A constant tension tether management system for tethered aircraft includes a ground station for operatively coupling to an unmanned aerial vehicle. The ground station includes a spool rotatably disposed within the ground station and adapted to support a tether thereon. A first pulley is rotatably mounted within the ground station along a tether travel path. A second pulley is rotatably disposed within the ground station and moves in translation along the tether travel path. The first pulley is disposed along the tether travel path between the spool and the second pulley.