Can specific gravity vehicles reach NEO with balloons?

[MR. P]

Do you believe or is it possible to reach NEO with balloons or SGV's (specific gravity vehicles)?

 

[DaveC426913]

Well, achieving orbit requires two components:
- altitude
- speed
Balloons may conceivably get you the former, but you're still gonig to need some sort of propulsion to attain the 7mi/s velocity to stay there. And I think, betweent the two, that's the lion's share of the effort.

 

[enigma]

What is a 'Specific Gravity Vehicle'?

Like Dave said,

You can get very close to space with balloons and aircraft. You can't get to orbit with them. Still, they are much less expensive than a rocket launch for things which just need to be 'up' and not in a microgravity environment.

 

[Astronuc]

MR. P, could you elaborate on what you mean by NEO?

I generally think in terms of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) or GEO (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit).

From Dave Darling's site

Definitions vary. According to some, LEO includes orbits having apogees (high points) and perigees (low points) between about 100 km and 1,500 km. Others extend that range up to 2,000 or 3,000 km. In some cases, the distinction between LEO and MEO (medium Earth orbit) is dropped and LEO is considered to be any orbit below geosynchronous altitude. The majority of all satellites, as well as the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, operate from LEO.

NEO usually refers to orbits of Near Earth Objects (NEOs), i.e. asteroids or comets, which have a close approach with earth, but those are usually beyond GEO altitude (~ 22,241 statute miles, 35,786 km).

Balloons or very light aircraft are not going to do much to get to LEO.

The realm of Near Space officially lies between 75,000 feet (~23km) and and 62.5 miles (100km) according to the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI). Here we consider a wider range that extends up to 200km or so where it becomes safe for satellites to remain in orbit without immediately becoming dragged down by friction with the residual atmosphere.

The vehicles that traverse this high altitude domain are called nearcraft. These include sub-orbital rockets, which make quick jumps into and out of near space, and high-altitude balloons that can loiter there for extended periods.


Weather balloons routinely go to 27km (~90k ft). Scientific balloons go to 42 km (137k ft or 26mi) and remain at high altitudes for several days. The world record altitude reached by an unmanned balloon is 51.82km (170k ft or 32.2mi).

The record for altitude reached by a crewed balloon was set by Malcom D. Ross and Victor A. Prather who flew to 34.668km (113,740ft or 21.54mi) on April 5, 1961.

from http://www.hobbyspace.com/NearSpace/ .

Perhaps you are referring to Near Space?

 

[MR. P]

Elevating the ignorant

I want to thank all of you for your contributions. The primary reason for me joining this forum was to subject my blatant ignorance to your patient guidenance and nurturing and you have done an excellent job of keeping the giggling to yourselves. Many people like myself interpret their environment differently ie 'sgv's' or from my perspective specific gravity vehicles...
Through these forums and with the character and knowledge level of the respondents this site is an invaluable resource for the equivalent of peer review and education. I

I am a grandfather looking for places that my grandchildren can 'hang out' without parents or grandparents worrying about what and where their treasures are spending their time. I will without reserve recommend the 'Physics forum' to anyone interested in higher education and the pursuit of intelligent communication...

Thank you again for setting the higher standard...

frank MR. P