The Problem This Solution Solves
The Department of Defense (DoD) sought commercial data solutions for global weather sensing via ground, air, and space-based platforms to improve global environmental situational awareness and analysis, improve performance of global and regional weather physics-based models, and improve performance of global machine learning-based models. The commercial data was utilized in weather forecasting and impact applications, to include climate assessment. Priority was with commercial solutions that provide data from outside the Continental United States.
The Solution
Windborne Systems designs, builds, and operates technology (Global Sounding Balloons) that can capture in-situ atmospheric profiles everywhere, including over oceans and the Earth’s most remote places. Each balloon can maintain or transition between any altitude from sea level to 25 km, autonomously flying for weeks at a time. The Global Sounding Balloons are capable of flying significantly longer than traditional radiosondes. Their dynamic altitude control further allows them to be directed in real-time to change altitude for vertical profiling of the atmosphere. This capability allows sampling of high-impact regions for forecasts, such as the planetary boundary layer, as well as high altitude sampling at and above the tropopause. A balloon can be launched by a single operator in 30 minutes, even in high wind conditions (up to 15 knots). Since the launch equipment is compact and portable, new launch sites can be set up quickly. Launch operations and equipment are compliant with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations.