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Last Flight Out

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Re: Last Flight Out

#291

Post by walrus01 »

lxgr wrote: post #29
Reason077 wrote: post #24

> "Slow and intermittent Internet access." Hmm, how long until Starlink (or similar) reaches the South Pole?

Once inter-satellite links are operational, presumably. Looking at [1], there are already some polar orbit satellites, but without these links, that doesn't help Antarctica much. (I'm also not sure if the polar satellites are operational for regular traffic yet.) [1] https://satellitemap.space/

The inter satellite links are working now, with present high inclination satellite density, starlink service uptime to terminals in Nunavut is about 80% right now and increasing. A number of people with "RV" plan and maritime starlink terminals also now report them working in the middle of ocean crossings.

Re: Last Flight Out

#292

Post by leemailll »

dpflan wrote: post #16

If you're interested in the people and personalities and activities at the South Pole, the Werner Herzog film Encounters at the End of the World is a revealing and interesting documentary. It includes a fascinating part about a deluded penguin choosing to leave its flock and begin a fatal journey towards the center of the island... - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encounters_at_the_End_of_the_W... - https://www.imdb.c…

There also is a japanese movie based on a chef in Antarctica: The Chef of South Polar (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345728/)

Re: Last Flight Out

#293

Post by bergoid »

gnatman wrote: post #126

I thought those fuel bladders were pretty cool! Never thought about transporting volatiles in anything other than a rigid tank. Also had to look up what AN-8 Fuel is: "AN8 is a special fuel blend unique to the Antarctic and Arctic. It has a lower flash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which also lowers the gelling point when extreme cold temperatures can cause wax crystals to start forming in the fuel. AN8 will remai…

Curiously, they refill the empty bladders with air before sledding them back to McMurdo. "For safety", but the article doesn't explain why this is safer.

Re: Last Flight Out

#294

Post by qikInNdOutReply »

mjevans wrote: post #278
AceJohnny2 wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Unlike Amundsen's, such a station can have a nuclear reactor, with decades worth of fuel. Tangentially, McMurdo (the coastal Antarctica base) did have a nuclear reactor for a bit. It didn't go great. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2014/ph241/reid2/

An unfortunate early design. Hopefully the engineering knowledge and access to far better design tools that have developed in the interleaving ~50 years would allow for a much better design today. Though my hopes must be tempered by the prospect of greed. It would be better if the government(s) created an open design which could reuse off the shelf or components that any corporation could compete to create.

Eh, no.. a failed concept, to grasp the techological deep roots needed to supply something with specialists and machinery at all times, at a location that is 9 months off limits.

Re: Last Flight Out

#296

Post by verandaguy »

foobarbecue wrote: post #60
dpflan wrote: post #16

If you're interested in the people and personalities and activities at the South Pole, the Werner Herzog film Encounters at the End of the World is a revealing and interesting documentary. It includes a fascinating part about a deluded penguin choosing to leave its flock and begin a fatal journey towards the center of the island... - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encounters_at_the_End_of_the_W... - https://www.imdb.c…

FYI, many people who spent time at McMurdo around the filming of Encounters are not big fans. The interviews were intentionally set up to make people look weird. The narration implies there's something wrong with "polar people." You might find us dissapointingly normal. A Year On Ice is a more accurate representation. I'm in Frozen Planet, but you can't believe all the narration in that either.

It sounds like you either are or were formerly posted in the Antarctic — any advice about how to get involved, and maybe get a shift working there, as a civilian with a technical background but without much in the way of a research background? Or is it just totally off the table?

Re: Last Flight Out

#297

Post by thomasjudge »

ilamont wrote: post #130

The prospect of a medical emergency would be terrible. I think there was an unplanned cancer surgery at this base many years back, but there are so many other things that can go wrong with no ER or quick evacuation to turn to. Even a dental emergency would be a disaster. ETA: The cancer emergency was in 1998 required a special air drop but they had to wait until October to fly out the patient. https://antarcticsun.us…

There was the case of the doctor who developed appendicitis, and with no other doctors around, did his own appendectomy...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Rogozov

Re: Last Flight Out

#300

Post by kjs3 »

foobarbecue wrote: post #60
dpflan wrote: post #16

If you're interested in the people and personalities and activities at the South Pole, the Werner Herzog film Encounters at the End of the World is a revealing and interesting documentary. It includes a fascinating part about a deluded penguin choosing to leave its flock and begin a fatal journey towards the center of the island... - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encounters_at_the_End_of_the_W... - https://www.imdb.c…

FYI, many people who spent time at McMurdo around the filming of Encounters are not big fans. The interviews were intentionally set up to make people look weird. The narration implies there's something wrong with "polar people." You might find us dissapointingly normal. A Year On Ice is a more accurate representation. I'm in Frozen Planet, but you can't believe all the narration in that either.

any people who spent time at McMurdo around the filming of Encounters are not big fans

They didn't check out any of Werner Herzogs movies before letting him in? They would have known what they were in for.

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