The National Science Foundation manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military, and civilian agencies. Executive Program Management |
National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Polar Programs (OPP)Funds and manages the United States Antarctic Program (USAP); supports scientific research and oversees the cooperative efforts of a civilian contractor, the military, and several federal agencies. National Science Foundation |
The NSF funds Antarctic-related science on the Antarctic continent, at U.S. universities, federal laboratories, and other similar U.S. organizations. For a recent list of Antarctic science researchers and field projects, see the Science Planning Summaries section. |
LeidosProvides a wide range of logistical and science support operations and is curator of the USAP web portal. 7400 South Tucson Way The Air National Guard (New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing)Provides ski-equipped C-130 (LC-130) air support between Antarctica and New Zealand and within Antarctica. Commander The U.S. Air Force (USAF 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Washington)Provides airlift support between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Commander Joint Task Forces Support Forces Antarctica (Operation Deep Freeze)Provides logistics and support for the U.S. Antarctic Program; oversees the activities of U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, Navy, and Coast Guard personnel who participate in the USAP. Commander The U.S. Coast Guard (PACAREA Icebreaker Operations, Cutter Polar Sea, and Cutter Polar Star)Breaks a channel in the sea ice in McMurdo Sound before the arrival of the annual fuel and resupply ships; escorts resupply ships in and out of McMurdo Station; delivers fuel to Marble Point, northern Victoria Land; and provides science support as needed. U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area PHI, Inc.Provides helicopter support within Antarctica. PHI, Inc. Kenn Borek Air Ltd.Provides Twin Otter aircraft support within Antarctica. Kenn Borek Air Ltd. The U.S. Navy (SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, Polar Programs IPT)Provides weather forecasting, air traffic control, base operations, systems maintenance, systems engineering, and information security services. Commanding Officer |
University Navstar Consortium (UNAVCO)Provides support for permanent stations, surveying, mapping, and other applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to U.S. Antarctic Program investigators, and maintains a satellite facility with a full range of geodetic GPS equipment and support services at McMurdo Station during the austral summer research season. UNAVCO Ice Coring and Drilling Services (ICDS), University of Wisconsin-MadisonProvides ice-coring and drilling support for NSF-sponsored research in both polar regions and at high altitudes, maintains and operates existing equipment, and develops new systems. Ice Coring and Drilling Services Biospherical Instruments, Inc. (BSI)Operates a polar network of ultraviolet monitoring instruments in Antarctica and the Arctic. Provides data to researchers studying the effects of ozone depletion on terrestrial and marine biological systems. Biospherical Instruments Inc. |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—Climate Monitoring and Diagnostic LaboratoryConducts research and continual surveillance on the depletion and expected recovery of the global stratospheric ozone layer and Antarctic ozone hole. Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)—U.S. Antarctic Resource CenterSupports mapping (including field surveys), geodesy, year-round acquisition of geospatial data, mapping. Maintains the Nation's collection of Antarctic maps, charts, satellite images, and photographs produced by the United States and other member nations of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and is the U.S. contribution to the SCAR Library system. U.S. Antarctic Resource Center |