Testing the VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) in the stratosphere: STRATONAV experiment

The stratosphere is the highest layer of Earth's atmosphere where aircraft can still fly. Today, the potential of stratospheric vehicles is largely unexploited, but in the future, they will compete with spacecraft in a huge variety of applications. In fact, stratospheric vehicles can provide a valid alternative in several scientific and commercial applications. The extension and validation of radio “Navaids” for the stratospheric flight could set a significant increase in reliability for high altitude navigation system receivers, and a reduction of the stratospheric navigation system development cost. STRATONAV (STRATOspheric NAVigation) experiment is developed by a team of Italian students from Sapienza — University of Rome and Alma Mater Studiorum — University of Bologna. The main goal of the experiment is to test the VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) navigation system by evaluating its accuracy above the estimated Standard Service Volume through an in-situ testing campaign. The STRATONAV team has been selected to participate to the 2016 REXUS/BEXUS Programme cycle 09 by a panel of ESA (European Space Agency) experts. This paper deals with the STRATONAV Experiment concept and its main features, focusing on the main technical and scientific objectives, the expected results, the mechanical set-up and the environmental and structural analyses and testing campaigns.