An assessment of lighter than air technology : the report of the Multi-agency Workshop on Lighter Than Air : Monterey California, September 9-13, 1974

Abstract

Summary: This document is a draft report of the Workshops' output - The Working Group Reports. It is for your review and comment which should be returned to me by January 1, 1975. With those comments and criticisms in hand, I will make any needed revisions, add sections on background, history, etc. and print significant comments or minority views if they exist. The revised final report will be issued in the spring of 1975. With this draft report completed, I will turn my attention to the proceedings. A preliminary review indicates that there is more work to be done on the papers than expected, but I still plan to mail the papers in early 1975. I am pleased to announce that the AIAA has approved its' LTA subcommittee's plan to hold a followup conference in Snowmass-at- Aspen, Colorado, July 15-17, 1975. Details will be in the December issue of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Hope to see you there! To help us improve that program, could you take a few minutes to complete and return the questionnaire on the reverse side of this page? It would be very helpful. The major issues addressed were: 1. Should the United States Government, undertake development of a Lighter Than Air vehicle. 2. Should the United States sponsor research and technology efforts in the area of Lighter Than Air including the construction of an experimental LTA research vehicle? Due to unknown economic risks, the group concluded that it was premature to stress government development of an LTA vehicle at this time. Rather, appropriate agencies, particularly NASA, should sponsor appropriate studies in LTA to better define the technical unknowns. only after some of the general uncertainties are resolved did the group feel that it would be beneficial to construct an experimental LTA vehicle. However, the working group did feel that a positive policy statement was needed, which is set out starting on page 3 of this report.