Tether cable is key component for aerostat system performance. Tether cable connects aerostat and ground mooring equipment, transfer power from ground to aerostat vehicle and transmit communication data between aerostat equipments and mission payload....
Tether cable is key component for aerostat system performance. Tether cable connects aerostat and ground mooring equipment, transfer power from ground to aerostat vehicle and transmit communication data between aerostat equipments and mission payload. Tethered aerostats are lighter-than-air aerodynamically shaped balloons for surveillance and many other applications. 32m aerostat can provide a stable platform to mission payloads up to 900m altitude with 300kg weight. Tether cable system should have enough strength and stiffness for tethering and enough electrical capacity and communication bandwidth for aerostat and mission payload operations. Co-axial synthetic cable with optical fiber, electric cable and polymer mechanical cable compound is designed and tested for 32m aerostat. Design requirements and test procedures are defined for each mechanical and electro-optical functions.