RACOON: Radiation Controlled Balloon, 1980-1982

The RACOON concept permits the flight of large, low cost polyethylene balloons for several weeks at stratospheric altitudes without ballast. The balloon ascends each morning and descends at night. This movement of 15 to 20km in altitude provides an ideal platform for vertical soundings and sampling measurements in the stratosphere. The theory is described as well as the results of three globe-circling flights.