Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/19/2012 - 05:34
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Space Weather Monitoring on the Antarctic Plateau 2013

What is the hardest part of being away for long periods of time, and are the sacrifices for science worth it?

-Matt Sopher, Brooke Wolfgong, Mr. Kasunic, Period 3, Oil City Senior High School

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 10:21

Tim Spuck

I think the toughest thing is being away from family and all that you are familiar with. I've traveled to different parts of the world ... Alaska, Japan, Chile, Europe, etc., but nothing compares to Antarctica. It's very much being at a space colony on a distant planet. The vehicles they drive are different, there is NO vegetation ... it's either dirt, rock, or ice and when you're out in the field it's nothing but an ice cube 2 miles thick and it's just you and your crew which in my case was four other guys. Then there's the 24 hours daylight which leads to a complete loss of time. You realize that time only has meaning because society has given it meaning. You have an appointment ... the stores open and close at a certain time ... etc.. Out in the field you have none of that, so time quickly looses its relevance ... time no longer dictates when you sleep or when you eat or when you work ... you just do. And that is strange.Your body also goes through changes acclimating to the environment ... your brain swells to acclimate to high altitudes. Before I went to Antarctica I rarely remembered my dreams. I came back home nearly a month ago, and I now have vivid dreams that I remember on a regular basis. It was a change I noticed at the South Pole but it's something that continues with me today.
I've rambled on a bit here, but I do think the sacrifice is worth the science. I've been away for a limited amount of time, but there are people that are there for much longer. It's good that there are people like them who are willing to give up a big chunk of their life in the quest for knew knowledge so that the rest of humanity can benefit. I appreciate them.
Thanks for the question!
Tim