Small Balloons for Local Aerial Exploration of Mars

A report proposes the use of lightweight balloon-borne instrumentation systems for exploration in the vicinity of a lander on the surface of Mars. Each system would comprise instrumentation with a mass of about 0.2 kg and a balloon with a mass of about 0.8 kg and volume of about 50 m3. The balloons would be inflated with H2 or He by use of an apparatus based on the automatic inflation equipment used on Earth to launch weather balloons. Of course, the apparatus would incorporate special design features to ensure successful launches in the thin, cold, windy Martian atmosphere and to minimize damage to balloons on the rock-strewn Martian terrain.