Last week, three brave Russian parachutists set a world record for jumping from the Earth’s stratosphere to the North Pole. The mission was more than just a stunt; it also served as a test for a new prototype communications system designed for use in the Arctic.
Mikhail Korniyenko, Alexander Lynnik, and Denis Yefremov jumped from an Ilyushin-76 plane at an altitude of 10,500 meters and spent about two and a half minutes in freefall before opening their chutes 1,000 meters above the ground. Their descent was captured on camera in a breathtaking video that showcased their bravery and skill.
Despite wearing heated masks, all three suffered frostbite to their cheeks due to plunging at speeds of over 300 km/h and temperatures around -50 Celsius feeling like -70C. When they landed near Russia’s Barneo polar base, they were able to power up a server using diesel generators and establish a connection to a satellite using equipment dropped from a lower altitude.
With resources, trade routes, and military advantage at stake in the Arctic region, nations like Russia, the United States, and China are increasingly competing for dominance. The Russians were able to send data via an experimental system, although it is not as advanced as systems like U.S.-based Iridium Communications Inc. Nikita Tsaplin, managing partner and co-founder of Russian hosting provider RUVDS, stated that the goal was to see how realistic it would be to build a low-cost solution for computer access to a satellite.
