Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) celebrates the National aviation day

Leidos is the prime contractor supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) with several teammates. Together the support contract is known as the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC).

See: Antarctic Support Contract | Leidos

First up, the large-and-in-charge C-17 Globemaster! Operated by the 62nd Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, the C-17 can carry more than 10,000 lbs. of cargo or up to 125 personnel virtually anywhere in the world. They move more than 2.5 million lbs. of supplies to Antarctica every year to keep USAP operational. These large aircraft provide vital air-drop capabilities, and they are the only U.S. aircraft capable of a mid-winter evacuation.

ASC is celebrating the many aircraft that it relies on to support the National Science Foundation (NSF) United States Antarctic Program.

We’ve highlighted the large cargo planes, but small fixed/rotary wing aircraft are also essential to supporting USAP science teams out in the field. USAP utilizes a fleet of three helicopters, each capable of landings at altitudes of 12,500 ft. above sea level; a DC-3T (BT-67) Basler medium lift aircraft, which can transport 20 passengers or 5,000 lbs. cargo; and the USAP de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, which provides access to deep field science camps in hard-to-reach areas.

CZ*ECO NELSON Station WAP CZE-Ø1, new proposal for Station module

Brno University of Technology and Masaryk University present a proposal for a new research station module on Nelson Island in Antarctica. The station will be used by the Czech Antarctic Research Program based at the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University.

It also creates the conditions for research into structural solutions, energy sources, technologies and materials that are friendly to nature and resistant to the effects of extreme conditions, which is supported by the faculties and institutes of the Technical University in Brno, a technological partner of the Czech Antarctic Research Program.

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This module is used for testing architectural and technical solutions proposed by the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University and for the presentation of Czech Antarctic Research.

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The implementation of the building, the production documentation of which was created within the FA BUT project “Housing system in the extreme world (not only) of Antarctica”, project no. FA-S-20-6498, is financed by ČANF, Czech Antarctic Foundation.

Rock Hut (aka Wilson Stone Hut) – Cape Crozier, Ross Island (HSM 21), WAP MNB-NEW

WAP has recently listed as WAP MNB-NEW,   the remains of Wilson Stone Hut (Rock Hut) at 77°30’ South, 169°16’ East, at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, constructed in July 1911 by Edward Wilson’s party, of the British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13) during the winter journey to collect Emperor penguin eggs.

Cape Crozier is an ice-free area on the lower eastern slopes of Mount Terror, at the eastern extremity of Ross Island. Lichens and algal crusts are found adjacent to the stone hut site. It is a remote and isolated site with few visitors. Adelie and Emperor penguin colonies are nearby.

New Zealand and United Kingdom are the parties undertaking the management if this Historic Site and Monument  (HSM) #21

The Rock Hut formed critical shelter for Wilson, Cherry-Garrard and Bowers during their winter journey from Evans to Cape Crozier. The collection of emperor eggs containing embryos was thought to be of huge significance to understanding of evolution. Testing a range of sledging diets was another goal. Enduring temperatures as low as -60C, the team came close to death but eventually returned to Cape Evans without loss of life.

Reference: APA Database | Antarctic Treaty (ats.aq)

Read more at: Cape Crozier: The Winter Journey — Sarah Airriess (twirlynoodle.com)

and also at:  https://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjy1OKC19aHAxUH1wIHHWp6GQEQFnoECDIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocuments.ats.aq%2Frecatt%2FAtt543_e.pdf&usg=AOvVaw37GbQ6qWIV9R5ylEkOM3qS&opi=89978449

Inside a square of stones piled one on the other, a bank of drifted snow has been trapped, where it has compacted into ice, and has swallowed up a crate containing some historical detritus.  There are at least two pieces of penguin skin, and some green fabric, perished; something grey and knit which may be a scarf or socks, and other less identifiable things. These were left behind in July 1911 when Wilson, Bowers, and Cherry-Garrard reduced their two sledge loads to one to return to Cape Evans.

14 August: Remembering Father Massimiliano Kolbe SP3RN , Saint Patron of Radioamateurs

Maximilian Maria Kolbe, born Rajmund Kolbe (Zduńska Wola, January 8, 1894 – Auschwitz, August 14, 1941), was a Polish priest and Franciscan friar who offered to take the place of a father destined for the hunger bunker in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Maximilian Maria Kolbe was beatified in 1971 by Pope Paul VI, who called him “martyr of love”, and then proclaimed a Saint in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.

On August 14, Father Massimiliano Kolbe  Ham Radio callsign SP3RN  is remembered as the Saint Patron of Radio Amateurs.

To recall the day of his martyrdom (Auschwitz, August 14, 1941),  a special radio callsign for the Aniversary of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Patron of Hamradio operators, Radioclub Islas Canarias has been awarded a special callsign EG8HKT , Hermano Kolbe Tenerife to be on air during the week of August 14th to 18th.

Thanks to the Radio Club, the  local Hamradio operators remark  the existance of an image of the Saint in the island of Tenerife. The image is located in the Hermitage of Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe, Casas de la Cumbre, in the area of Anaga, in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

More info at: http://goo.gl/maps/v0t20
The one-contact diploma will be available for download, once the activity is over and all requests have been processed.   
Requests has to be sent to:  https://concursos.urvag.com/contest/.
The download will be available from September 1st, 2024.

 

Polar philately; DL8JDX again across the Poles

Now in the Northern hemisphere it’s almost summertime, the ideal period to travel to the northern latitude while in about 6 months time, it will be better heading to the South Pole.

Our “WAP Ambassador” Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX is again on board of  Polar cruise  MS “Hamburg” as lecturer and support guide and this time they will visit Norwegian Fjords  and Spitzbergen islands.
Volker was in the Svalbard;  at Longyearbyen last july 23 and 24 and at Ny Alesund on july 25.

From there he sent greetings and a couple of Polar envelopes with some interesting cancellations.
WAP readers and followers send Volker greetings for the hot weather that hits our sunny plains!

TNX Voklker DL8JDX

Cape Crozier Field Hut (WAP USA-NEW)

The US Cape Crozier hut  at 77° 27′ 41″ South,  169° 11′ 13″ East, is situated on the NW side of a low peak (675 m) NW of Post Office Hill. A message post from Scott’s National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04) is situated in West Colony (169° 14′ 37.5″ E, 77° 27′ 16.7″ S) and was designated as Historic Site and Monument (HSM) No.69 through Measure 4 (1995). The area is Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No. 124.

An Automatic Weather Station (AWS) named Laurie II is istalled at Cape Crozier, situated on the Ross Ice Shelf 35 km east of Cape Crozier.  Air temperatures recorded at Laurie II between 2009-13 showed December as the warmest month over this period, with a mean temperature of -5.8º C, and August as the coolest with a mean temperature of -33.1º C.

 Location of other protected areas within close proximity of the Area
The nearest protected areas to Cape Crozier are on Ross Island: Lewis Bay (ASPA No.156), the site of the 1979 DC-10 passenger aircraft crash is the closest and 45 km west; Tramway Ridge (ASPA No.130) near the summit of Mt. Erebus is 55 km west; Discovery Hut on the Hut Point Peninsula (ASPA No.158 and HSM No.18); Arrival Heights (ASPA No.122) is 70 km to the SW adjacent to McMurdo Station; Cape Royds (ASPA No.121), Backdoor Bay (ASPA No.157 and HSM No.15) and Cape Evans (ASPA No.155) are 75 km west; and New College Valley (ASPA No.116) are 75 km NW at Cape Bird.

The primary helicopter landing site preferred for most access to the Area, is located at 169° 11.19′ E, 77° 27.64′ S (elevation 240 m). This landing site is below and 150 m northwest of the US Cape Crozier Field Hut, and outside of the Area approximately 430 m west of the western ASPA boundary (Map 2). The site is marked by a circle of bright orange painted rocks. An alternative, secondary, landing site may be used when necessary, located at 169° 11.28′ E, 77° 27.72′ S. The landing site is 150 m above the Hut and approximately 450 m west of the ASPA boundary.

Read more about the US Field Hut at Cape Crozier at:
Cape Crozier: 5th Largest Adelie Colony | A Southern Migration (wordpress.com)

Cape Crozier Field Hut is listed on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP USA-NEW. On next article we’ll see another historical one at Cape Crozier; the Rock Hut (aka Wilson Stone Hut) , HSM 21, which will enter on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP MNB-NEW