Planning For Five Years9 Antarctic Exploration

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 10

Planning For Five Years 9 Antarctic Exploration

The United States Navy Antarctic support force now had more comprehensive and detailed plans for future activities on the continent than at any time in the past, said the commander of the force (Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy) in an interview in Christchurch.

He said that after last month’s discussions with representatives of the National Science Foundation, his staff was preparing logistic support for the next five years of Antarctic exploration and research.

Included in the plans is an expansion of activities in north-east and north-west Antarctica. “To the northwest there will be a greater photographic coverage than previously contemplated. Special tri-metrogen photographic equipment will be installed in a ski-equipped Navy Hercules in readiness for the task, he said. In the north-west a major traverse planned to cover four legs of about 1000 miles annually for four years will begin next year. It is planned to finish at the Belgian Roi Baudouin base. Admiral Reedy said the traverse would be supported by Hercules aircraft which would be based at McMurdo Station, but which would probably fly from the Amund-sen-Scott South Pole station.

“This job poses no really complicated problems for skiequipped planes,” he added. “We will rely very largely on the traverse party arranging suitable landing areas free of crevasses. At the end of each season’s activities all the traverse equipment will be assembled and marked out with flags. We will lift the parties out and take them back again to begin the next leg the following season.” Considerable photographic reconnaissance would be carried out in north-eastern Antarctica, particularly over the Palmer Peninsula. This task, said Admiral Reedy, might require aircraft flying from Elsworth station or the British station at Halley Bay. “As you might guess this is rather a large order. It means that we are going to have to explore several

methods of moving about Antarctica by air,” he said. The present season was very successful, in spite of the unfortunate fire at Hallett station which burned about three-quarters of a million dollars worth of scientific gear, said Admiral Reedy. Power Plant The nuclear power plant overlooking McMurdo Station on the slopes of Observation Hill was now being taken over by the Navy, he said. It had already been accepted from the contractors by the Atomic Energy Commission. Admiral Reedy said the plant “should be ready to start up any day now.” Although it was three years since the plant was installed, it had to be remembered that it was primarily a development project. “It operated from March, 1962, to September, 1963, providing 90 per cent service. Then we had an accumulation of difficulties. There was corrosion of the rod-lifting devices, a lack of adequate methods of disposing of hydrogen generated internally in the water system, the rearrangement of instrumentation and piping, water test devices, and the build-

ing of a new chemical test laboratory.” All this was carried out between September and February when a 120-hour test run began. Admiral Reedy said this had been successfully completed. . Before any further nuclear power devices were installed on the continent, the Navy was waiting for the development of a smaller, more compact power plant which could be taken in to the site by air. Once this was ready, and research was at present being undertaken, the Navy would probably install such a plant at the South Pole station.

Major progress had been made in the construction of the sea-water distillation plant this season, said Armiral Reedy. Unfortunately it was unable to be completed because of a delay in certain essential items. To make up for. the delay a new building to house the generator and a pump house had been completed. Both had been planned for next season.

The size of the Navy support force for next season would be basically the same as that of the recent season, he said. Practically all the key staff would return next October. Asked if he would be in command next season, Admiral Reedy said he would be back in Christchurch in October, but that he expected to be relieved during the season. “My two-year tour ends next November. This is the normal duty tour.”

The admiral and his key staff will leave Christchurch by air for Washington on Thursday evening.