2021-2022 USAP Field Season
Station and Vessel Schedules

The United States Antarctic Program operates three permanent research stations on the continent and two research vessels.

Opening Dates

	Austral Summer Openings		Austral Winter Openings
	Operational	Science	Austral Winter Openings
McMurdo (Early Season*)	19 Aug 2021	22 Aug 2021 19 Sep 2021	24 Feb 2022
McMurdo (Mainbody)	30 Sep 2021	2 Oct 2021	24 Feb 2022
South Pole	1 Nov 2021	6 Nov 2021	15 Feb 2022
Palmer	6 Oct 2021	5 Apr 2022	N/A
Research Vessels	Vessels Operate Year-Round (Find Vessel Schedules)
*A limited number of science projects deploy early

Estimated Population

	Summer	Winter
McMurdo	650 (weekly average)	140 (winter total)
South Pole	90 (weekly average)	51 (winter total)
Palmer	23-58 (weekly average)
RV/IB* NBP	39 science and staff
ARSV** LMG	Capacity per cruise: 27 science and staff Capacity per transit to/from Palmer Station: 37 science and staff with two berthing vans.
RV/IB, Research Vessel/Icebreaker *ARSV, Antarctic Research Support Vessel

Find information about projects approved for the 2021-2022 USAP field season using the available indexes.

Additional information pertaining to the 2021-2022 Field Season.

Download the PDF version of the 2021-2022 Science Planning Summaries below.

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