Mese: Settembre 2023

Another  Ham radio friend, Antarctic veteran has flown on heaven.
With sadness we must report the passing of Neil Conant N8BPR/KC4  last September 18, 2023, at the age of 86.

He was chief communications operator and supervisor at KC4AAA – South Pole Station (WAP USA-21) in support of the United States Antarctic Program. Neil spent a total of 15 austral summers at the pole from 1984–2001 and three summers were at Siple Station (WAP USA-24) in the 1980’s.

Bob Hines K4MZU wrote: «I know that  Neil was respected and loved. We will always remember him on the radio for many years to come. Conant Valley located between Duncan Bluff and Communication Heights in the southern part of the Darwin Mountains in Antarctica,  was named after Neil, a genuine veteran of the ice ».

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The pics attached show  QSL’s and a photo with Neil and Nikolai (UA3YH/KC4- R1ANM) when Nick visited South Pole Station.

Thanks to Les K03G/KC4 who worked with Neil for his updates.

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TNX K4MZU

Get to know the first Guatemalan Polar Institute in the city of Huehuetenango that has a museum called Polarium. Discover all the details of this wonderful destination so we can get to know it.

It is the first National museum that aims to present in a dynamic and interactive way how id the life in Antarctica. Polarium is a space created by Huehuetec scientist Ricardo Molina who traveled to  Antarctica in 2013 and was amazed by its beauty.
(Read more at: Ricardo Molina, el investigador guatemalteco que realiza proyecto en la Antártida (guatemala.com)

Upon entering this Polar Institute you will be able to find two large areas. The first is the museum area called Polarium, a destination where you can see unique scenarios with landscapes and animals that are characteristic of Antarctica.

In addition, you will find different infographics, informative videos, models, 3D figures, unique photographs and much more.

The second area is the Polar Laboratory, where scientific reports and experiments are carried out.

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Read more at: The Land of Young People (elpaisdelosjovenes.com)

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WAP and the entire Ham Radio world are anxious to see a Guatemalan expedition to Antarctica with Hams to put a “New One” on air!

More than 100 Russian Radio Amateurs are joining  a very  important event in the city of Orel.

Several of the best well known Russian callsign, those who we have on our logs since many years now are sitting up there. The conference celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the foundation of Russian Robinson Club has been inaugurated yesterday Friday afternoon  (RU local time) Sept 22^nd.

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UA9OBA Yuri Zaruba (Senior President),  RZ3EC Eugene Shelkanovtsev (Vice President) and  RA3NAN Sergey Morozov (Vice President) greeted the  Hams present and began the work of the conference which is still going on.
(Picture aside: L to R: RA3NAN, UA9OBA, RZ3EC)
Tomorrow a gala banquet will close the celebration. Unfortunately Valery Sushkov RW3GW the actual RRC President,  could not attend the event as he is busy in preparing a big project on bigfoot Yeti in Udmurtia.

Gianni, I1HYW on behalf of WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program)  sent a video message with congratulation to the Russian Robinson club for the 30 decades  of continuous DX work  including several expeditions in Antarctica and in the Arctic as well as many rare islands all over the world!

The video was shown Friday at the opening ceremony.

To everyone involved,  our best Congratulation, We hope to see RRC soon on the air again from some rare spots maybe in the Arctic or Antarctica as they have accustomed us for many years!

Would anyone like to send a postcard from the penguin post office in Antarctica?

As part of the 80th birthday of Port Lockroy Base (WAP GBR-Ø1) and the 30th anniversary of the charity,  we’re offering the opportunity to send a limited edition postcard with a personalised message from Antarctica.
You can send postcard to yourself or a loved one and support the roof repair at the same time. Simply complete the form  at the bottom of the page of the link below, make your donation of £20 and the Antarctic team will do the rest.

They need to raise over £50,000 to enable the conservation efforts this year. You can play a part in Antarctica by sending your postcard, making a donation or sharing this story with your friends. Thank you.

Read more about sending  a postcard from Antarctica at: https://shop.ukaht.org/members/basket/guestcheckoutpostcard

The  20th W.A.P.  Meeting “Worldwide Antarctic Program”, together with the  22nd Diploma Castelli d’Italia e della Provincia di Cuneo”  and the 14th I.F.F.A. Meeting “Italian Flora Fauna Award” took place on Sunday 17th September in Northen Italy on the hills of the City of Mondovì.

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About a hundred Radio amateurs from different  Italian regions and some European countries met to discuss radio and all the activities connected to it.

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During the morning of Sunday 17 September one of the very important reports was presented by the Technical Award Manager of the Worldwide Antarctic Program, Massimo Balsamo IK1GPG, who addressed the problems inherent to long-distance radio  contacts with the “White Continent” and the respective and interesting Antarctic Diplomas WAP-WACA and WAP-WADA, known as they are difficult to reach.

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These long distance contacts (called DX) attract and are followed in particular by a good percentage of Radio Amateurs who can boast expertise and operational capacity as well as photographic archives and first-rate news on a global level.

The Australian expeditioner requiring urgent medical care has been airlifted in a “complex operation” from the Casey Research Station (WAP AUS-Ø2) in Antarctica to the icebreaker RSV Nuyina.

After breaking through sea ice, the Nuyina was able to reach a location near the Petersen Bank, about 144 kilometres from the research station, on Sunday, Sept.3rd.

“It’s the earliest we’ve ever gone to an Antarctic station,  just a day or two after the official end of winter,” Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) acting general manager of operations Robb Clifton said.

The Nuyina is expected to arrive back in Hobart this week, depending on Southern Ocean weather conditions.

The ship first embarked on the rescue mission last week, travelling nearly 3,500 kilometres from Hobart.

Read more at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-04/antarctic-expeditioner-medical-evacuation-from-casey-station/102812494?fbclid=IwAR0LpxKZiivbSLWlQLLFThKzwnrY0i7ZJD8T26sUuxNoRI3AU0xe6ooUTwg

Thanks and credit: ABC.net and AAD

 

 

Another sad news!

Pierre D. Tromp, ZS1HF, passed away on September 4 at the age of 61.

Pierre has been active from  Gough Island Station  (WAP ZAF-Ø5) at 40° South, 9° West,  and  from the Old and New Marion Island Base (WAP ZAF-Ø6)  46° South, 37° East  in the Southern Indian Ocean  (See pic below; on theleft the Old Marion Base, on the  right,  the new one)

It was the time when amateur radio fashion was to use microphone  or CW key exchanging  RST and greetings and for us, radio veterans, that contacts were warm QSOs as opposed to the cold pressing of keys on a PC keyboard which i twill make for us an FT8 contact.

Pierre was a great operator  and he was able to manage hours of pileup in a professional way. His voice was unmistakable  and we still keep a good memory of him as well as his great activities as  ZS8M (Marion Base)  and ZD9M (Gough Station).

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WAP together with Antarctic enthusiasts  and followers, express their most sincere condolences to the family.
R.I.P.

Australia has launched an urgent operation to rescue a researcher with a “developing medical condition” from the remote Casey Research  Station (WAP AUS-Ø2) in Antarctica (picture aside).

The icebreaker RSV Nuyina left from Tasmania last week, the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) said. It is travelling thousands of miles to reach the Research Station after an air rescue was ruled out due to harsh conditions. The AAP said the researcher, an Australian, needs specialist treatment but did not name the condition.

Casey research station is a journey of 2,139 miles (3,443km) from Hobart in Tasmania and one of three permanent Antarctic stations run by the AAP

The,  has a top speed of 16 knots, or around 18 miles an hour, meaning a journey of several days. It is understood that an evacuation by air was not possible; the nearby  (WAP AUS-Ø5) Wilkins  Station’s aerodrome near Casey has an ice runway but is often unusable during the harsh winter.

Read more at: Australia launches mission to rescue Antarctic researcher – BBC News

Thanks and credit to: BBC News.

Antarctic Heritage Trust has named twenty-two young explorers from across the country to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Explorers aged 18-30 will join the ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition^™, which is travelling to South Georgia Island.

Located in the remote South Atlantic Ocean, South Georgia Island has a reputation for the greatest density of wildlife on earth. It’s home to king penguins, fur seals, and 50 percent of the world’s southern elephant seals.

Not only is it the largest expedition yet, but it’ll also include the first Kiwi attempt of Mount Worsley in recognition of Kiwi explorer Frank Worsley, the mountain’s namesake.

In addition to the climbing team, each Inspiring Explorer will take part in an outreach project working in groups across topics such as climate change, education, history and science.

Read more at: Young Kiwi explorers announced for largest ever Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ | Antarctic Heritage Trust (nzaht.org)