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Stratospheric balloon launched by scientists in eastern Slovakia

Xinhua, May 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

A stratospheric balloon with a modern experimental platform was launched by Slovak and Czech scientists and students from the Spisska Nova Ves airport in the Eastern Slovakia on Saturday morning.

The launching of the balloon wasn't easy due to rainy weather, but according to Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA) chairman Jakub Kapus, the scientists have managed to collect all necessary data.

The balloon landed after several hours near the town of Medzilaborce in eastern Slovakia.

"The experiment will evaluate DNA damage in line with the latest biochemical knowledge by the use of the spectral and photometric methodologies," said Jan Zitka from the Mendel University in Brno, the Czech Republic.

Apart from evaluating damage to human DNA caused by radiation in stratosphere, the balloon also collected data on concentration of ozone in the upper part of stratosphere, concluded Zitka. Endit