ALP Development Progress Update

Due to the nature of the ALP project currently under development I thought it might be good to keep a record of progress. Since this is my first post on the ALP let me start with a some background information and a little history that got us to this point.

ALP is an acronym for Aerial Lighting Platform. This is an architecture we have been developing that allows us to loft lights for photography in caves. During our earliest planning stages that took place in 2003, the ALP system was simply a balloon that would loft an electronic strobe. Through much work and refinements the ALP concept evolved and continues to evolve.
The 396' Topless Dome of Tumbling Rock cave in North Alabama has been the subject of investigation by the use of ALP technology. In October of 2010 ALP 2 became the first floating light platform to reach the top of the dome allowing us to light it in its entirety from a different vantage point. This technique of lighting revealed details that until then were unknown in the dome by lighting with conventional methods.
Our lift balloon measured 6 feet in diameter with a total payload capacity of 5 pounds. The balloon was covered with a custom ripstop cover to protect it from abrasions should it impact the wall or ceiling of the dome. During transit the balloon made surface contact twice with no noticeable effects. A small gondola was suspended below the balloon to carry power for the SIT light that was mounted on the top. During this flight we used bottles of water as ballast to keep the lift tension manageable. A total of 3 flights took place that day resulting in some uniquely lit images of the dome.
It was noted during all flights that conditions in the upper dome was very stable and no air currents were detected.
The success of ALP2 has paved the way for the development of ALP3.