 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

