ASI programs support stratospheric balloons missions and alternative means for space access, by financing scientific and technological research. The ASI-ISTI Agreement states the full involvement of the ISTI SFD Laboratory on those programs to cover the aspects related to flight dynamics.

Stratospheric Balloons 

The balloons represent an alternative and/or a significant complement to satellites and to the International Space Station: in the field of atmosphere physics, they are a favored means; in astrophysics and cosmic radiations studies, they are a complementary agile method that allows quick responses at reduced costs. In many sectors of Engineering Science and Biomedicine, they offer interesting prospects.

ISTI covers the operational and/or the feasibilities aspects of ASI missions using stratospheric balloons.

Activities

·        LDBF

     They are the ASI activities devoted to the long duration balloon flights (LDBF) carried out at the Pole. ISTI has already performed feasibility studies for the Polar long duration flights of the ASI programs. The studies show that it is possible to circumnavigate the North Pole and the South Pole, launching respectively from the Italian bases in the Svalbard Islands and in Baia Terra Nova.

ISTI has participated also to the Test Flights demonstrating the operational validity of the feasibility studies.

The Polar LDBF Campaigns mark the end of the testing phase and the start of the full operations. They are devoted to scientific and technological payloads requiring 3÷15 days of flight duration and using as carrier a zero-pressure stratospheric balloon (volume up to 1.2 millions of cubic meters).

ISTI is required to perform operational activities related to the flight dynamics (i.e.): mission analysis, flight procedures and security, Flight Dynamic System definition, FDS configuration and maintenance, flight monitoring and control, flight predictions (during pre-launch, launch, floating and reentry phases), flight data reconstruction and dissemination, post flight report, participation to the project technical meetings.

·        Local and Trans-Mediterranean Flights

The Trans-Mediterranean flights are devoted to scientific and technological payloads requiring the overfly of the Mediterranean Sea. The launch base is located in Trapani-Milo and the recovery area in Spain, (one-day flight; volume of the zero-pressure stratospheric balloon up to 1.2 millions of cubic meters).

ISTI is required to perform the same operational activities of LDBF, but the flight control is maintained until the hand-over with the Spanish Flight Control Center.

The Local Flights are devoted to the Unmanned Space Vehicle test flights of CIRA. ISTI is required to support the ASI manager in the activities of both pre-operational and operational phases.

·        Equatorial Flights

The preliminary studies carried out by ISTI show the possibility to fly along the Equator, using the Quasi Biennial Oscillation of the Equatorial winds.

Because of the strong interest shown by the scientific community for these flights, ASI decided to continue the studies, recommending the ASI Station of Malindi as launch site.

ISTI will perform the mission analysis, the planning of test flights and the results analysis.

·        Feasibility Studies

These studies are devoted to

o   the overfly of Antarctica by using USHUAIA as launch base;

o   the use of  the zero-pressure stratospheric balloons as launch towers.

Overfly of Antarctica 

In Antarctica, as known, there are only scientific bases. The bases are not easily accessible. The personnel has to be especially trained and the transport of the material is difficult. The launches of stratospheric balloons are very expensive.

However, it is strong the interest of the scientific community to overfly Antarctica, by using balloons.

ASI asks about the possibility to fly over Antarctica by using USHUAIA as launch base.

ISTI will perform the feasibility study.

Launch towers 

The interest of the national and international scientific community for using balloons as launch towers is increasing.

ISTI has already performed these feasibility studies, taking into account safety requirements for using the launch bases located in Sicily and Sardinia. The studies will include the Italian bases in Malindi and in the Svalbard Islands. 

Alternative Means for Space Access

ASI is interested in the analysis of small satellite missions and other means of accessing space, such as sounding rockets. ISTI will support the projects of interest for ASI, providing mission analyses and operational assistance for flight dynamics and Malindi tracking station coverage.