About the Division of Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics

Division Director: Brian Stone (Acting)

Besides funding research, the National Science Foundation provides scientists with logistics, operational, and laboratory support in Antarctica. This includes a year-round inland research station at the South Pole (90° south latitude); two year-round coastal research stations (McMurdo at 78°S and Palmer at 64°S) with extensive laboratory and computing capabilities; summer camps (as required for research); icebreaking research ships--the Laurence M. Gould, (76 meters in length) and Nathaniel B. Palmer (94 meters); U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard air transports; a fleet of ski-equipped LC-130 airplanes; Twin Otter airplanes; helicopters; U.S. Coast Guard and commercial icebreakers for channel breaking at McMurdo Station, treaty inspection missions and occasionally as needed for research support; a variety of oversnow vehicles; and automated, unmanned weather and geophysical observatories. Ships of the U.S. academic fleet and the ocean-drilling program on occasions also support research in Antarctica.

Air transport between New Zealand and McMurdo Station is provided several times per week in the austral summer from early October to the end of February. From McMurdo, the logistics hub, parties can access other sites, including the station at the South Pole. Winter flights to McMurdo are feasible if required. Between February and October the summer camps are closed and winter research is limited to the immediate environs of South Pole and McMurdo, where station residents are isolated as long as eight months.

Palmer Station, on Anvers Island in the Antarctic Peninsula region, is logistically isolated from the rest of the United States Antarctic Program and relies mainly on the research ship Laurence M. Gould (during or between research cruises) for transport of passengers and supplies to and from a port at the southern tip of South America. The ship makes several trips throughout the year. Laurence M. Gould provides onboard research support in marine biology, oceanography, and geophysics and can support science in other areas of the Southern Ocean. U.S. antarctic stations and ships provide both voice and data communications (including Internet) with locations outside Antarctica.

Through a contract with NSF, Raytheon Polar Services Company provides a wide range of logistical and science support operations to the United States Antarctic Program.  The U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard fly the large air transports like the LC-130s and C-17s; contractors provide the helicopters and smaller Twin Otter airplanes.

RELATED LINKS

U.S. Antarctic Program

• About the U.S. Antarctic Program
• Frequently asked questions about the U.S. Antarctic Program
• U.S. Antarctic Environmental Protection
  • Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations
  • Antarctic Conservation Act
  • U.S. Regulations Governing Antarctic Meteorites
• U.S Antarctic Policy
• U.S. Annual Antarctic Treaty Exchange of Information
  • U.S. Antarctic Program, 2004-2005

Antarctic Science Programs

• Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics
• Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems
• Antarctic Earth Sciences
• Antarctic Glaciology
• Antarctic Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
• Antarctic Integrated System Science
• Antarctic Artists and Writers Program
  • Additional Information About the Antarctic Artists and Writers Program

OPP Information

• OPP Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request
  • Antarctic Research Programs Funding (Excel table)
  • Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Funding (Excel table)
  • U.S. Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Funding (Excel table)
• OPP Office Advisory Committee home page
• OPP Office Advisory Committee Report on Broader Impacts Review Criterion
• OPP-supported Workshops

International Polar Year (IPY) Information

• Interagency International Pole Year Web Site
• U.S. International Polar Year Committee (National Academy of Sciences)
• International IPY Program Web Site

• NSF IPY Information
  • NSF IPY Awards for Research
  • NSF IPY Information for Researchers and Educators
  • NSF IPY Funding Opportunities
  • NSF IPY Program Contacts
• NSF IPY Budget Information
• International Polar Year (IPY) Fiscal 2008 Budget Request
  • IPY 2008 Funding (Excel table)
• International Polar Year (IPY) Fiscal 2007 Budget Request
  • IPY 2007 Funding (Excel table)

Related OPP Antarctic Links

• Antarctic Artists and Writers Program
• Subglacial Lake Committee
• OPP Guidelines and Award Conditions for Scientific Data
• OPP Office Advisory Committee Report on Broader Impacts Review Criterion

Antarctic Information Links

• U.S. South Pole Station: A Special Report
• Antarctic Journal of the United States
• Cold Regions Bibliography project
  • Antarctic Alert — Antarctic Bibliography
• Teachers Experiencing Antarctica
• Antarctic Images (Program information slides)
• USAP Online Photo Library
• Antarctic Sun (McMurdo Station newspaper)

OPP Links

• Opportunities for Participation
  • U.S. Antarctic Program
• Committee of Visitors reports and Government Performance Results Act (OPP reports)

Updated: 27 April 2009

In January 2005, construction workers at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station put in place the last piece of structural steel in the new station. (NSF/USAP photo by Carlton Walker, Raytheon Polar Services Corporation.)