satellites into space emits significant amounts of CO2. For instance, a single SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch is estimated to release around 240 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Moreover, piloted aircraft used for aerial imaging also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. As an example, a small, twin-engine aircraft can emit approximately 2 kilograms of CO2 per kilometer flown.
By leveraging stratospheric balloons for high-resolution aerial imaging, organizations can minimize their carbon footprint. This environmentally responsible approach is becoming increasingly important as industries and governments worldwide strive to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Urban Sky's Microballoon™
Urban Sky has developed the first ever fully reusable, mobile launch, controllable stratospheric balloons, along with a suite of high-resolution imaging payloads and custom image processing software that is fully operational today. With the development of this technology, remote sensing customers are now taking advantage of the full suite of benefits offered by stratospheric balloons, including cost savings, higher-resolution imaging, and carbon-neutral operations. Please reach out to us at info@urbansky.com for more information on how we can support your aerial imagery needs moving forward.