RESULTS
The Molniya-Gamma investigation results should lead, in addition to explaining the physical
nature of high-altitude sprite discharges, to detection in experiments of a new physical
phenomenon, runaway electron breakdown. Based on current data, runaway electron
breakdown should be an important factor in the entire system of atmospheric thunderstorm
processes. Thus, the ISS-based investigation, in combination with a wide range of RF
observations, including those using radio interferometers and radar, will facilitate significant
advances in our knowledge of the processes occurring in the atmosphere during
thunderstorms, as well as their correlation with events in the ionosphere.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.