I’d like to say that we are on schedule and that everything has gone according to plan! But that is not the reality of drilling in Antarctica when you’re developing an entirely new approach. We’ve had steady downward progress, that much is good, and we’ve passed...
In an earlier blog, I briefly introduced the four-person staff at Minna Bluff who run the camp and support our science. Each of them plays a key role in keeping our camp running smoothly, allowing us to focus on field development of the RAID drill. By living and...
Contributed by Martha Sortland Martha. I have a feeling the authors of “The Joy of Cooking” never expected a battered copy of their seminal work to be considered a “must have” in an Antarctic field camp. Thankfully, we no longer need to survive out here the way...
RAID is unlike any other drill. It’s designed to drill deeply and quickly through glacial ice in order to penetrate the oldest ice at the bottom and then drill ahead into bedrock below. Because of the great depths, low temperatures, different media (ice to rock),...
3rd Antarctic Field Trials (AFT3), 2019-20 It’s been a long time since RAID last communicated, but we are back at work! After a hiatus in the 2018-19 season to do some upgrades and service to the modules while other projects used heavy science tractors, we are back at...
Contributed by Jessica Ng Time flies when you’re having firn. RAID testing is coming to a close, and with it, my first Antarctic field season. I have gained invaluable experience over the past four weeks at this beautiful field site, from the mechanics of camp life to...
