Stratosphere tethered platform for multiple uses

Abstract

The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large rigid buoyant platform in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. The platform can serve several uses, either individually or in any combination. These uses include uninterrupted radio and light communications, radar and optical observation including very powerful radars and solar power electricity generation. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground which hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from a photovoltaic array is used to power platform uses and can also be coupled to high voltage transmission lines which transmit power from the platform to the earth's surface during daylight hours. Power can also be transmitted up to the platform during darkness to power facilities mounted on the platform ensuring continuous operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a high altitude platform for multiple uses comprising:
 a. providing a lightweight, rigid, buoyant structure floating in the low stratosphere, the structure supporting communication and observation equipment,   b. providing a tether or tethers physically connecting said structure in the low stratosphere to the ground,
 whereby high altitude airborne platforms for communications and observation can be provided. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lightweight rigid buoyant structure supporting said communications and observation equipment is a rigid truss structure containing gas bags filled with a buoyancy gas.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. providing platform modules ( 23 ),   b. mechanically and electrically connecting said modules to construct small platforms on the ground,   c. providing communications or observation equipment attached to said small platforms,   d. providing tethers attached to said small platforms,   e. deploying said small platforms from the ground to the low stratosphere using said tethers,
 whereby multiple use, low stratosphere, communications and observation airborne platforms can be assembled on the ground and deployed to the stratosphere. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a. constructing the mechanically connected platform modules ( 23 ) folded flat on the ground with hinges joining the struts at the platform module vertices,   b. unfolding the flat platform modules to their final three dimensional form using said hinges,   c. mechanically fastening platform module vertices making the modules rigid,   d. inflating gas bags within the protected rigid structure,
 whereby small platforms for communications and observation are conveniently assembled at ground level and then deployed to the stratosphere. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a. providing rails or guides to transport small platforms horizontally through the array of tethers of deployed small platforms to the desired location for vertical deployment,   b. deploying or attaching booms connecting the small platform to the adjacent tethers with sliding or rolling connectors,   c. attaching the deployment tether to the small platform,   d. deploying the small platform vertically using the deployment tether while the sliding connections to the adjacent tethers position the small platform in a fixed horizontal position,   e. mechanically connecting the small platform to adjacent small platforms on arrival at the large platform in the low stratosphere,
 whereby large platforms for multiple communications and observation uses can be assembled in the low stratosphere. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. providing photovoltaic panels attached to said structure,   b. generating electricity using said panels,   c. electrically connecting said panels to communications and observation systems operating on said structure,
 whereby electricity can be provided for use by observation and communications equipment on said structure. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. providing wireless communications devices mechanically and electrically attached to said platform,   b. transmitting and receiving information from said devices to similar devices attached to other such platforms,   c. transmitting and receiving information from said devices to similar devices attached to spacecraft,   d. transmitting and receiving information from said devices to similar devices on the ground,   e. transmitting and receiving information from said devices via fiber optical cable to the ground,
 whereby high bandwidth secure communications is provided. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a. providing optical communications devices,   b. providing microwave communications devices,
 whereby high bandwidth secure communications is provided. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. providing radars mechanically and electrically attached to said platform,   b. detecting aircraft and weather over the large line of sight visible area,
 whereby fewer radars can provide more complete coverage. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. providing instruments to observe the ground and sky,
 whereby a superior platform for observation is provided. 
   
     
     
         11 . A high altitude platform apparatus for multiple use operating in the low stratosphere comprising:
 a. a lightweight, rigid, buoyant structure floating in the low stratosphere, the structure supporting wireless communication and observation equipment,   b. a tether or tethers physically connecting said structure in the low stratosphere to the ground,
 whereby communications and observation airborne platforms can be provided. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the lightweight rigid buoyant structure floating in the low stratosphere supporting said communications and observation equipment is a rigid truss structure containing gas bags filled with a buoyancy gas.   
     
     
         13 . A rigid buoyant platform apparatus operating in the low stratosphere comprising:
 a. a large platform floating in the low stratosphere constructed from a mechanically connected collection of small platforms, said small platforms constructed from a mechanically and electrically connected collection of platform modules ( 23 ),   b. communications and observation equipment supported by said platform,   c. a tether mechanically connecting small platforms to the ground,
 whereby large communications and observation airborne platforms can be provided. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a. the mechanically connected platform modules ( 23 ) are constructed folded flat on the ground with hinges joining the struts at the platform modules vertices,   b. the flat platform modules are unfolded to their final three dimensional form using said hinges and mechanically fastened making the modules rigid,
 whereby small communications and observation platforms are conveniently assembled at ground level. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. rails or guides to transport deploying small platforms horizontally through the array of tethers of deployed said small platforms to the desired location for vertical deployment,   b. booms attached to said deploying small platform which mechanically connect the vertically deploying small platform to the adjacent tethers with sliding or rolling connectors,   c. the tether and high voltage cable attached to the vertically deploying small platform,   d. the booms connected to adjacent tethers restrict horizontal motion and the sliding or rolling connectors permit vertical motion while the small platform is deployed vertically using the tether,   e. the small deploying platform is connected to adjacent small platforms on arrival at the large platform in the low stratosphere,
 whereby large communications and observation platforms can be assembled in the low stratosphere. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a. photovoltaic panels attached to said structure, generating electricity,   b. communications and observation systems mechanically connected to said structure and electrically connected to said photovoltaic panels,
 whereby electricity can be provided for use by observation and communications equipment on said structure. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a. wireless communications devices mechanically and electrically attached to said platform,   b. said devices transmitting and receiving information to similar devices attached to other such platforms,   c. said devices transmitting and receiving information to similar devices attached to spacecraft,   d. said devices transmitting and receiving information to similar devices on the ground,   e. said devices transmitting and receiving information via fiber optical cable to the ground,
 whereby high bandwidth secure communications is provided. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a. optical communications devices,   b. microwave communications devices,
 whereby high bandwidth secure communications is provided. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising:
 radars mechanically and electrically attached to said platform, detecting aircraft and weather over the large line of sight visible area,
 whereby fewer radars can provide more complete coverage. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising:
 instruments to observe the ground and sky,
 whereby a superior platform for observation is provided.