An airship includes a gasbag, a cockpit and a first shaft body, where the gasbag is filled with a gas for lifting the airship; the gasbag and the cockpit are sequentially arranged along an axial direction of the first shaft body and fixed to the first shaft body, and there is a spacing between the gasbag and the cockpit; at least one of the gasbag and the cockpit is rotatably connected to the first shaft body; after the gasbag is filled with the gas for lifting the airship, any section of the gasbag in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first shaft body is circular or annular; and the axial direction of the first shaft body is the same as a direction of gravity.

An airship includes a gasbag, a cockpit and a first shaft body, where the gasbag is filled with a gas for lifting the airship; the gasbag and the cockpit are sequentially arranged along an axial direction of the first shaft body and fixed to the first shaft body, and there is a spacing between the gasbag and the cockpit; at least one of the gasbag and the cockpit is rotatably connected to the first shaft body; after the gasbag is filled with the gas for lifting the airship, any section of the gasbag in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first shaft body is circular or annular; and the axial direction of the first shaft body is the same as a direction of gravity.

Lighter-than-air (LTA) systems and methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB). A plurality of tendons may extend around and bias the SPB to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the 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 LTA may include a payload.

Lighter-than-air (LTA) systems and methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB). A plurality of tendons may extend around and bias the SPB to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the 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 LTA may include a payload.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

A hydrogen boiloff capture system. The hydrogen boiloff capture system having a cryogenic tank for storing liquid hydrogen. The hydrogen boiloff capture system also includes an intermediate tank fluidically coupled with the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is configured to receive hydrogen gas boiloff from the cryogenic tank. The intermediate tank is further configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a lighter-than-air craft to regulate buoyancy of the lighter-than-air craft. The intermediate tank is also configured to provide the hydrogen gas boiloff to a hydrogen fuel cell coupled to the lighter-than-air craft.

A lighter than air platform an unfinned envelope having two or more propulsion elements coupled with the unfinned envelope proximate to the center of gravity. At least one navigation sensor is configured to monitor an actual flight path of the unfinned envelope, and at least one perturbation sensor is configured to monitor one or more perturbations of the unfinned envelope. A navigation controller is configured to guide the unfinned envelope with coordinated propulsion of the two or more propulsion elements. The navigation controller includes a navigation comparator that compares the actual flight path with a specified flight path of the unfinned envelope and determine a navigation instruction. A perturbation comparator compares the navigation instruction with the monitored one or more perturbations to determine a perturbation compensation. A propulsion coordinator controls propulsion values of each of the propulsion elements based on the navigation instruction and the perturbation compensation.

Aspects of the technology relate to a propeller blade assembly that is used in lateral propulsion systems for lighter-than-air high altitude platforms designed to operate, e.g., in the stratosphere. During operation, the propeller of the assembly is pointed along a specified heading and rotates at a selected velocity (e.g., hundreds or thousands of revolutions per minute). Power is supplied to the propeller as needed during lateral propulsion to move the platform along a particular trajectory or to remain on station over a given geographic location. In certain circumstances, the propeller may become damaged. This can include one or more blades breaking or shattering, which can result in failure of the propeller and potentially the entire LTA platform. The technology provides blades that are sufficiently flexible to avoid breakage or shattering due to debris impact or envelope entanglement, or otherwise shed a load. This can avoid catastrophic failure during stratospheric operation.

Aspects of the technology relate to a propeller blade assembly that is used in lateral propulsion systems for lighter-than-air high altitude platforms designed to operate, e.g., in the stratosphere. During operation, the propeller of the assembly is pointed along a specified heading and rotates at a selected velocity (e.g., hundreds or thousands of revolutions per minute). Power is supplied to the propeller as needed during lateral propulsion to move the platform along a particular trajectory or to remain on station over a given geographic location. In certain circumstances, the propeller may become damaged. This can include one or more blades breaking or shattering, which can result in failure of the propeller and potentially the entire LTA platform. The technology provides blades that are sufficiently flexible to avoid breakage or shattering due to debris impact or envelope entanglement, or otherwise shed a load. This can avoid catastrophic failure during stratospheric operation.