International Aeronautical Conference at Strassburg
The International Aeronautical Conference at Strassburg was the first meeting of the International Commission for Scientific Aeronautics set up at the Paris Meteorological Conference of 1896. It met from March 31 to April 4, 1898.[1]
The conference discussed methods for gathering atmospheric data including:
- balloons manned by aeronauts;
- balloons-sondes, unmanned balloons with self-recording instruments ("to the height of ten miles or more")
- captive kite-balloons with self-recording instruments.[2]
Participants discussed barometers, thermometers, and cameras, including an automatic camera taking photographs at fixed intervals proposed by Cailletet. Photographs produced by this method aboard the Balaschoff (by Besançon & Hermite) were displayed.[3]
[?] exhibited a sensitive yet sturdy self-recording thermometer made of a silver case inside a steel frame.
One question of interest was whether very high altitude unmanned balloons could suggest an answer to questions about the temperature of outer space; however, low-altitude manned expeditions were acknowledged as more important for weather measurement and prediction. Rotch reported on the value of kites at Blue Hill Observatory; Tacchini and Hann announced their plans to use this method at Mounts Cimone & Etna, and the Sonnblick observatory, respectively.[2]
(The Royal Meterological Society took note of this resolution, recounting in July 1898: "At the recent meeting of the International Aeronautical Committee at Strasburg it was recommended that all central observatories should employ kites as being of prime importance for the advancement of meteorological knowledge.)[4]
Von Siegsfeld and von Parseval of the German army, demonstrated a wind-resistant captive kite balloon (which may be related to the design described von Siegsfeld's patent Patent US-1898-612996). Hergesell and Moedebeck presented a balloon, constructed by August Riedinger of Augsburg, which Rotch describes as:
the first to lift self-recording meteorological instruments. It consists essentially of a cylinder of varnished linen, having a volume of 7,770 cubic feet, so attached to the cable that its upper end is inclined towards the wind, which thus tends to raise the balloon. The cylindrical form is preserved, notwithstanding leakage of gas, by admitting wind into an auxilliary envelope at the rear end, which also serves as a rudder, stability about the axis being secured by lateral wings. The instruments are contained in a basket, with open ends, hung far below the balloon. The azimuth, angular altitude and traction of the cable are recorded continuously by an ingenious dynamometer. In spite of unfavorable weather and gas of insufficient lifting power, the experiments were fairly successful, and previously the balloon had been maintained during several days above the city.
- (See Patent FR-1895-250436 and Patent FR-1897-250436.1 ?)
Hergesell and Berson advocated simultaneous measurements across Europe in order to glean useful comparative data. Such a coordinated launch was planned for June in Germany, France, Russia, Austria, Belgium, and Italy.[2]
Rykatcheff reported on his laboratory for testing recording instruments.[3]
Rotch reported that the attendance and good fellowship of French and German scientists allowed the conference to disregard pertinent international hostilities. Great Britain sent no delegates—a reflection, thought Rotch, of her lack of progress since the (1860s?) ballooning exploits of James Glaisher. Original Committee members:[2]
- Hugo Hergesell (President) Strassberg,
- Wilfrid de Fonvielle (Secretary), Paris
- Louis Paul Cailletet, Paris
- Georges Besançon, Paris
- Richard Assmann (Aßmann), Berlin
- Arthur Berson, Berlin
- Prof. Erk, Munich
- Gen.-Maj. Rykatcheff, St. Petersburg
- Col. Kowanko, St. Petersburg
- Abbott Lawrence Rotch, Boston
New Committee members:
- Teisserenc de Bort, Paris
- Prince Roland Bonaparte, Paris
- Prof. Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson, Upsala
- Prof. Joseph Maria Pernter, Vienna
- Lt. Hinterstoisser, Vienna
- Captain Hermann W. L. Moedebeck, Strassburg
- Lt. Rudolph Max Wilhelm Hans von Siegsfeld, Berlin
The next meeting was planned and held at Paris in 1900; see International Conference of Meteorology.
References
- ↑ Pocket-Book of Aeronautics, 1907, p. 436.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Abbott Lawrence Rotch, "The International Aëronautical Conference at Strassburg", Science Vol. VII No. 182, 24 June 1898.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A. Cléry, "Exploration de la haute atmosphère: Conférence de Strasbourg", L'Aérophile, Vol. 6, No. 1–3, January-February-March 1898,p. 32.
- ↑ 1898 June 15 meeting of the Royal Meteorological Society, The Observatory Vol. 21, 1898.
See also: Protokol über die vom 31 März bis 4 April 1898 zu Strassburg i. E. Abgehaltene erste Versammlung der Internationalen Aëronautischen Commission (conference minutes and correspondence)
| Event names | International Aeronautical Conference, International Aeronautical Commission, Abgehaltene erste Versammlung der Internationalen Aëronautischen Commission |
|---|---|
| Event type | conference |
| Country | DE |
| Locations | Strassburg |
| Start date | 1898-3-31 |
| Number of days | 5 |
| Tech focus | Meteo, LTA, Instrument, Photography |
| Participants |
