PUBLIC ROADMAP

Mission Path

Accelerated private probe timeline: design → prototype → build → qualify → launch → float. Compressed relative to flagship missions, but still follows the same logical gates (requirements, PDR/CDR-lite, I&T, launch ops).

NEPHELIS.MCC · DESIGN · target 2027-12-15 · goal $500,000

OPEN TASKS

P0 OPEN

DONE

OPEN RISKS

Work by domain (open)

hardware 18mission 17growth 8program 7partners 7science 5avionics 4comms 4software 4content 1site 1

Program milestones

2025

Concept validation, branding, and early partnership development for Project AETHER

complete

2026-Q3

Requirements, CONOPS, system ICD, live crowdfund stack, P0 partner outreach (accelerated Phase A/B start)

current

2026-Q4

PDR-lite, materials & balloon prototype tests, sensor/comms baselining, facility access

target

2027-Q1

CDR-lite, flight hardware fab, payload integration, 50% funding milestone

target

2027-Q2

Environmental qual, system I&T, inflation sequence test, launch LOI / rideshare path

target

2027-Q3

Flight software freeze, ops rehearsals, ship prep, funding closeout

target

2027-Q4

Launch campaign + Venus transfer injection (target window ~2027-12-15)

target

2028-H1

Cruise → Venus entry → balloon float ops (30–90 days) + first public data release

future

2028+

Phase II: larger aerostats → habitation tech path (post-flight lessons)

future

2022+

Agency background: NASA aerobot / ESA concepts for 48–60 km variable balloons

background

MCC checklist

in progressMission requirements baseline signed (v0.9 draft in docs/)DESIGN2026-Q3
in progressCONOPS v1 (v0.9 draft in docs/conops-v0.9.md)DESIGN2026-Q3
plannedPDR-lite: balloon + gondola ICD freezeDESIGN2026-Q4
plannedAcid / materials coupon campaign complete enough for fab decisionDESIGN2026-Q4
plannedSensor suite baselined with mass/power/data numbersDESIGN2026-Q4
plannedComms architecture review (CubeSat relay / hybrid)DESIGN2026-Q4
plannedCDR-lite: drawings, BOMs, test plansBUILD2027-Q1
planned50% of $500k goal committedPROGRAM2027-Q1
plannedEnvironmental qualification campaign executedINTEGRATION2027-Q2
plannedSystem integration & inflation sequence tests passINTEGRATION2027-Q2
plannedLaunch path LOI or rideshare reservationINTEGRATION2027-Q2
plannedFlight software freeze + ops playbook v1OPS2027-Q3
plannedMission ops rehearsal completeOPS2027-Q3
plannedFlight stack accepted and shipped to launch siteOPS2027-Q3
plannedLaunch + successful Venus transfer injectionFLIGHT2027-Q4
plannedSuccessful inflate + ≥30 days float with science downlinkFLIGHT2028-Q1

Risk register (open)

R-01Acid degradation of balloon envelopehigh/medium
R-02Entry / inflation sequence failurecritical/medium
R-03Comms blackout / insufficient downlinkhigh/medium
R-04Launch rideshare slip past 2027 windowhigh/medium
R-05Crowdfund / partner capital shortfallhigh/medium
R-06Planetary protection / DNA tier regulatory delaymedium/low
R-07Sensor mass growth eats float marginmedium/medium

Mitigations on /mission.

Detailed workstreams

Open and in-progress only. Completed site/automation work is tracked in data but hidden here for clarity. Source: tasks.json.

2026-Q3 · 14 open · 7 P0

mission

P0CONOPS v1: launch → cruise → entry → inflate → float → end-of-life (v0.9 drafted in docs/)in progress
P0Mission requirements baseline (v0.9 drafted in docs/requirements-baseline-v0.9.md)in progress
P1Refine transfer Δv / TOF with published ephemeris (not only Hohmann demo)planned

hardware

P0System architecture + ICD draft (skeleton in docs/system-icd-skeleton.md)in progress
P0Entry corridor & peak heat-rate study for ~10.7 km/s Venus entry classplanned

science

P1Science traceability matrix: goals → instruments → data productsplanned

partners

P0Execute P0 partner outreach: sensor lab + fluoropolymer supplierplanned
P1Confirm 2–3 technical advisors (structures, entry, Venus science) with written scopeplanned

growth

P0Flip Stripe to live keys + live webhook; real $100 smoke testplanned
P2Establish weekly public update cadence (X + site MDX)planned

program

P0Execute 30-day war board (docs/30-day-war-board.md)in progress
P1Planetary protection / DNA-tier legal-regulatory screening memoplanned
P1Recruit core volunteer leads: structures, avionics, software, scienceplanned

content

P1Fill first research brief with cited Venus aerobot / materials sourcesplanned

2026-Q4 · 18 open · 12 P0

mission

P0Preliminary design review (lite): freeze interfaces, mass/power booksplanned

hardware

P0Fluoropolymer acid coupon campaign (protocol: docs/materials-coupon-test-protocol.md)in progress
P0Build subscale super-pressure balloon prototype #1 (Earth ambient)planned
P0Envelope leak / pressure-hold ground test protocol + first runplanned
P0Heatshield geometry/material trade (blunt body mass vs peak load)planned
P0Balloon inflation system concept (gas budget, valves, sequence)planned

avionics

P0Power budget v1: solar at float, battery, duty cycles (v0 data: power-budget.json)in progress
P1Select flight computer / rad-tolerant strategy (COTS + shielding trade)planned

comms

P0Comms architecture review: direct-to-Earth vs 3U relay vs hybridplanned

science

P0Baseline sensor suite with mass/power/data rates (imagery, MS, met, bio)planned

software

P1Flight software skeleton: modes, fault protection, telemetry schemaplanned
P2Ground tools: link budget spreadsheet + simple entry/float sim hooksplanned

partners

P0MOU or in-kind LOI with at least one sensor / lab partnerplanned
P0Receive materials samples + vendor datasheets for envelope filmplanned
P1CubeSat bus/radio partner shortlist (flight heritage preferred)planned

growth

P0Hit 25% of $500k funding goal (cash + committed in-kind valued)planned

program

P1Secure lab/fab access (clean workbench, pressure test, electronics)planned
P1Export control / ITAR-EAR self-screen for parts & partnersplanned

2027-Q1 · 14 open · 10 P0

mission

P0Critical design review (lite): drawings, BOMs, test plans signedplanned
P0Kick/transfer stage: make vs buy vs rideshare-provided Δvplanned

hardware

P0Fabricate flight-intent balloon envelope + inflation hardwareplanned
P0Fabricate gondola structure + instrument mountsplanned
P0Fabricate/procure heatshield + attachment hardwareplanned
P0Integrate sensor suite into gondola (electrical + mechanical)planned

avionics

P0Flight avionics board bring-up + sensor driversplanned
P1Solar + battery power demo at expected float illuminationplanned

comms

P0Comms breadboard: packet radio / store-and-forward demoplanned
P0Baseline CubeSat relay (buy vs partner vs descoped direct link)planned

science

P1Instrument calibration plan + ground truth datasetsplanned
P2Public data release policy (latency, formats, credit)planned

partners

P1Close first corporate / logo sponsorship above individual tiersplanned

growth

P0Hit 50% of $500k goal (cash + binding in-kind)planned

2027-Q2 · 12 open · 9 P0

mission

P0Launch path LOI / rideshare reservation for 2027 Venus window classplanned
P1Range safety / payload ICD inputs for launch providerplanned

hardware

P0Environmental qualification plan signed (TVAC, vibe, shock, thermal)planned
P0Vibration / shock test of integrated stack (or mass model path)planned
P0Thermal-vacuum test of gondola/avionics (or chamber access partner)planned
P0End-to-end system integration test: power → sensors → store → radioplanned
P0Full inflation sequence dry run on Earth (timed, instrumented)planned
P1Cold / altitude-chamber or high-altitude balloon analog for envelopeplanned

comms

P1Ground station / data downlink operations plan (partners or commercial)planned

software

P0Flight software fault protection + safe modes verified on hardwareplanned

partners

P0Sign launch broker or secondary payload agreement (or dedicated option)planned

growth

P0Hit 75% of funding goal before integration freezeplanned

2027-Q3 · 9 open · 6 P0

mission

P0Ops playbook v1: entry through float daily comms windowsplanned
P0Mission ops rehearsal (tabletop + sim): anomalies and contingenciesplanned
P1Independent red-team risk review (entry, inflate, comms, power)planned

hardware

P0Final acceptance test of flight stack before shipplanned

software

P0Flight software freeze + config management for flight loadplanned

growth

P0Close remaining funding / contingency reserve for launch opsplanned
P1Freeze Tier-1 engraving list + DNA capsule packing procedureplanned
P1Launch press kit + media list + embargo planplanned

program

P0Ship/flight prep: packing, hazardous materials, logistics to launch siteplanned

2027-Q4 · 4 open · 3 P0

mission

P0Launch campaign: integration with vehicle, checkouts, go/no-goplanned
P0Launch in Q4 2027 Venus transfer window (target 2027-12-15)planned
P0Cruise operations: health checks, TCMs if any, instrument keep-aliveplanned

site

P2Public mission status stream on site (cruise → approach)planned

2028-Q1 · 2 open · 2 P0

mission

P0Venus approach & entry ops: real-time decision tree executionplanned
P0Float operations day 1–30: science collection + daily downlinkplanned

2028-Q2 · 3 open · 1 P0

mission

P1Extended float to 90 days if health allowsplanned

science

P0Public data release #1 + mission reportplanned

program

P1Lessons learned → Phase II larger aerostat / habitat tech roadmapplanned

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