Masafumi Edamoto

Small balloons provide an effective means of conducting in situ observations in the stratosphere. However, payload recovery has been challenging due to their passive and wind-dependent flight during both the ascent and descent phases. In this study, a parafoil-controlled payload module was developed to improve the recoverability of such payloads. The payload module consists of a parafoil with a 2.25 m wingspan and a control unit. To evaluate its performance, a balloon release experiment was conducted. The payload module was carried by a small balloon to an altitude of 4,522 m, where it was separated. After separation, the module glided under remote control. The mission was successfully concluded with a successful recovery in the designated sea area, establishing the feasibility of guided descent and demonstrating the potential for reliable payload retrieval. This manual control experiment serves as a proof of concept for future autonomous guidance systems, thereby expanding the technological scope of small-balloon missions.