10 meter Sub-Orbital Large Balloon Reflector (LBR)

If successful, the Large Balloon Reflector (LBR) will allow high spatial and spectral resolution follow-on studies from missions such as Herschel, Spitzer, and SOFIA to be performed at a fraction of the cost of space-based systems. The large collecting area of the LBR will also permit sensitive limb sounding studies of the Earth's atmosphere to be made and serve as a powerful tool for realizing communication networks for low-power ground stations or surveillance activities.

The telescope consists of an inflatable, half-aluminized spherical reflector deployed within a much larger carrier balloon - either zero pressure or super pressure.