Week 2 at the Pole

By Jean DeMerit — Friday, January 25, 2019 - 9:30am
Friday, January 25, 2019 - 9:30am

Two people in red parkas standing out on the snowon opposite sides of erected radio antenna
Max Renschler, NSF

Even though the end of the summer season feels like it’s fast approaching, things have still been busy at the South Pole.  Work got underway for both the new surface radio antennas and the new IceAct telescopes.  Hands and arms were raised in celebration on completing the first 30-meter cable trench for one of the radio antennas.  A team from Arctic Trucks visited the ICL last week and even allowed some folks to take their vehicles for a spin.  With all the project work going on, IceCube was running perfectly last week, with some of the highest uptimes possible.  Appropriately, the week ended in a celebratory fashion with an open mic session and a party.

Two people in red parkas shown working out in the snow at the South Pole
Lu Lu, IceCube/NSF

Five people with arms raised, standing in freshly dug trench at the South Pole
Lu Lu, IceCube/NSF

Five people in front of ICL, facing camera, standing next to two large arctic vehicles
Arctic Trucks

A few people singing and playing instruments in the South Pole gym
Eric Steig, NSF