Balloon Trajectory Simulation Platform

Technical Documentation & Implementation Guide

Platform Overview

Multi-user balloon simulation platform with authentication, organization management, asynchronous processing, and reverse trajectory planning. Documentation covers physics models, system architecture, and API design.

The platform includes atmospheric modeling, physics calculations, and web architecture for balloon flight planning.

Key Technical Features

Multi-User Authentication

JWT-based sessions with admin controls and organization-based data sharing

Asynchronous Processing

Background simulation workers with real-time status polling and queue management

GPU-Accelerated Physics

NVIDIA CUDA support for enhanced simulations with RTX optimization

RP

Reverse Planning

Find optimal launch sites and times to reach specific targets with dual-queue processing

Enterprise Atmospheric Modeling

Real-time GRIB data integration with NOAA GFS, ECMWF, and adaptive resolution

Comprehensive Balloon Library

HAB series (50-3000), TX cold weather, and zero-pressure models with dynamic loading

Thermal Modeling

Solar, IR, and convective heat transfer with day/night cycles

Turbulence Simulation

Kolmogorov-based atmospheric turbulence modeling

RF Analysis with SRTM Terrain

ITU-R models with real-time SRTM elevation data and terrain-aware path loss

Numerical Methods

Dormand-Prince 8(7) adaptive integration with error control

0. System Architecture

Platform architecture, authentication system, and API design.

  • Multi-user authentication with JWT sessions
  • Organization-based user management
  • Asynchronous simulation processing
  • REST API endpoints and validation
  • Database schema and models
  • Background worker architecture
Read Architecture Guide →

1. Atmospheric Modeling

Comprehensive guide to the multi-layered atmospheric modeling system.

  • US Standard Atmosphere 1976 implementation
  • Real-time weather API integration
  • GFS NOMADS data processing
  • Data fusion and quality control
  • Pressure-altitude conversions
  • Wind field modeling
Read Documentation →

2. Coordinate Systems & Geodesy

Mathematical foundations for position calculations and transformations.

  • WGS84 ellipsoid parameters
  • Geodetic to ECEF transformations
  • Local tangent plane coordinates
  • Gravitational models with J2 correction
  • Geoid height calculations
  • Map projections
Read Documentation →

3. Balloon Physics

Detailed physics models for latex and zero-pressure balloon behavior.

  • Material properties and stress analysis
  • Gas thermodynamics (ideal and real)
  • Peng-Robinson equation of state
  • Burst criteria and prediction
  • Gas leakage and permeation
  • Elastic deformation modeling
Read Documentation →

4. Thermodynamics

Heat transfer and thermal balance calculations for altitude control.

  • Solar radiation modeling
  • Earth albedo and IR heating
  • Atmospheric IR absorption
  • Radiative emission cooling
  • Convective heat transfer
  • Day/night thermal cycles
Read Documentation →

5. Aerodynamics

Advanced aerodynamic modeling for accurate trajectory prediction.

  • Reynolds number calculations
  • Drag coefficient regimes
  • Surface roughness effects
  • Compressibility corrections
  • Magnus force (rotation)
  • Turbulence modeling
Read Documentation →

6. Numerical Methods

Mathematical algorithms for solving the equations of motion.

  • Dormand-Prince 8(7) integration
  • Adaptive timestep control
  • Error estimation methods
  • Stiffness detection
  • Conservation law verification
  • Numerical stability analysis
Read Documentation →

7. RF Propagation

Radio frequency propagation models for communication analysis.

  • Free space path loss
  • ITU-R P.676-12 atmospheric absorption
  • Fresnel zone analysis
  • Line-of-sight calculations
  • Doppler shift effects
  • Link budget analysis
Read Documentation →

8. Implementation Guide

Practical implementation details and code architecture.

  • System architecture overview
  • Data flow pipelines
  • API integration patterns
  • Performance optimization
  • GPU acceleration
  • Testing and validation
Read Documentation →

9. Advanced Topics

Specialized physics and cutting-edge features.

  • Parachute dynamics
  • Ground interaction physics
  • Altitude control algorithms
  • Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis
  • Machine learning optimization
  • Ensemble forecasting
Read Documentation →

10. Performance Enhancements

High-performance computing optimizations and acceleration.

  • C extensions for critical paths
  • Atmospheric data caching
  • Parallel processing
  • GPU acceleration (experimental)
  • Performance monitoring
Read Documentation →

11. Logistics System

Comprehensive inventory and resource management system.

  • Inventory management
  • Multi-currency cost tracking
  • Vendor & supply chain management
  • Progressive mission validation
  • ITAR compliance tracking
Read Documentation →

12. Campaign Planning

Multi-mission coordination and resource management.

  • Campaign lifecycle management
  • Mission planning & templates
  • Interactive map visualization
  • Cost optimization
  • Real-time tracking & reporting
Read Documentation →

13. Database Architecture

Dual-database design pattern and implementation details.

  • Simulation vs Logistics separation
  • PostgreSQL & SQLite integration
  • Schema design & migrations
  • Data flow & API integration
  • Security & compliance considerations
Read Documentation →