Project Strato-Lab

Project Strato-Lab

A Strato-Lab balloon in flight.

Project Strato-Lab was a series of high-altitude balloon flights conducted by the United States Navy and the NASA during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The project aimed to explore the stratosphere and gather data on the Earth's atmosphere, as well as to test equipment and techniques for future space exploration.

Background

The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. It is characterized by a gradual increase in temperature with altitude and is home to the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation. Understanding the stratosphere was crucial for the development of aerospace technology and for the planning of manned space missions.

Objectives

The primary objectives of Project Strato-Lab were:

• To study the atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles at high altitudes.
• To test the effects of high-altitude conditions on human physiology.
• To develop and test life support systems for use in spacecraft.
• To gather data on cosmic rays and other radiation phenomena.

Key Flights

Project Strato-Lab consisted of several key flights, each contributing valuable data and experience:

• Strato-Lab I: The first flight in the series, which tested the balloon's capabilities and gathered preliminary atmospheric data.
• Strato-Lab II: Focused on human physiology, this flight carried a pressure suit and a mannequin to simulate human presence.
• Strato-Lab III: Achieved a record altitude for manned balloon flights, providing critical data on the upper atmosphere.
• Strato-Lab IV: Conducted experiments on cosmic radiation and its effects on biological specimens.

Legacy

Project Strato-Lab contributed significantly to the understanding of the stratosphere and laid the groundwork for future space missions. The data collected helped improve the design of spacecraft and astronaut life support systems. The project also demonstrated the feasibility of using high-altitude balloons for scientific research, a method still in use today.

Related pages

• Stratosphere
• High-altitude balloon
• Space exploration
• Atmospheric science