Three Russians parachute from the stratosphere to the North Pole

In a daring feat combining extreme sports with technological tests, three Russian adventurers set a new world record last week by parachuting from Earth’s stratosphere directly to the North Pole.

Mikhail Korniyenko, Alexander Lynnik and Denis Yefremov began their historic jump from a height of 10,000 meters aboard an Ilyushin-76 aircraft, plunging into the icy Arctic atmosphere in a breathtaking two and a half minute free fall, which was meticulously executed. recorded on video.

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Despite the protection of heated masks, the trio suffered frostbite on their cheeks as they descended at speeds of more than 300 km/h in temperatures that dipped to around -50 degrees Celsius, further exacerbated by the high speed of their fall to a chilling -70 degrees Celsius.

WATCH RUSSIANS JUMP OUT OF STRATOSPHERE

Their remarkable journey ended near the Russian Arctic base of Barneo, where they successfully carried out another crucial part of their mission.

After landing, the team quickly got to work, turning on a server with diesel generators and establishing a satellite link using equipment previously dropped at a lower altitude. This setup was part of a groundbreaking test for a new prototype communications system designed for the Arctic environment.

The system’s trial period aimed to investigate the feasibility of improving connectivity in a region where communications are notoriously challenging but increasingly important due to growing geopolitical interest from global powers such as Russia, the United States and China.

Organizer Nikita Tsaplin, who oversaw the venture, reported that while the system is still in the experimental phase and not yet comparable to established services such as those of US-based Iridium Communications, it represents an important step towards the development of cost-effective, reliable communications. solutions for the Arctic.

This undertaking not only pushes the limits of human courage and physical endurance, but also demonstrates the critical role of innovative technology in securing strategic advantages in one of the world’s most remote and contested frontiers.