Information
Comments
Yesterday was probably the best day we've had so far. Clear sunny skies, a great ice station complete. Three successful flights including a RAPPL's (Radar, Aerial Photography, Pyrometer, Laser Scanner) flight over the polynya to the west of the Dalton Glacier and three buoys deployed for Petra to measure the movement of the pack ice.
Scientists and crew who had finished their work built igloos and played football on the ice whilst waiting for the helicopter operations to finish.
When the helicopters returned from the Dalton Glacier flight, SES, the helicopter with the RAPPL's suit onboard, overflew the ship and using the "A" in RAPPL's took some great pictures from the air, including SIPEX II written by people lying in the snow, whilst AFO, which accompanies SES to provide a SAR (Search And Rescue) capability, landed.
We then took the opportunity to get as many people as possible onto the ice for a group photo in front of the ship.
This morning with a long shuddering sigh, we slipped back off the ice we have been moored to, and began the process of turning the ship to enter a lead behind us and head north for open water and possibly ice station 8...
Cheers
Andy, Brett
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.