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Frozen Researchers Set Antarctic Ballooning Record
coondoggie writes to mention NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have announced a new record in the history of scientific ballooning in Antarctica. The new record was established by 'launching and operating three long-duration sub-orbital flights simultaneously within a single southern-hemisphere summer'. "The milestone is significant, as it occurs during the height of the International Polar Year (IPY), a coordinated scientific campaign that is utilizing scientists from more than 60 nations. NSF is the lead federal agency for IPY, which began in March 2007 and will continue until 2009 to allow for two full years of observations and field work in parts of the world that are generally uninhabitable for as long as six months each year, researchers said. "
Was Cory Doctorow on one of the balloons?
launching and operating three long-duration sub-orbital flights
How much ballooning is done in orbit?
Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
Suck it long and suck it hard.
... Frozen Researchers...
I sure hope they thaw them out before they leave Antarctica.
I object to the idea of frozen people breaking a record.
you'd think scientists from over 60 countries could get more than a couple balloons to fly, even in antarctica.
I thought that the problem was that frost accumulated on the balloon too readily, so it is not as easy as one might think.
Someone mentioned the other day about one of the LRBs coming over the station unexpectedly.
I'm just happy for the running water, here in this cushy city. I live at the South Pole, where it's really challenging.
Fortunately, we have a good supply of pesto and chevre to last us for a while. Running low on pinot, however.
How is the skiing at this time of year? Its 40 C in Melbourne. Must be sunny down your way as well.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
Scientist 1:"Hey, we have the Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass in Antarctica. Its ice-CREAM!"
Scientist 2: "Shut the hell up, Bob."
The launch crew was working in full summer daylight, temperatures between 20 and 33 F.
The telemetry team is in Palestine Texas. Actually the night temperatures there were about the same as Antarctica the last couple days. The researchers, though, are at their respective institutions. No researchers were frozen during the making of TFA.
"I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
I mean, an orbital balloon flight would be a real first, not to mention a bit frightening.
Tax dollars well spent?
Awesome. Yet another "OMG I'm in Antarctica RIGHT NOW and reading Slashdot!!! I'm soooo awesome!!! LOL" post.
There's running water at Pole too, you're just limited to using it much less than at McMurdo. Really challenging? The new station's pretty damn comfortable if you ask me. It can't be too bad down there this year if your main worries are running out of cheese and wine and it's still only summer. "Challenging" indeed. sigh.
Bigelow's habitats are just satellites that expand a little when they are released... not actual high-altitude balloons.
It is time to consider how to do something like this for mars. So far, we either have orbiters, stationary landers or a couple of slow moving rovers. A ballon or a set of wings would allow us to look around a great deal more. If by balloon, we could map at far better resolution.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
International Polar Year (IPY) [...] began in March 2007 and will continue until 2009
Is this another of those NASA metric thingies?
There's running water at Pole too, you're just limited to using it much less than at McMurdo. Really challenging? The new station's pretty damn comfortable if you ask me. It can't be too bad down there this year if your main worries are running out of cheese and wine and it's still only summer. "Challenging" indeed. sigh. YHBT, Fingee!
I live at Pole, I know all about the shower situation (which is why I took at 15 minute one today; I won't be able to do that on Thursday).
In reality, my main worries are burning to a crisp in a fuel fire, then lying on the ice until I expire in the elements. Or of being lost in -200F windchill in zero visibility and ending up dead mere feet from safety. Or, worse, of letting something like the above happen to someone else, and living with it.
So, while we do love the great food and culture of Pole life, the realities are definite and not to be fscked with. Sttion life isn't hard at all. Surviving a winter locked up with Dark Penguin might be a challenge, though! j/k E.D.
I ran the McMurdo Scott's Hut Race this morning, and I am gonna hurl.
I live at Pole, I know all about the shower situation (which is why I took at 15 minute one today; I won't be able to do that on Thursday).
In reality, my main worries are burning to a crisp in a fuel fire, then lying on the ice until I expire in the elements. Or of being lost in -200F windchill in zero visibility and ending up dead mere feet from safety. Or, worse, of letting something like the above happen to someone else, and living with it.
So, while we do love the great food and culture of Pole life, the realities are definite and not to be fscked with. Sttion life isn't hard at all. Surviving a winter locked up with Dark Penguin might be a challenge, though! j/k E.D.
Fingee! LOL Sounds like you have not yet wintered there, you misrepresent the station's plumbing situation, and you hurl the term FNG around? Hilarious.
Well, Mr. FNG Troll, enjoy your stay in McMurdo and have a fine winter. Make sure you get Dark Penguin to show you the dark art of playing air bass by midwinter.
Wow, you sure seem testy. Must be because of all of the substandard chow you're given. ;-D
;-D
I didn't misrepresent anything, dewd. I said that I was happy to have unlimited hot water to use and abuse. I take 3x1-minute showers a week at Pole. To have a 10 minute shower is a luxury. How is that misrepresentation?
The Penguin is sitting here, and in fact played air bass in Gallagher's the other night. You've definitely been around.
Yes, I am a fingee winterover virgin. What's your point?
Come to the back table of the coffeehouse and buy me a drink.
Well, maybe I read too much into what you were saying. Sorry, I thought you were trying to imply that there was no running water there. Life at pole is rough, I can attest to that, but not that rough :)
Luckily I'm nowhere near Mactown. That filthy zoo is a necessary evil for little more than getting to one of the most beautiful places on earth and, as you've noted, taking outrageously long showers just because you can.
Have a good winter, sincerely.
Cheers, Mate.
;-D
There's no need for disagreement. You clearly understand the program, and the environs.
I appreciate the good wishes. The "weirdness factor" is why I cam down here. I'm interested in the transformation of self that will happen when the sky goes dark. I'm interested in whom I will become during the long night.
This has been an interesting encounter. Here in the Coffeehouse, we've been wondering if you were on station or not. Feel free to send me email to bouldergeek at g mail, if you have interest. I'd like to hear your story.
Me, I'm mere moments away from Toasty.
Perceptive VW= "aggrieve"