Regulating Daedalus

They don't want our project to collide with one of these.

So, our seemingly limitless project may have some government-imposed limits on it. The FAA and the FCC have teamed up to regulate space projects like this one. We have to meet these requirements if we want our flying space balloon to get anywhere off the ground. The main regulations that affect us are:


1. Cell Phones are not permitted to track high-altitude weather balloons in flight.

2. Payloads cannot exceed a package weight/size ratio of three ounces per square inch. *

3. No payload package can exceed 6 lb in weight.

4. Entire weight of all payloads cannot exceed 12 lb in total weight (Excludes weight of balloon).

5. No rope or cable should be used which requires more than 50lb of force to separate payload packages from balloon.

6. No one may launch a high-altitude weather balloon which creates a hazard to other people and property. (i.e. Incorrect parachute, faulty rigging, inappropriate launch location)

7. No one may use a high-altitude weather balloon to drop objects (i.e. gliders and projectiles).

* Determined by dividing total package weight by the area in square inches of the smallest surface.

So, we don't need to worry about most of these requirements. We're not using a cell phone to track our project (Thanks PocketFinder!), so we're already 1 for 7. Our payload is going to be much lighter than 6 lbs so that our balloon can actually lift it all the way to the upper atmosphere, which takes care of #3 and #4. 3 for 7.  We checked with the balloon company, and the balloon rope definitely does not require 50 lb. of force to separate from the payload. We would also have a very hard time recovering the cameras in the payload if it required 50 lb of force to separate from the ropes. We will triple-check our payload, the parachute, and the balloon to ensure a safe and quick flight up and down, so hopefully we won't be creating any hazards (#6). We're definitely not dropping any objects from our balloon, and the package will be guided down by the parachute, so #7 is taken care of. 6 for 7. Basically, we just have to make sure that (final net weight) / (final area) ≤ 3, and we will meet all the regulations!