Russian Adventurers Set World Record with Stratosphere Jump to North Pole

Three Russian adventurers, Mikhail Korniyenko, Alexander Lynnik, and Denis Yefremov, have set a world record by parachuting from the Earth's stratosphere to the North Pole. The daring jump, which took place last week, saw the trio leap from an Ilyushin-76 aircraft at an altitude of 10,500 meters (34,450 feet). They spent about two and a half minutes in freefall before deploying their parachutes at 1,000 meters above the ground.

Despite wearing heated masks, the skydivers suffered some frostbite to their cheeks due to the extreme cold temperatures of around -50°C (-58°F) that felt like -70°C (-94°F) during their descent. Video footage captured the spectacular jump, showing the adventurers plummeting through the sky against a backdrop of the Arctic landscape.

The mission also served as a test for a new prototype communications system designed for use in the Arctic region. After landing near Russia's Barneo polar base, the team was able to power up a server using diesel generators and establish a connection to a satellite, demonstrating the potential for a low-cost solution to provide computer access in the remote area.

Why this matters: Reliable communications in the Arctic are becoming increasingly important as nations compete for resources, trade routes, and military advantage in the region. The successful test of the prototype system is seen as a significant step towards improving connectivity in the challenging environment.

Nikita Tsaplin, the managing partner of RUVDS and organizer of the event, explained that the goal was to explore the feasibility of building an affordable satellite communications solution for the Arctic. While the experimental system successfully transmitted data, it currently lacks the comprehensive capabilities of established providers like U.S.-based Iridium Communications Inc.

The record-breaking jump and communications test highlight the growing interest and importance of the Arctic region on the global stage. "The goal was to explore the feasibility of building a low-cost solution to provide satellite access from a computer in the Arctic region, as communications in the Arctic are becoming increasingly important due to competition between nations for resources, trade routes, and military advantage," Tsaplin stated. As countries continue to vie for influence in the Far North, innovative solutions like the one demonstrated by the Russian trio may play a critical role in shaping the future of the Arctic.

Key Takeaways

• 3 Russian adventurers set world record parachuting to North Pole
• Parachute jump from 34,450 ft, 2.5 mins freefall, frostbite risk
• Tested new Arctic communications prototype, successfully transmitted data
• Reliable Arctic communications crucial as nations compete for resources
• Innovative solutions like this may shape the future of the Arctic