“ISS on Ice”: the first success of the unique Russian drifting station “North Pole - 41”

The Russian drifting station "North Pole - 41" completed its work in the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean. The ice-resistant self-propelled platform, which has no analogues in the world, left the ice field in the Svalbard archipelago, traveled more than 30 nautical miles to open water, and then headed to Murmansk, where its crew landed on shore. Next, the polar explorers will go to St. Petersburg.

This successful expedition, which lasted 19 months, fully confirmed the effectiveness of the new Russian concept for Arctic exploration.



It is worth noting that in the last century, Soviet polar explorers were engaged in similar research, landing and drifting on an ice floe. The first such mission took place in 1937 and was called “North Pole - 1”.

In the modern history of Russia, 19 such expeditions were organized. However, each time the polar explorers had to be evacuated ahead of schedule due to the splitting of the ice floe. This is due to global warming and the active melting of Arctic ice, which has led to a situation where it has become simply impossible to select a suitable platform for the mission.

This is how the idea of ​​creating the above-mentioned ice-resistant self-propelled platform was born. After all, Arctic exploration is an extremely important issue for our country, since it is related to the development of the Northern Sea Route, as well as the military infrastructure designed to ensure the security of our northern territories.

The North Pole - 41 station is capable of independently, without an icebreaker, reaching the required ice floe, freezing into it and so drifting for about two years. At the same time, polar explorers have at their disposal a wide range of tools for conducting research and live in very comfortable conditions throughout the mission.

By the way, it is no coincidence that our station was nicknamed “ISS on Ice,” and scientists from different countries want to take part in new missions.

Now that North Pole 41 has arrived in Murmansk, it will be examined, repaired and equipped for a new expedition. The last one should take place in August.