Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Aviation Program Group
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Aviation Program Group
Foundation for Promotion of Japanese Aerospace Technology
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Japanese stratospheric platform (SPF) R & D activities for communications, telecommunications and observations of the global environment in the future started as a joint project in 1998 between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). In 2003, a ground-to-stratosphere flight test was carried out and successfully demonstrated membrane material and structure technologies using a small unmanned airship. In 2004, low altitude stationary flight tests were carried out and successfully demonstrated buoyancy control, thermal management, and flight control technologies using another small airship. This paper provides some explanations on the ground handling of small airships and considers ground handling technologies for a large technology demonstrator airship in the future.