Nov
21
2016
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Phoenix Rising
When a C-17 cargo plane landed at McMurdo Station's recently completed Phoenix runway on Tuesday, Nov. 15, it meant that the station's newest airfield had passed its final test and is now ready to receive planes and passengers from the U.S. Antarctic Program's port of departure in New Zealand as early as February.
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Nov
01
2016
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A Re-Breath of Fresh Air
Over the past few years, there have been major advances in scuba equipment. However, Antarctica is a harsh continent, as the saying goes, and new technology and techniques have to be carefully tested before they are allowed into the field. This season, the McMurdo Station scientific dive team is evaluating the safety of new "rebreather" diving systems that have been growing in popularity.
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Oct
14
2016
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Bigger Boats, Better Science
Two new boats on their way to Palmer Station will soon allow researchers to dramatically extend their time out on the water, and the distance away from station they're able to travel while reducing their risk and exposure to the elements. The new Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), scheduled to arrive in the coming months, will complement the fleet of smaller boats already at the station.
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Sep
21
2016
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The Last Winfly
Since 1967, Winfly has been the transition period between the winter and summer seasons. However next year, as the station starts to transition into year-round science operations, flights will be flying to and from the station roughly once a month throughout the winter, negating the need for that early cluster of flights.
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Mar
02
2016
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As Residents Depart, Winter Arrives
Operations at McMurdo Station and the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station have transitioned into winter mode as the residents prepare for nearly four months of total darkness. The last flight of the season left the South Pole on February 16 and the last regular flight out of McMurdo left on March 2.
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Oct
14
2015
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International Antarctic Family Welcomes New Members
In the past 18 months, multiple nations signed on to the international accords that administer Antarctica and the protocol overseeing its environmental stewardship. At the same time, other countries have started new science efforts or announced plans to expand dramatically their permanent presence.
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Sep
16
2015
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Despite Storms, Winfly A Success
As Winfly got underway this year, a spate of nasty storms blew through the area, slowing progress and adding to the annual heavy workload. Despite the inclement weather, more than 200 people safely flew into McMurdo Station, including more than two dozen researchers on multiple science teams.
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Sep
03
2015
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Report Offers a Vision for the Next Decade of Antarctic Research
An expert panel convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a strategic vision for the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) that lays out three "strategic priorities" for future research.
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Aug
19
2015
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A Cold Week at the Pole
It was a frigid start to July for those wintering at the South Pole. An eight-day cold snap at the beginning of the month had temperatures hovering near minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with record lows recorded on seven of those days.
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Aug
13
2015
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Successful Flights Means More Access to McMurdo in Winter
Residents wintering at McMurdo Station saw a rare sight in June; A United States Air Force C-17 touching down at the Pegasus Airfield during Antarctica's darkest month, which U.S. Antarctic Program officials hope is harbinger of things to come.
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May
04
2015
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Remote Recovery
After more than two years since launching the SuperTIGER Long Duration Balloon, a joint team of scientists, mountaineers and support personnel finally recovered the buried instrument from a remote spot in the middle of Antarctica earlier this year.
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Feb
09
2015
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Tanker Weather
Every year a fuel vessel, above, arrives at McMurdo Station. Invariably, the weather takes a turn for the worse, with colder temperatures and high winds as the summer comes to an end. This year was no exception.
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Jan
28
2015
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Big Load
The cargo vessel chartered to resupply two of the National Science Foundation's research stations in Antarctica seems up to the task based on name alone. The MV OCEAN GIANT arrived at McMurdo Station on Jan. 26, with nearly seven million pounds of supplies.
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Podcast: McMurdo Station On The Move
The End of Summer Armada
