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NOTE: No serious attempts have been made to organize the following links. Click if you dare.
NASA Airfoil Simulator, Atmosphere Simulator, and Others
Some useful simulator programs
A freeware word processor and graphics converter.
A slow but functional freeware 3-D CAD program.
Bravenet provides the web hosting for this site. They also claim responsibility for most of the advertising.
Allen Meece's Virtual Beanstalk Project Page
The homepage for the Virtual Beanstalk Project. This is where to go if you want to design, advise, fund, or otherwise help with the Project.
European Mirror Page for the VBP
This started out as a mirror of Allen's page, but has evolved to include an excellent links page and other important information.
The Society of Amateur Scientists
An organization of amateur scientists exploring meteorology and other disciplines. A great wealth of amateur expertise, and a great e-zine, too.
A popular and informative on-line magazine covering space-related issues.
An online newspaper covering Antarctica
One of many NASA grants available
L-5 Society Space Related Link List
Huntsville L-5 Society Space Links Page
ASCE 2002 Space and Robotics Conference Page (Allen gave a lecture there. In a few months you may be able to find a copy of the procedings.)
Rocketguy is trying to build his own rocket for a sub-orbital flight to 30km. This guy may be an idiot, but he's my kind of idiot!
One of the most skilled rockoon launching teams out there today. They use free floating balloons, and may even be able to make the cantankerous things work commercially.
University of Wyoming Atmospheric Soundings
The University of Wyoming maintains a worldwide database of twice daily atmospheric soundings, year round, dating back to the 1980's. Their up-to-date weather information is invaluable.
List of Balloon Pages on the World Wide Web
One of the most comprehensive balloon links pages on the Web.
Cameron Balloons Captive Balloon Products Page
Cameron Balloons makes tethered aerostats commercially for low altitude applications.
Experimental Balloon and Airship Association
Mostly concerned with hot air rather than gas airships, but still some good information.
They sell some of the best high-strength plastic ropes and lines for marine applications, including several types that may be useful for the Virtual Beanstalk.
StratoQuest Skydiving Record Attempt
Just one of many wild-eyed people attempting to skydive from altitudes even high than the Virtual Beanstalk. Cheryl Stearns isn't going to settle for any paultry 20 kilometers, but we could certainly find others willing to use our platform recreationally.
A superpressure recreational balloon.
An airship association with some useful info on gas airships.
The Hot Airship Resources Page (EBAA)
Experimental Balloon and Airship Association Links Page
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Article: High Altitude Airship Design
LASLINK Antennas and Surveillance
Polycosmos Living in the Sky Page
Some really futuristic ideas for settling the upper atmosphere.
A manufacturer of pressure suits, life support systems, etc. These are the folks who brought us Transhab. If I wanted to pay someone to make an ultralight crew cabin for me, I'd start here.
Information on Sailcloth.
More Sailcloth info.
Easily the best design going for a near-term space tether system, incorporating an ingenious lightweight tether that makes elevator design a sinch. They could have this built in a decade or so.
Research Opportunities available at NASA
Includes links to both the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts and NASA Small Business Innovative Research Programs. A good gateway to researching NASA grants.