South Pole dome done

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 10

South Pole dome done

The new geodesic dome 'complex at the South Pole (has been officially handed (over to the National Science (Foundation by the Navy Construction Battalion which has been responsible for building it over the last two summer seasons. However, no-one will actually move inside the new station until next summer. After Palmer Station and Siple Station it will then become the third American base in the Antarctic to house only civilian scientists during the winter. Siple Station, in Ellsworth Land, 1250 miles from McMurdo Station, was officially closed for the summer on Monday; and now the only communication the four civilians who will man it through the winter will have with the outside world will be by radio. Another Antarctic base which has ceased to have physical contact with the outside world is New Zealand’s Vanda Station in the Wright Valley. The last helicopter flight to it from McMurdo Station was on Monday. The United States Navy supply ship, the Private John R. Towle, left Christchurch yesterday bound for McMurdo Sound with the annual supply of provisions for Scott Base. Almost 100 American servicemen and scientists have returned to Christchurch from the Antarctic; and on Friday the redeployment to the United States will begin. Three Military Airlift Comjmand Starlifters and four commercial jets under charter will be used to take home '824 persons.