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The United States Antarctic Program operates three permanent research stations on the continent and two research vessels.
It also supports work that is not based at any of the stations or on the vessels. Below are the planned season dates and the
estimated populations (which are subject to change) of each station and both research vessels.
|
 |
| Station |
Austral Summer Season Openings |
Austral Winter
Season Openings |
| Operational |
Science |
| McMurdo |
Sept. 4, 2008
(SpringFly*) |
Sept. 30, 2008
(Mainbody) |
Feb. 23, 2009 |
| South Pole |
Oct. 23, 2008 |
Nov. 5, 2008 |
Feb. 14, 2009 |
| Palmer |
Sept. 19, 2008 |
Oct. 21, 2008 |
Apr. 1, 2009 |
Research
Vessels |
Year-round Operations
Vessel schedules on the Internet:
http://www.usap.gov/vesselScienceAndOperations/
|
|
| Estimated Population |
| |
Austral Summer |
Austral Winter |
| McMurdo |
642 (weekly average)
2,071 (total) |
125
(total) |
| South Pole |
250 (weekly average)
820 (total) |
50
(total) |
| Palmer |
30-40 (weekly average)
98 (total) |
30-40 (weekly average)
48 (total) |
| RV/IB NBP* |
39 science and staff / 25 crew |
| ARSV LMG** |
38 science and staff / 25 crew |
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