Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 10:39

What are the different types of cargo outside in the third picture of your December 6th journal? Are there permanent residents in the south pole base where you're working? By which means of transportation does the facility recieve all of its supplies? When does all the equiptment have to be shipped back to the U.S? What part of the U.S does it get shipped to? HAVE FUN MR. O' HARA p.s we're all anticipating your arrival in January of the new year! -WITH LOVE<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 you're favorite class (4th period physics)

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Casey OHara

Hi class, I had a good time presenting all the slides and pictures to you, I look forward to seeing you all in January too!
The cargo that's stored outside is a combination of stuff that is broken and waiting to be taken back for recycling (for example I saw some old broken exercise equipment), things that are extra that they keep on hand in case they need it later (like t-shirts and sweatshirts that they sell in the store, or items for research projects that they won't need until next year).
There are some people here who are getting ready to "winter over" meaning they will stay here an entire year.  After February, the station basically shuts down, no flights in or our, and about 50 people stay here until October.  They monitor the experiments, keep the station maintained, and run the kitchen, power plants, medical clinic, and other aspects of the station so they all survive.
Pretty much everything (supplies and people) comes in and out of here on planes.  LC-130s are the main plane that supplies the station, usually a couple a day unless weather is bad.  Today a larger C-17 will fly over the station and air-drop some supplies - hopefully I will get some great pictures of that!
In terms of shipping back all the stuff, I don't know that the Antarctic Treaty sets a date - but if the US ever stops using this station they will be expected to clean everything out.  Junk gets shipped back to places all over, depending on where it's best to recycle it or dispose of it.
See you all soon!
--O'Hara