UG
The shortage in Helium supplies has been in the public domain for a good many years now but, one would think that with our various advances in technology that methods of utilising other gases would be developed!
Coincidentally, this morning I received the following news update from Aerostat:
November 18, 2011 Los Angeles, CA.
Today the Aeros 3200 ISR aerostat envelope successfully completed testing for structural integrity and gas retention. The completion of testing allows the system to proceed to final integration. The Aeros 3200 utilizes new proprietary technology that allows the aerostat to sustain the most severe weather conditions, including surviving up to 100 mph winds.
All of this adds up to more time on station for the suite of sensors that will provide an operator with the ability to detect and identify mounted and dismounted targets out to 70 km.
Built on an innovative robotic mooring system, the Aeros 3200 is able to launch and recover the aerostat with a crew of just three personnel, making the system affordable for many missions that require persistent long term surveillance.
The overall design provides the end users with complete 360 degree situational awareness and an actionable intelligence system to identify and defeat targets on land, sea or air.