Chinese floating airship hits 7000 meters on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

A floating airship has conducted scientific observation at an altitude of over 7,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau marking a world record, reports China Central Television.

A floating airship conducts water vapor observation at an altitude of over 7,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on Thursday, May 23, 2019. [Photo: CCTV]

With a volume of 2,300 cubic meters, the huge floating airship called "Jimu No.1" Thursday conducted water vapor observation along Namtso Lake, which is at an altitude of about 4,730 meters.

A floating airship conducts water vapor observation at an altitude of over 7,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on Thursday, May 23, 2019. [Photo: CCTV]

Developed by Chinese researchers, it is said to be the first floating airship of its kind and size to arrive at such altitudes for the purpose of scientific observations.

A floating airship conducts water vapor observation at an altitude of over 7,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on Thursday, May 23, 2019. [Photo: CCTV]

The monitoring project is part of China's second Qinghai-Tibet research mission, and is expected to help researchers understand the source of the water supply and water transmission route on the plateau.

A floating airship conducts water vapor observation at an altitude of over 7,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on Thursday, May 23, 2019. [Photo: CCTV]

Dubbed as the "third pole" and "the water tower of Asia," the plateau provides water for many Asian rivers including the Yangtze, Yellow, Indus and Mekong.