Aspects of the disclosure relate to envelopes for aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope including a plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include a seal arranged between a pair of the plurality of gores, the seal including six layers of envelope material heat-sealed together.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to envelopes for aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope including a plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include a seal arranged between a pair of the plurality of gores, the seal including six layers of envelope material heat-sealed together.

An apparatus comprising a spherical vessel, where the spherical vessel further includes a wall, where the wall is formed from one or more layers of material and a gas, where the gas may be lighter-than-air and is enclosed by the wall.

An apparatus comprising a spherical vessel, where the spherical vessel further includes a wall, where the wall is formed from one or more layers of material and a gas, where the gas may be lighter-than-air and is enclosed by the wall.

A hybrid airship-aerostat includes a hull, a motor, a fin, a controller, and a bridle system. The motor is coupled to the hull and is configured to rotate between a thrust configuration and a lift configuration. The motor is configured to generate a lift force, a thrust force, or a combination thereof. The fin is coupled to a tail of the hull and is configured to provide directional control of the hull. The controller is configured to operate the motor and the fin to pilot the hull. The bridle system is configured to removably couple to a first end of a tether.

A hybrid airship-aerostat includes a hull, a motor, a fin, a controller, and a bridle system. The motor is coupled to the hull and is configured to rotate between a thrust configuration and a lift configuration. The motor is configured to generate a lift force, a thrust force, or a combination thereof. The fin is coupled to a tail of the hull and is configured to provide directional control of the hull. The controller is configured to operate the motor and the fin to pilot the hull. The bridle system is configured to removably couple to a first end of a tether.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

A transformable stratospheric airship includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a foldable hull, and a plurality of cable control mechanisms provided on the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull includes a sealed body, a plurality of guide holes arranged outside the sealed body and a cable which passes through the guide holes according to a predetermined order. The cable is configured to keep a shape of the sealed body and connected to the cable control mechanisms to fix the sealed body to the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull is foldable and extendable along a vertical direction of the transformable stratospheric airship by controlling a length of the cable via the cable control mechanisms.

Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB) and/or a zero-pressure balloon (ZPB). The SPB may include two, three, four or more chambers. There may be more than one SPB. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. The zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the multi-chamber SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The SPB may have an internal barrier separating a lift gas compartment from a variable ballast air compartment.