Dec
08
2017
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Podcast: Helo Ops
Without any network of paved roads, getting around Antarctica's rugged landscape is tough. Helicopters are the primary means to transport people and equipment to the near field. The Antarctic Sun is taking a behind-the-scenes look at the workers and what they do to make science at the bottom of the world possible. This week: Helo Ops
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Oct
04
2017
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Podcast: Feeding McMurdo
It is no small feat to keep more than 800 hardworking people fed, especially when you're at the bottom of the world. The Antarctic Sun is taking a behind-the-scenes look at the workers and what they do to make science at the bottom of the world possible. This week: The Galley
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Aug
02
2017
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Podcast: McMurdo Station On The Move
Mass transit may not be one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about operations on the icy continent, but without it McMurdo Station wouldn't function. The Antarctic Sun is taking a behind-the-scenes look at the workers and what they do to make science at the bottom of the world possible. This week: The Shuttles Department.
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Feb
13
2017
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The End of Summer Armada
Over the course of about three weeks, a flotilla of ships docked at McMurdo Station to help both McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott Couth Pole stations restock and prepare for next year. As the austral summer season draws to an end, an annual succession of ocean-going vessels travel to the station to break a channel through the sea ice, remove unneeded equipment and waste and deliver cargo and fuel.
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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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Podcast: The Berg Field Center
Podcast: The Lake Hoare Field Camp
