High Altitude Platform (HAP) : feasibility studies in Thailand

Name: Phacharaporn Bunyawanichakul

Organization : Kasetsart University. Faculty of Engineering

Email : phacharaporn.b@ku.ac.th

Name: Pongwit Siribodhi

Organization : Kasetsart University. Faculty of Engineering

keyword: High Altitude Platform

ThaSH: Airships

; Unmanned Platform

ThaSH: Balloons

; Technical feasibility analysis

ThaSH: High altitude platform systems (Telecommunication)

ThaSH: Drone aircraft in remote sensing

Abstract: This research is focused on the feasibility study of High Altitude Platform (HAP) in Thailand. The project is initiated and funded by Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The work prepares for High Altitude Platform development project in future. It aims to study the technical feasibilities of HAP on part of the vehicle (platform) with the capacity to operate at a height of 20-40 kilometers from the earth's surface for at least 15 days. The technical feasibility of this research consists of three sections: type and dimension, material selection, and suitable propulsion system of vehicle. There are two main vehicle types in this study, lighter and heavier than air vehicle. The platform can be presented by airship, balloon, and fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. The study found that the most appropriate type of platform is a zero pressure balloon. This is by the reasons of production cost and ease of reaching the required altitude that can be done automatically with a lighter than air gas. The study of material selection shows that Polyethylene with the thickness of 20.3 μm is best suited for production in Thailand. The platform can be propelled by natural wind speed and direction varied which vary along the altitude above the earth's surface. The dimension and size of the platform is calculated with two assumptions: Firstly, the platform has a spherical shape throughout the operation with fixed payload of 12 kg. Secondly, the weather information had been taken from the Thai Meteorological Department by 5 stations over Thailand dating back decades. The analysis using basic concepts of science, theory of ideal gas, and equation of standard gravitational constant shows the feasible altitude is about 24 kilometers. The size of the helium or hydrogen filled balloon is slightly different. The on ground volume of 79.28 and 63.12 cubic meters are required respectively.

King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok. Central Library

Address: BANGKOK

Email: library@kmutnb.ac.th

Created: 2016

Modified: 2026-07-17

Issued: 2026-07-17

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BibliograpyCitation : In Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Engineering. The 7th TSME International Conference on Mechanical Engineering 2016 (TSME-ICoME7) (AME0007). Bangkok : Chulalongkorn University

eng

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