Stratospheric Balloon Payloads for Astronomy: the challenge of coping with rising complexity

TL;DR

This paper examines the increasing complexity of stratospheric balloon payloads for astronomy, highlighting challenges and proposing strategies to enable more ambitious projects while sharing lessons learned from specific examples like FIREBall-2.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the challenges posed by complex balloon payloads and suggests strategies for future projects and funding adaptations based on case studies and personal experience.

Findings

Increased complexity requires new project management strategies.

Lessons learned from FIREBall-2 inform future balloon payload development.

Recommendations for funding agencies to support high-complexity projects.

Abstract

Stratospheric balloons offer cost-effective access to space and grant the opportunity for fast scientific innovation cycles and higher-risk explorations. In addition to science pathfinders, they serve as platforms for technology advancement, and offer a unique opportunity to train future instrument scientists and PIs. However, the increase in complexity of some projects (sub-arcsecond pointing, numerous degrees of freedom, advanced cooling systems, real-time communication and data transfer, low readiness level technologies, etc.) elevates the scale of challenges. This paper discusses the challenges brought by the increase of instrument complexity in the constrained area of ballooning projects. We use the example of the multi-object slit UV spectrograph FIREBall-2 but also discuss other ambitious payloads to expose some lessons learned. We will then propose strategies for future balloon projects and potential interesting adaptations for funding agencies to accommodate these emerging complexities. The objective being to foster the added value of more ambitious balloon-borne projects, and to initiate discussion about how to generate more robust strategies for handling high-complexity undertakings. Although this paper is enriched by answers from a survey sent to balloon-borne payload PIs, it remains influenced by my personal experience on FIREBall-2. As such, it does not necessarily represent the perspectives of other members of the project, let alone the broader balloon community.