Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
Boating season at McMurdo is almost over...the icebreaker Oden has cleared the channel, the tanker Paul Buck has come and gone (that vessel is being retired after this season), and the cargo vessel American Tern is done offloading and will head north in a day or two after backloading all of the retro cargo and garbage.
Bill Spindler is not wintering at Pole in 2010, never more than an alternate, although I was PQ'd and all, including the psych test in Denver. Well, that was fun while it lasted, I can always think about 2011, but in the meantime I must wish everyone all the best. You will SURELY have a good winter!
The dome is gone. I'm not done dealing with all of the pictures, but already the most comprehensive web collection of dome deconstruction photos is here...and I do have more to post. Not to mention the rest of the summer construction pics. Stay tuned.
Significant updates in the Antarctic support contract rebid process in the past few weeks...not much new hard info, just updates!
12 November 2009 marked the 40th anniversary of the first time women set foot at the South Pole. This was marked by massive Antarctic Sun coverage as well as a group photo of women on station. Here.
Media alert...Bill Spindler was interviewed on in early November by a New York Times science reporter about the upcoming dome demolition...the article is still up although the dome is decidedly not.
Satellite update...TDRS-1 failed at the end of the 2009 winter, the last day of service was 21 October 2009. Other satellites were moved around...who knows what GOES around...(my satcom info page)
The message boards are still around...stop by the new home of Mike Poole's Antarctic Memories, which now includes the archives of Glenn Grant's Iceboard. If you have questions or problems with this excellent resource...the best place for info on jobs and life on the ice, ask me for help!
My second winter was in 2005 as the Title II Inspector (huh, what's that?)...and stayed on for a month after the 21 October station opening until the summer person showed up. I returned to the US on 21 January after 2 months in NZ/OZ. Hopefully before I left I wasn't too toasty to write a feature article for the 30 October 2005 Antarctic Sun..... Read it for yourself and decide...
More news updated 7 February.
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