The 41st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is almost ready to start

41st Indian Expedition, will  embark Antarctica in October-November 2021 and return by February-April 2022 while those chosen for winter season duration, will continue their stay in Antarctica to return between December 2022 to March 2023.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms , under the Ministry of Earth Sciences , Government of India.

NCPOR operates two- yearround stations in Antarctica, which are ~3000 km apart.

WAP IND-Ø3MAITRI Research Base (70° 45’58” South, ; 11° 43’56” East) is located in Schirmacher Oasis Central Dronning Maud Land. It is an inland station nearly 100km from the edge of  Lazarev ice shelf (Indian Barrier for Ship)

WAP IND-Ø4- BHARATI Research Base (69°24.41′ South, 76° 11.72′ East) is located in Larsemann Hills along   the Ingrid Christensen Coast, off the Quilty Bay (~ 200 m from the coast).

SHIP BOARD OPERATIONS CapeTown – Bharati – Maitri- Cape Town transect

Rumors say that this year there will be an Ham Radio operator who could be active on HF from at least one of the two Indian  Bases:  MAITRI  or BHARATI Stations.

The worldwide Radio Amateurs community recalls the great activity  done in  the years from 2010 through 2015 by OM Bhagwati Prasad VU3BPZ, Communication Officer at both Bases .

We are grateful to NCPOR if really some of the scientists  or personnel  will be encouraged to operate an Ham radio equipment during the 41st ISEA. We thanks in advance  the Chiefs of the bases for promoting HF tests through the Ham Radio bands in SSB  and/or  CW from Antarctica