Examples of Special Missions

Homeland Security

Under the national Homeland Security-Program, there was a request for tenders from the French government in Autumn 2007, with the goal to validate the Zeppelin NT for specific tasks in the fight against Terrorism. Longterm, the metropolises of the country should be overflown on a regular basis from a suitable platform, equipped with the reconnaissance systems SENTINUC und SENTITOX. There lies the main focus of monitoring detection of synthetic radioactive sources (gamma-radiation of “dirty bombs”) as well as in the visualisation of criminal-released poisons and war-gasses.

The results achieved proved the particular suitability of the Zeppelin NT as a scientific platform and at the same time, recommend it for new tasks in the following scientific and technical areas:

Aerial Archaeology

• Detection of mineral resources (prospecting) 
• Cartography and Surveying 
• Oceanography
• Inspection flights over pipelines and power lines 
• Border security and defense against illegal immigration 
• Fighting against drugs and smuggling
• Surveillance of waterways and fishing zones
• Detection and mapping in Minefields
• Flying control centre in Disaster Zones
• Flying relay station and TV transmitter platform
• Early warning system for wildfires
• Environmental protection (Water and air pollution, Environmental anomalies, etc..)
• Environmental research (Cause and effect of Climate change)
• Creating a register of contaminated sites (Heavy metal pollution, Ground contamination, unexploded bombs from previous wars)
• Geosciences (reflectometry and geodesy) 
• Police operations (surveillance flights over major events, demonstrations, sporting events and summits, etc.)