Press Statement - July 11, 1999

PS-99-8 Media contact only: Peter West (703) 292-8070 pwest@nsf.gov

On Completion of South Pole Medical Air Drop

A U.S. Air Force C-141 cargo jet has successfully air-dropped the medical supplies needed to treat a woman spending the winter months at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The 47-year-old patient, whose identity is being kept confidential, recently discovered a lump in one of her breasts.

The plane arrived at the South Pole at 1:30 a.m. (U.S. Eastern time) on Sunday, July 11. The drop took place at approximately 1:55 a.m. Station personnel retrieved all six of the dropped bundles, which contained medical supplies and equipment.

The cargo aircraft left Christchurch, New Zealand at 5:54 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, July 10. An accompanying KC-10 tanker aircraft followed approximately 20 minutes later. The tanker refueled the cargo plane en route to the Pole.

The aircraft returned to Christchurch at approximately 8:25 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, July 12 after a flight of about 14 hours.