2025-2026 Science Planning Summary
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2025-2026 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
McMurdo
(Early Season*)		 18 Aug 2025 Continuing through Winter/WinFly
5 Sep 2025		 17 Mar 2026
McMurdo (Mainbody) 3 Oct 2025 3 Oct 2025
South Pole 1 Nov 2025 1 Nov 2025 14 Feb 2026
Palmer 1 Oct 2024 23 Oct 2024 20 Mar 2025

Estimated Population

Summer Winter
McMurdo 952
(weekly average)		 188
(winter total)
South Pole 170
(weekly average)		 45
(winter total)
Palmer 44
(weekly average)		 20
(winter total)

Project Detail

View descriptions for 2025-2026 USAP field season projects, sorted by event number.
Filter projects for the 2025-2026 season by scientific program. Additional information pertaining to the 2025-2026 Field Season.

Project Search

Search by project title, event number, or team member here.

Download

Download the PDF version of the 2025-2026 Science Planning Summary below. Please send us an email with suggestions for improvement or to report an error.
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