Novembre 2017 – W.A.P.

Chapel of the Snows

On: 29 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

The Chapel of the Snows, a non-denominational place of worship at NSF’s McMurdo Station, Antarctica, overlooks McMurdo Sound and the Royal Society mountain range.

The current chapel, dedicated in 1989, features stained glass related to the Antarctic Continent; the Erebus Chalice, a William IV silver gilt chalice carried aboard HMS Erebus by Sir James Clark Ross on his Antarctic voyage during the period 1839-43; and memorabilia from the U.S. Navy‘s involvement in Operation Deep Freeze, the precursor to the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program.

The chapel’s altar comes from St. Saviour’s Chapel in Lyttelton, New Zealand, where Robert Falcon Scott worshiped prior to embarking on his Terra Nova Expedition.

Source: Office of Polar Programs – National Science Foundation

Image; Andrea Dixon, NSF

The full story of the Chapel of the Snows at (WAP USA-22) can be found at:

http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/history/chapel.html

Chinese firm is building new Brazilian Antarctic Base Ferraz

On: 27 Novembre 201727 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

China National Electronics Imports and Exports Corporation (CEIEC) has won a contract to build a research station in the freezing Antarctic for Brazil, to replace the one that burned down in 2012. The new “Comandante Ferraz” Station (WAP BRA-Ø2) on King George’s Island, Antarctica will be delivered by the incoming 2018 Antarctic campaign.

The new base will be a 5,000-sq-m structure that can accommodate 64 people and 18 laboratories. As well as the living and working quarters, the company will build a heliport, solar panels and wind turbines that will power the base.

The original base was destroyed by a fire in the station’s generators (see picture aside). Two soldiers were killed and one injured in the blaze.

The base was designed by Chilean firm Studio 41 Architecture, which won an international design completion in 2013.

All components of the structure are prefabricated and assembled on-site, in a project seen as a “monument of friendship” between the two countries.

The design puts bedrooms on the upper of two structures, together with a video room, a cyber cafe, a conference room and library. The lower block houses the laboratories, garages and the central storehouses.

Thanksgiving greetings from one of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s military partners

On: 24 Novembre 201724 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Operation Deep Freeze provides the U.S. military’s support to the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program. Deep Freeze incorporates support from many branches of the service, including the US Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Members of the 109^th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, the only unit to fly ski-equipped LC-130 cargo aircraft, support the Antarctic Program by flying from New Zealand to Antarctica; from NSF’s McMurdo to Amundsen-Scott South Pole stations; and into deep-field science camps.

https://www.facebook.com/128863520470769/videos/1769568843066887/

In this roughly two-minute video, officers and enlisted personnel offer holiday greetings to friends, family and others on this Thanksgiving Day from a station run by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program and from McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22).

TNX and credit Office of Polar Programs – National Science Foundation & 109th Airlift Wing

KA4RXP/MM Status report for Antarctica Cruise February 2018

On: 23 Novembre 201723 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

By: John Landrigan [ka4rxp@gmail.com]

Plans continue to make certain that all is in readiness for my expeditionary cruise to Antarctica aboard the M/V Enderby in February 2018.

A cruise previously planned to Australia and New Zealand aboard the Holland American Line ‘”Noordam” occurred in late October. During that time I was able to visit with Rodney, the owner of Heritage Expeditions in Christchurch, New Zealand and Rowan Homes who owns Nautic Electronics.

I gave Rowan the MFJ 998RT auto-tuner and he installed it inside of a Fiberglass Reinforced General Purpose enclosure. This and the Pacific Aerials High Frequency SSB Vertical were then mounted on a top deck railing aboard the Enderby.

(Left) Antenna and MFJ Auto-Tuner on top deck of M/V Enderby.

MFJ 998RT inside reinforced fiberglass enclosure (Right)

Another project was to be assured the primary radio set up – the Yaesu FT 897 and SPE 1.3KW amplifier were communicating happily with each other and the MFJ 998RT auto-tuner. This necessitated a ‘road trip’ to Starkville, Mississippi, home of MFJ where Martin Jue, Richard Stubbs, Ben, Mike and others let me set up a temporary station using a vertical antenna and testing everything out. All worked well.

MFJ employees setting up temporary vertical so functional testing of the Yaesu 897, SPE 1.3KW amplifier and MFJ 998RT auto-tuner could be verified. (see pic to the Right)

Bolted onto an aluminum panel with padding underneath are the Yaesu FT-897 and SPE 1.3KW amplier. The amplifier can fly as in-cabin, carry on luggage due to its compact size and 22 pounds weight. The SCS Pactor Modem and West Mountain Radio RigBlaster Blue sit on top of the white Velcro mounting patches.

My visit with Rodney was most enjoyable and informative. This voyage is one that I feel especially fortunate to be going on. I’ll provide more details via the radio email Winlink program during the trip.

If propagation is more favorable in February than it was in October, I should be able to make a large number of contacts especially during Antarctica Activity Week, February 17 to 25, 2018.

As a back up, I will be using an Icom 7100. A problem shared by both the FT 897 and the IC 7100 is a lack of sockets to plug stuff into. Common to both radios is the need to have an SCS PACTOR Modem as part of the complement, and, to have minimal to none cable switching going on.

(Below:) Equipments: Yaesu FT-897 and SPE 1.3KW amplifier

The FT 897 problem was resolved with a bhi CAT-MATE Electronic “Y” Splitter and a quick jumper move at J102 on the ACC 1/8 inch socket for ALC and PTT control to the SPE amplifier.

The Icom 7100 requires the use of the ACC conversion cable (OPC-599). ACC1 on the “Y” cable accepts a 9090 cable from Farallon Electronics to the SCS PACTOR Modem. The ACC2 socket will take the PNP-7D1 cable to the MFJ Ameritron ARB-704 amplifier-to-transceiver interface. The ARB-704 will output ALC and PTT to the SPE amplifier.

Of course another road trip to Starkville will be necessary to make sure all this works.

Next on the list is an after Christmas shopping trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota for warm weather gear as per the suggestions of Heritage Expeditions and several other ham friends.

All I want for Christmas is an SFI above 100 for the month of February. I won’t be too dismayed if there is a good to spectacular auroral display sometime before we get to midnight sun conditions.

TNX and credit: John Landrigan KA4RXP

What else to say? John, congrats for the excellent job. You and your friends are doing really great.

All seems to be well planned, and your Antarctic adventure, I’m sure, will give you lots of satisfactions; we’ll follow you every day.

LU4AAO/D WAP-286

On: 20 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Following the Nov. 4^th activation of the Antarctic Museum Marambio by the Radio CLUB QRM Belgrano hereby some datas coming from Raul Bobn Foster LU5AR, Secretary of the RC:- Se ha completado la información en la página de la actividad. Toda la información en general y el log en particular, está listo. Se hicieron más de 300 QSOs-.

So LU4AAO/D made over 300 QSO; hereby the list of the Countries with which, contacts were made.

Argentina
Uruguay
Brasil
Chile.
Romania
Finland
Germany
Italy
Spain

Not so many DX have been made as the 86% of the QSOs were made within Argentina. The information is fully available at http://lu4aao.org/Activacion_Museo_Antartico.htm and it contains pics and details.

LU4AAO/D as WAP-286 remains therefore a brand new one for all the WAP Chasers; let’s hope that on their next activity during the Dias de la Antartida Argentina and Antarctic Activity Week 2018 they can improve antennas & power in order to give a chance to many more hams worldwide to log WAP-286.

TNX LU5AR, Raul Bon Foster, LU5AG, Secretary of Radio Club QRM Belgrano (LU4AAO)

Events at King George Island-Antarctica

On: 16 Novembre 201716 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Now that the Antarctic Campaign 2017-2018 is almost open, it’s time to make presentations and get to know the neighbors.

Polish Vernadski Research Station (WAP POL-Ø1) was opened on 26 February 1977.

A commemorative plaque for this year’s 40th anniversary of Vernadski Station has been given , with a big surprise, to the Polish team by the Chilean neighbors of Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva (WAP CHL-Ø5).

Chile’s independence was officially declared on February 12, 1818, so 2017 marks their 99th anniversary of independence a good way to celebrate both events with 2 joint plaquest on the Antarctic soil.

Personnel from Arctowski did get a first meeting with Brazilians from Comandante Ferraz Station (WAP BRA-Ø2) to mark the good relations of friendship between the two research units in Antarctica.

TNX Arctowsky Polar Antarctic Station

Follow the Polish Team at: https://www.facebook.com/arctowski/

15th AAW 2018 (Antarctic Activity Week)

On: 14 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Just to inform the readers, Antarctic lovers and followers that, it’s time to meditate about the 15th Antarctic Activity Week which will be on air from 17 through 25 Febr. 2018.

From now and ahead, everyone can start to think to which “Special Callsign” a Ham have to apply for, getting a WAP reference and be ready to the 2018 schedule. AAW is the unique event WW, where the Ham community is asked to share and promote initiatives to arise attention to the Icy Continent, a land of study and research, a land of peace and environment protection.

A page has been opened here on WAP website wherte follow the 2018′ esntries. Check: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week-end/news-information/

Join us and enjoy it!

Animals in the Antarctic Ice

On: 11 Novembre 201711 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

The wildlife of Antarctica are extremophiles, having to adapt to the dryness, low temperatures, and high exposure common in Antartica. Enjoy this 7′ video!

The extreme weather of the interior contrasts to the relatively mild conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands, which have warmer temperatures

Antarctic research station wind turbine collapse

On: 10 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Part of a wind turbine at Australia’s Mawson research station (WAP AUS-Ø4) in Antarctica has collapsed overnight, no one was injured in the incident. The head of the turbine fell to the ground about 9 pm Mawson Station time last night.

General Manager of Support and Operations Dr Rob Wooding, said all expeditioners on station were safely inside the living quarters at the time. “While Mawson can experience regular blizzards, the conditions over the last few days have been moderate, with wind gusts of up to 40 knots,” Dr Wooding said. “We have a regular maintenance schedule for all the wind turbines. The cause of the incident is unknown and will be fully investigated.”

The Enercon E30 turbine is 30 metres high and is one of two on station which came into operation in 2003.

Picture show part of the wind turbine in the foreground collapsed overnight. (Photo: Chris Wilson/Australian Antarctic Division) 8th November 2017

Antarctica: Inside the southernmost Russian Orthodox Church

On: 8 Novembre 20178 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Members of the Antarctic Uruguayan ARTIGAS Base (WAP URY-Ø1), journalists and other guests visited the Trinity Church in Russia’s Bellinsghausen Polar Station (WAP RUS-Ø1) on King George Island, Antarctica, during the first week of December 2015. The priest explained to guest how the church was built as well as delivered a speech about the Orthodox and Christian churches in the twenty-first century. (see a video by cicking the gif aside)

The head of the largest of the world’s Eastern Orthodox churches, Patriarch Kirill, has become the first Orthodox leader to visit Antarctica.

A week after meeting Pope Francis to smooth over centuries of tensions with the Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Kirill has reached out to another historically non-Orthodox congregation: penguins.

The Patriarch, who heads the largest of the world’s various eastern Orthodox churches, arrived at Russia’s Bellingshausen research station on King George Island, just off the coast of Antarctica, on Febr. 18, 2016.

(see a video by cicking the gif aside)

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia prayed at the Trinity Church at the Russian Antarctic Station Bellingshausen on the island of Waterloo (aka King George Island). -You are here on the top of the planet … When I sanctified the water in Antarctica today, I thought about the whole globe below us, and prayed for God’s creation. Praying in this temple for relatives and all who works here in Antarctica, for their Countries and the whole world– said the Patriarch.

He took a walk with penguins on the island’s rocky shore before delivering a service for scientists at the Station’s Holy Trinity Church, the southernmost Russian Orthodox chapel on the planet.(see another video by cicking the gif aside)

«Ubi sunt duo vel tres congregati in nomine meo, ibi sum in medio eorum» (Matthew’s Gospel Mt 18,20)

In the last century, the Pontiffs have crossed the boundaries and the Oceans to bring the blessing of God to all peoples, but none have thought of going to Antarctica, a place at the end of the world as Pope Francis says to come from ! Perhaps this possibility could be a goal to him … if he wants it.

The blessing of a vast Earth larger than Europe, occupied by hundreds of scientific Stations and thousands of people engaged in research, needs the blessing of a Church witnessing to those latitudes the love of God and of the Blessed Mother, His Most Holy Mother.

The above message has been delivered by WAP, 4 years ago, to Pope Francis, after having sent the same one to Pope Benedict XVI few years before. That was given among the WAP proposal to build a Catholic Churh at the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station following the idea launched in the year 2004.

When does Italy break the fear and do something like that?

Halley VI Station (WAP GBR-37)

On: 4 Novembre 20174 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

British Antarctic research station to shut for second winter as cracks in ice grow

Having changed location earlier this year to avoid being cut off, the Halley VI station will close again over fears that the ice shelf it stands on may break

A British research station in Antarctica is being shut down for the second winter in a row following concerns over growing cracks in the 150-metre thick ice shelf on which it stands.

The Halley VI station, which is parked on the Brunt ice shelf, will be shut down between March and November 2018, with the 14-strong staff who had been gearing up for the winter stint redeployed elsewhere in Antarctica or brought home to the UK.

The director of the British Antarctic Survey, Professor Dame Jane Francis, said the decision was down to the difficulties of rescuing researchers in the winter months, should there be a break in the ice shelf –an event known as calving.

Source: The Guardian

RI1ANL Novolazarevskaya Station (WAP RUS-Ø9)

On: 1 Novembre 20172 Novembre 2017 By: Gianni Varetto

Nikolay Zinin, RW6ACM will be active from Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctica as RI1ANL, March 2018 – March 2019. He will operate on HF Bands CW, SSB, Digital Modes.
Novolazarevskaya Station is located at the extreme southeastern tip of the Schirmacher Oasis approximately in 80 km from the Lazarev Sea coast. An ice shelf with a slightly undulating surface resting against an ice cap extends north of the Station in the vicinity of Leningradsky Bay. From the south, there is a continental ice sheet slope. The station was opened on January 18, 1961. First constructions included service space, a living house, a mess-room and a power station, as well as glaciological, magnetic and actinometric pavilions and auxiliary space. There is a runway (1200 m x 60 m dimensions and the landing course of 114°) in the station area for ski- and wheeled aircraft located in 15 km south of the station on the ice sheet surface at the 500 m elevation above sea level.

Even if R1ANL has been active in the past, RI1ANL is a brand new call for WAP Chasers. However, it’s necessary to know little bit more about R1ANL just to avoid confusion.

If you check QRZ.com you will notice that R1ANL is reported to be a call being active from Leningradskaya Base; a good explanation is kindly given by Dominik Weiel DL5EBE (aka R3/DL5EBE).

Dominik wrote: -The entry of R1ANL in QRZ.COM was wrong; the mistake has been corrected by RN1ON and now (Nov. 1st 2017) all has been fixed . TNX RN1ON & DL5EBE

R1ANL was activated by Nikolay Zinin (RW6ACM) from Novolazarevskaya Base. Being a member of the 43^rd Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), Nikolay “Nick” Zinin made about 13.961 QSOs as R1ANL from 27.05.1997 – 28.04.1999. QSL was first requested via UA6AH who never answered the requests. I met Nikolay in Bremerhaven after his wintering on board of Ak. Fedorov (see attached photo) and I offered him to take care about the R1ANL QSL cards. A few months later I received the original handwritten R1ANL logs. I manually entered all QSOs into my computer and created ADIF files which I uploaded to LoTW, ClubLog and I also printed paper cards which are available via DL5EBE (buro and direct)-.

Now Nikolay, RW6ACM, will be again overwintering on Novolazarevskaya this upcoming wintering season as published by Aleksej, RN1ON, on https://www.qrz.com/lookup/RI1ANL QSLs this time will be handled by RN1ON..
Picture aside shows Dominik R3/DL5EBE, Nikolay Zinin RW6ACM and Oleg Sakharov UA1PBA/R1ANF.