Mese: Maggio 2025

Our good friend Eddy De Busschere of the Belgian Polar Expedition Society (BPES), has kindly sent a couple of philatelic covers showing the Japanese Asuka and Dome Fuji Stations in Antarctica.

Eddy wrote: «I saw your remarks on QSL contacts via Asuka and Dome Fuji. These bases were Summer Bases and were not occupied the past years.

From the Belgian PES, a Team travels to Asuka to maintain the station. The Team at Asuka was from Luxemburg and Iran

To Dome Fuji there were several traverse parties to prepare the Station for further ice core drilling. The cover was signed by the Belgian Traverse Leader Alain Hubert, also Station Leader at PES».
TNX Eddy De Busschere  pole@telenet.be  
ASPP-PPHSGB-CEPP-Arge Polarphilatelie

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From the Ham Radio stand point, we hope some HF Radio activities, connected  to these remarkable joint ventures, can come on the air, particularly because  Asuka and Mizuho Stations are silent on air since about 35-40 years now!

Many Hams did work Dome Fuji  (WAP JPN-04) 22 years ago  on oct.2003!

After 30 incredible years of service, Ivan the Terra Bus has been retired from service to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22). For the last 30 years, Ivan the Terra Bus has dutifully transported people between Antarctica’s airfields and research stations. The 2024–25 summer season marked Ivan’s final days on the ice.
Ivan was not just any old bus; he was a legend at NSF McMurdo Station. It is estimated that over his 30-year stretch, Ivan carried more than 100,000 support personnel, NSF grantees and military support staff between the station and airfields, braving extreme conditions and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Arriving at McMurdo in 1993, Ivan weighed over 54,000 lb. without fuel, cargo or passengers. The massive bus sported a 300-horsepower engine, stretched nearly 46 feet long, could carry 56 passengers at a time, and reach a top speed of just over 20 mph. For those fortunate enough to ride in Ivan or take the wheel, the journey was unforgettable.
We bid farewell to Ivan, but the legacy will always live on in the stories of Antarctic adventurers.

Thanks and Credit to NSF-USAP

India plans to establish a new Research Station in Antarctica, named Maitri-2, to replace the aging Maitri Station, with operations scheduled to commence by 2029, enhancing India’s research capabilities in the region. This move aims to significantly enhance India’s research capabilities on the frozen continent, allowing for advanced studies in fields like climate change, glaciology, and biodiversity.

The proposed project envisages adherence to environmental protocols for Antarctica and improving the quality of Indian scientific research in Antarctica

Maitri-2 is intended to replace the existing Maitri station, which was built in 1988 and is now considered old.  The new Station will be located in East Antarctica, near the existing Maitri Station, and  is expected to be operational by 2029.

Maitri-2 will be a state-of-the-art facility that adheres to environmental norms and will be able to accommodate approximately 90 scientists. The new station will allow for advanced studies in fields like climate change, glaciology, and biodiversity, enhancing India’s research capabilities on the frozen continent.

India  has three permanent Research stations in Antarctica: Dakshin Gangotri (decommissioned) WAP IND-Ø1, Maitri WAP IND-Ø3, Bharati WAP IND-Ø4 and Indian Bay Camp WAP IND-Ø2 (used as a supply Base and transit Camp for the Indian Antarctic Program.
Maitri-2 will be a “New entry”  on WAP WADA Directory when the base will be operational and “On the Air”.

Thanks for his availability, we got a change to work Denney VU2DGR who is actually at Bharati Base (WAP IND-Ø4) signing AT44I.

We experienced some better conditions on 20 mts in the morning from 05:00 to 07:00 UTC, where we log AT44I on different frequencies.
There will be other chances , for those who are still waiting to make contact, so give a glance to the Custer, keep your finger crossed  and stay tuned!

Thanks to Denney VU2DGR for his kindness to be on the air as per sked.
TNX also to Bhagwati VU3BPZ who have allow us to arrange the sked.

The Kharkovchanka (Russian: Харьковчанка) or Kharkivyanka (Ukrainian: Харків’янка, “Woman of Kharkiv“), is an Antarctic all-terrain vehicle produced in 1958; the basis of the vehicle, was the AT-T tractor. It was equipped with a 520 horse power diesel engine that, in addition to the weight of the vehicle (35 tons), could tow a trailer weighing 70 tons. Since it was designed for the exploration of the Antarctic, the ability to tow this amount of weight was essential for transporting the fuel needed for the expeditions.
The cabin contained seats for the driver and navigator, as well as 8 beds on two levels, a bathroom and a kitchen with the ability to heat canned food and drinks, a heater and a radio station. The cabin provided access to the Kharkovchanka engine, so that, if necessary, it could be repaired and maintained without leaving the heat. It appears that 5 were built. 

“Kharkovchanka” , the Russia’s Colossal Antarctic Cruisers  which have been continuously operating in some of the most extreme environments on Earth for over 50 years, was produced in the late 1950s in Kharkiv, when Ukraina was part of the Soviet Socialistic Republics.

These amazing Snow Cruisers featured everything a polar explorer could need in the field. In their half-century mission, they have crossed thousands of miles on Antarctic Ice, visited the South Pole, the Pole of inaccessibility as well the dozens of outposts and Research Stations on the Continent.

By the 39th Russian Antarctic Expedition, Vityaz DT-30Ps replaced the Kharkovchankas. Those were themselves later replaced by “PistenBully 300” Polar vehicles.

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The last of the Kharkovchankas was retired only a few years ago (in 2008) and is now standing as an “Historic Monument” at Progress Station (WAP RUS-11).

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While not directly related to philately, its unique history and role in Antarctica, have sometimes been commemorated through philatelic items like stamps or special covers.