A test program to photograph tropopause-level balloon ascent failures unexpectedly revealed the presence of a circumferential stress band in certain balloons which failed catastrophically in flight. This document concludes that modification or elimination of the stress band in balloon designs cou... Show moreA test program to photograph tropopause-level balloon ascent failures unexpectedly revealed the presence of a circumferential stress band in certain balloons which failed catastrophically in flight. This document concludes that modification or elimination of the stress band in balloon designs could prevent failure. Show less
