The present invention relates to an autonomous stratosphere platform which is preferably intended to be positioned in the stratosphere, is carried by a carrying shield (1) and is controlled by a control and drive unit (3) which can use control elements (301) to control the carrying shield (1) via lines (302). A cable (5) is used to connect the control and drive unit (3) to a capsule (2) which is intended to hold a payload and the requisite electrical and electronic components for operating the autonomous stratosphere platform. A control element (8) having an anchoring shield (6) is fastened to the capsule (2), again on a cable (5). The stratosphere platform experiences uplift as a result of the wind gradient between the wind layer of the anchoring shield (6) and that of the carrying shield (1). The control element (8) and the control and drive unit (3) contain at least one respective GPS receiver and radio means for transmitting their coordinates to a receiver in the capsule (2), as well as a respective cable pulley for changing the length of the cable (5). The cable (5), the capsule (2), the control and drive unit (3) and the control element (8) have radar transponders (9) or Lüneburg lenses for passive localization.