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'''Project Cycloon''' is a project on SSI's Balloons team with the aim of designing and operating altitude-controlled, long-endurance, aero-marine balloon platforms for tropical cyclone research. Begun in January 2019, Cycloon has launched payloads on [[SSI-83]], [[SSI-86]], [[SSI-87]], and [[SSI-90]].
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[[File:Cycloon.png|400px|thumb|Project components]]
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'''Project Cycloon''' ({{slack-channel|balloons-cycloon}}) is a core project on SSI's [[Balloons]] team with the aim of designing and operating altitude-controlled, long-endurance, aero-marine balloon platforms for tropical cyclone research. Begun in January 2019, Cycloon has launched five payloads as of August 2019 and has deployed proof-of-concepts of several novel techniques in high-altitude ballooning, as well as giving rise to [[HABSIM]]. The current co-leads of Cycloon are {{slack-user|bjing}} and {{slack-user|jtang}}.
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All flight code, simulations, communications protocols, and flight data/analysis for Cycloon are maintained on [https://github.com/stanford-ssi/cycloon GitHub] and repository notifications arrive in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-git}}. The flight control channel is {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-flops}}.
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==Aims==
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Balloons platforms exhibit a very wide range of operating altitudes, making them uniquely well suited to study the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone#Physics_and_energetics primary circulation and energetics] of tropical systems. Understanding such aspects of tropical cyclones is key to improving forecast models of cyclone intensity, whose reliability has lagged significantly behind that of storm track forecasts. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Michael Hurricane Michael] is a prime example of a storm where poor intensity forecasts resulted in substantial loss of life and property and was a key inspiration for the project. Additionally, balloons platforms can be deployed at significantly lower cost than planes and buoys, and are therefore significantly more scalable.
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Key projects being undertaken within Cycloon (and their respective Slack channels) include:
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*'''Altitude control:''' Cycloon aims to master and extend the legacy of altitude control on latex balloons pioneered by previous SSI projects. This entails both mechanical and algorithmic aspects.
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*'''Marine tether:''' In order to extend the flight endurance beyond the inherent limitations of latex, Cycloon is developing an tether and floater to rest on the surface of the ocean for days at a time. This architecture was successfully demonstrated in [[SSI-83|CY-1]].
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*'''Simulations:''' The need to predict trajectories from California to the Pacific and Atlantic topical basins using the GEFS forecast ensemble has given rise to [[HABSIM]] and its associated work. See also {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-sims}}.
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*'''Payload:''' Ultimately, the purpose of the balloon platform will be to carry low-cost, lightweight radiosondes. See {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-payload}}.
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*'''Communications:''' To augment data uplink rates, Cycloon is developing a skywave communications system and protocol in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-comms}}.
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*'''Avionics:''' Core avionics work involving circuit board design and flight code is undertaken in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-avionics}}.
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*'''Apexvent:''' Overcoming difficulties with altitude control at the later stages of the mission requires the development of a top-mounted vent. See {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-apexvent}}.
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*'''ZPB:''' Polyethylene envelopes have intrinsically more desirable properties compared to latex envelopes. In-house manufacture of such envelopes is being explored in {{slack-channel|balloons-cy-zpb}} and was first demonstrated in [[SSI-90|CY-4]].
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==Missions==
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
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!|Number
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!|Link
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!|Launch date
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!|Launch site
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!|Flight duration
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!|Notes
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|-
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|1
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! [[File:Ssi83small.png|200px|frameless|link=SSI-83]]
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| April 17, 2019
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| Pigeon Point
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| 60.5 hours
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| Demonstration of long-endurance marine tether. Float-only profile. Lost off the coast of San Luis Obispo county.
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|-
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|2
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! [[File:SSI-86.png|200px|frameless|link=SSI-86]]
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| May 17, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 5 hours, 12 minutes + 5 hours, 40 minutes
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| Latex ballast control. Flight through inclement weather and resumption of flight after 24 hours. Final location in Yosemite National Park.
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|-
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|3
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! [[SSI-87]]
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| June 1, 2019
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| Le Grand
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|
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| Latex full altitude control. Recovered from near Firebaugh, California.
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|-
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|4
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! [[SSI-90]]
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| July 27, 2019
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| Hollister
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| Unknown
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| First flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Telemetry error; final location unknown.
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|-
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|5
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! [[SSI-91]]
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| August 5, 2019
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| Hollister
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| 2 hours
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| Second flight of in-house constructed polyethylene envelope. Final location near Tracy, CA; recovery pending.
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|}
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[[Category: High Altitude Balloons]]
 
[[Category: High Altitude Balloons]]
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