What is the problem ?
HFK
Why is it impossible to land on the South Pole ?
Is it only a question of money ? Or what else ?
HFK, Vienna, Austria, Europe
******************************************
ARCTIC and ANTARCTIC Advice Agency Austria
http://members.EUnet.at/castaway
the only true POLAR INFORMATION in Austria
******************************************
Rob Holmes
>Is it only a question of money ? Or what else ?
Impossible? It's not impossible. But it is VERY dangerous.
The only aircraft capable of making the flight and landing would be the
LC-130. But, they would have to land at McMurdo first for fuel. So, a
runway would have to be opened up and fuel would have to be brought out to
the runway. They would also have to fuel at McMurdo on the return trip.
The runway at Pole would have to be prepared. It's dark there, and McMurdo,
so the runway would have to be lit up as well.
One other BIG problem is that the hydraulics on the LC-130 don't work very
well at temps under -40. That's why while McMurdo opens up for main body in
early October, Pole opens a month later. It has to warm up first. So, by
bringing in a plane now, there is a very big risk of crashing due to failing
hydraulics. If the plane did land, hydraulic failure might not allow the
plane to take off. Now you have another seven or so people wintering at Pole.
I am not an expert on LC-130s, this is just info I have picked up over the
years flying in them around Antarctica.
OK, I found this in the Antarctic Sun, 11-15-97 edition, in a story about
delays getting into Pole because of the weather:
"Hercs do not react favorably when temperatures dip below minus 50 degrees.
Seals and gaskets shrink and aircraft components such as porpellers, engines,
landing gear, and skis leak excessively. Hydraulic fluid, the life blood of
the complicated and fickle ski system, congeals and causes numerous problems."
--Alexander Colhoun, Antarctic Sun.
So, I missed it by ten degrees, but that's it in a nutshell. I don't believe
that it has anything to do with money.
Rob Holmes
www.theice.org
Tim Beauchamp
> Man can land on the moon and return safely !!!
Haven't put a person on the moon (or any other planet)
in a real long time. It is questionable how long it
would take us to do that again.
Virtually
Tim Beauchamp
ti...@googol.com
Gena Stephens
>
> Man can land on the moon and return safely !!!
> Is it only a question of money ? Or what else ?
>
> ******************************************
> ARCTIC and ANTARCTIC Advice Agency Austria
> http://members.EUnet.at/castaway
> the only true POLAR INFORMATION in Austria
but the main reason I think is Mother Nature. It is not only dark 24hrs
there right now, but the elements of 80-90 below zero with winds that
can be so severe that the very lives of the air crew are at danger-and
then there is the hopes that the target is hit safely and the plane can
continue back to Christchurch.... ALL with the limited supply of fuel
for a GOOD run............ I wish it could be as easy as landing a man
on the moon :-)
Linda
Walt Wheeler
> >Why is it impossible to land on the South Pole ?
> >Is it only a question of money ? Or what else ?
>
> Impossible? It's not impossible. But it is VERY dangerous.
<snip>
> OK, I found this in the Antarctic Sun, 11-15-97 edition, in a story about
> delays getting into Pole because of the weather:
> "Hercs do not react favorably when temperatures dip below minus 50 degrees.
> Seals and gaskets shrink and aircraft components such as porpellers, engines,
> landing gear, and skis leak excessively. Hydraulic fluid, the life blood of
> the complicated and fickle ski system, congeals and causes numerous problems."
> --Alexander Colhoun, Antarctic Sun.
>
> <snip> I don't believe that it has anything to do with money.
also... the C130s are now based at Stratton ANGB, near
Schenectady NY. the 109th Airlift Wing (New York Air National
Guard) assumed the lead for Herc ops in the Antarctic last
season, as the result of a decision that its Arctic summer
responsibilities in Greenland, etc, meshed nicely with the
(opposite) summer season in Antarctica. Hence, the 109 skibirds
are now in the throes of last preps for the winter-over coming, up
North, and the pullout of summer folk/gear/samples/etc. It's not
that they couldn't turn, but as Rob's explanation makes clear, it
would be a high-risk mission, and would be a detractor/distractor
for those facing the only-slightly-less-hostile conditions bearing
down on Greenland.
ww
walt wheeler
Buckeye 447
Nassau NY 12123
Chris Weddle
>>Why is it impossible to land on the South Pole ?
>>Is it only a question of money ? Or what else ?
>Impossible? It's not impossible. But it is VERY dangerous.
>So, I missed it by ten degrees, but that's it in a nutshell. I don't believe
>that it has anything to do with money. Rob Holmes www.theice.org
Hi Rob,
A good perspective giving message. One thing I try to emphasize to
appreciate the remoteness of the South Pole, is to consider that it takes
longer to get there than to reach the Moon.
OK, unequal transportation problems but if we had a Saturn V Rocket on the
pad and a S'Pole bound individual sitting in an airplane, and they both
took off at the same time the Moon Trippers would arrive days before the
Pole traveller got close.
The issue is technology as you indicated. I'm certain these problems could
be solved, but imagine the relative cost from the taxpayer's viewpoint. And
thus from the legislator's perspective as well. It cost billions to figure
out how to reach the Moon when ever we felt like it. Reaching the South
Pole in deepest winter would be a smaller problem but still enormously costly.
Myself, I think we should do it. Develop the means to take supplies and
personnel over the continent at any time of year and in any weather. This
is my very self serving point of view, as I'd love to be on the trip! But
what taxpayer would not have a fit over spending vast sums to benefit 28
people? Or in this special winter's case, 28 science and support folks plus
15 construction workers? It's a rude reality but there it is, very plain
and simple.
The South Pole is not more remote than the Moon. But it does possess more
characteristics of another world than does any other place within the
Earth's atmosphere. In this way, it is near enough to alien that anyone
going there is reasonable in comparing it to duty on some off-world outpost.
Just a little more technology though, and it will be merely the longest
commute to work left on the planet. Wonder how long that will be in arriving?
Good Evening,
Chris Weddle
RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer
<John> <Cormier>
moon, they were still using slide rules to do it with. Amazing, eh?
Btw, here's to the memory of ol'Pete Conrad--bought the farm either today or
yesterday. Flags should be at half mast, I hope.
John Cormier
Ft. Lauderdale, FL