MURMANSK, August 6. /TASS/. Testing of a reusable stratospheric platform for Arctic exploration will be environmentally safe for the fragile environment of high latitudes. An expedition to test the platform at the North Pole is about to depart from Murmansk, the Murmansk Arctic University (MAU), supervising the project, told TASS.
"This is an airplane-type reusable stratospheric platform with a 3-meter wingspan, which is attached to a stratospheric balloon. When the balloon is lifted to an altitude of over 20 km, the platform detaches to continue autonomous flight along a predetermined route. The platform is reusable and it returns to any designated point, while the balloon is disposable. The baloon is made of biodegradable materials thus preventing any harm to the fragile Arctic environment," the university's press service said.
Specialists have already completed the platform's final tests at a testing ground in Tatarstan before the expedition departs Murmansk. The 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory) nuclear-powered icebreaker is preparing to depart. The icebreaker will bring the expedition participants to the North Pole, where the experiment will take place under Rosatom's Icebreaker of Knowledge international scientific and educational expedition.
