Weather conditions in McMurdo and at the South Pole Station remain the primary factor for the reduced number of passenger and cargo flights to Pole. There have been three LC130 flights to Pole last week delivering passengers and needed station commodities. As of November 9th the Station is 30-35 flights behind schedule. Only 27 of the planned 46 IceCube staff and a small amount of cargo (including one IceTop tank) have arrived.
The road to the Seasonal Equipment Site (SES) was graded and a 5000-gallon fuel tank was brought across the Skiway to be located near the generators. To provide early power to the SES, Generator 3 has been moved into position and plumbed directly to the 5000-gallon fuel tank.
The camp has been cleared of enough snow so that fuel and power lines can be run to all Modular Deployment Structures (MDSs.) The snow ramp to Water Tank 1 is in place. Pump and motor modifications are being completed in the HPP. The Drill Control Center (DCC) is in place. The MECC was opened and will be outfitted as a central location for safety equipment, break area, and meeting room for the Drill Teams.
Work on the Independent Firn Drill (IFD) continues and is planned for location near the SES and over the proposed site for this season's RodWell next week.
The 8 crated IceTop tanks have been moved to the materials area to be uncrated and inspected. We plan to move the IceTop tanks across the Skiway and located near the IceTop weather port starting next week. While AMANDA maintenance and upgrades are underway, other activities await the arrival of more staff and cargo.