REPORT DETAILS PLANNED USE OF AEROSTATS IN MARS EXPLORATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: UFO SPECIAL COLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005516721
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00651
• Publication Date: December 19, 1993

000175463
Page: 13 of 13
CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
CLAS UNCLASSIFIED
AFSN PM2012151593
DDAT 931219
SLIM Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian 0905 GMT 19 Dec 93
SOBS [From the "Russian Aeronauts" program: Report over video of stratospheric
aerostats, Mars project graphics, modern airship; figures in brackets
denote broadcast time in GMT in hours, minutes, and seconds
SUBJ Report Details Planned Use. of Aerostats in Mars Exploration
Full Text Superaone of Message
1 ]
2 [Excerpt] [090500 thru 095444 -- passage omitted on largely historical
feature about air balloons and airships over vintage footage]
3 [095445] [Unidentified correspondent over video of weather balloon] We are
back in Russia. What you see are large stratospheric, automated
aerostats. They are filled with hydrogen and are capable of carrying
payloads of several tonnes. They travel over thousands of kilometers at
altitudes in excess of 30,000 meters. Naturally, such aerostats can be
used for studies in the interests of defense. It is possible to say right
now that the technological standard of these systems occupies a ranking
place in the world. The development of aeronautics was not disrupted in
this sphere. The technology has been constantly improved. (caption reads
28 May 1991] There are three concepts for the application of these
aerostats -- for military studies as mentioned earlier, for scientific
studies of cosmic rays, and for global international programs like the
Mars space project, for example. -
4 The planned scientific studies of Mars in the nineties will pursue the
creation of theoretical models of the evolution of Mars. Aerostat probes
have been assigned an important role in the direct exploration of the Mars
atmosphere and surface. A spacecraft comprising orbital and descent
modules will be placed in an eliptical orbit around Mars at the beginning
of September 1997. This orbit will be corrected by means of maneuvers in
such a way as to obtain a position corresponding to the touchdown site.
Toward the middle of September 1997 a descent module will leave the orbit.
The Mars buggie and aerostat will be descended with the help of parachute
systems which are brought into action gradually during the atmospheric
descent. Following the unfurling and filling operation, the aerostat
probe drifts through the atmosphere at various altitudes depending on the
external temperature readings and the time of day. The guide rope is used
to collect information on the atmosphere and the surface. At nighttime
the aerostat is in contact with the surface via the guide rope. You see
footage of the release [otstrelJ of an aerostat probe at an altitude of
35,000 meters. [caption reads 28 February 1992]
5 Attention! This is secret footage of a laboratory .for the production of
UFO's, I repeat, a laboratory for the production of UFO's. Well,
actually, it is something much more prosaic. It is a modern Russian
airship, our "thermoplane." [caption reads 28 August 1992] It is designed
for installation work in Siberia, the Far North, and the Far East and for
accident rescue operations. j095803] [video shows stratospheric
aerostats, graphics of Mars project, airship shaped like a flying saucer
on an airstrip surrounded by trucks] [passage omitted on international air
balloon crossing planned for 1994 which will end in Red Square] (endall)
190905 ~~ 20/1543z dec WC 485 BT #9487 NNNN
Approved or Release