OREANDA-NEWS. October 8, 2008. Russia is planning to launch a satellite to study flashes in the Earth atmosphere.
According to Lev Zelyonyii, director of the Russian Space Research Institute, the satellite called Chibis (Lapwing) will study the structure of lightnings, as well as conditions which cause their occurrence.

 The spacecraft is to be orbited by Russian cargo vehicle Progress, he says. Then, after the separation, Chibis will climb to the altitude of 400km. This experiment will held evolving the idea of Progress` scientific application. Last year the scientists began performing experiments with cargo vehicles before their drowning.