Abstract: An atmospheric balloon comprises a membrane surrounding a chamber and extending between an upper and lower apex. An apex plate coupled to the membrane comprises a plate body including a termination opening with a portion of the membrane spread across the termination opening and a cutting device coupled to the plate body to cut the membrane to forma flight-termination opening. A fill port assembly is coupled to the plate body and in communication with the chamber. An adhesive assembly comprises one or more bridging panels that span between a first coupling interface coupled to the apex plate and a second coupling interface coupled to the membrane, and adhesive between the membrane and the apex plate, between the one or more bridging panels and the apex plate at the first coupling interface, and between the one or more bridging panels and the membrane at the second coupling interface.

Abstract: An aerostat deployment system includes fore and aft envelope housings with respective folded fore and aft portions of an inflatable aerostat envelope therein. A support frame is interposed between the fore and aft envelope housings, and a payload is coupled with the inflatable aerostat envelope between the fore and aft envelope housings at the time of deployment inflation. One or more of the fore or aft envelope housings includes a brake configured to control unrolling of the folded fore or aft portions. In one example, the folded aft portion of the inflatable aerostat envelope including a tail portion is inflated prior to inflation of the folded fore portion.