Will Ruskaya Station soon again on air? Here below, something good to know!
Russkaya Station (WAP RUS-12) was a Soviet Antarctic Research station located at 74°46′South, 136°52′West (Ruppert Coast, Marie Byrd Land in Western Antarctica). The station was proposed in 1973 and approved in 1978. Construction began in 1979 and it was opened on March 9, 1980. Russkaya Station was put in storage in 1990.
Polar explorers have visited it three times since then, but the Station has not fully resumed operation, Alexander Klepikov (Deputy Director of the Russian Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Research) said, adding that it would be recommissioned by Roscosmos, the State Corporation for Space Activities, is Russia’s space Agency, which manages the Country’s space industry, including space flights, cosmonautics, and aerospace research.
“Roscosmos is present at practically every of our stations but Vostok. It is installing equipment to monitor Russian satellites and spacecraft. They need a spot in the Russkaya station’s area as when one of our satellites fly over there it’s not visible,” Klepikov said.
Russkaya is unique: “it is situated in a difficult-to-access coastal area in the Pacific sector of Antarctica, The window for getting to the Russkaya Station is three weeks, between February 15 and March 10. We did visit it in 2020, deliver some cargo, run some tests, and see what is inhabitable and what isn’t. A seasonal team did land there in 2021 to put the Station into working order. Most importantly, we need to replace the diesel power unit and communication systems,” Klepikov said.
Polar explorers have identified a site for the construction of a new wintering complex at the Pole of Winds in Antarctica. Specialists of the 70th Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, conducted technical studies to reconstruct the Russkaya Station and prepare it for year-round operation. Sites for the construction of a new wintering complex, science pavilions and an aircraft landing strip have been identified on the coast of Mary Byrd Land near Cape Berks.
To plan the construction of new facilities, a detailed analysis of the engineering, geological and climatic features of the area, energy and life support systems optimal for this area, taking into account logistical capabilities and safety requirements, was carried out. During their stay at the Russian Russkaya Station, the scientists also completed a short-term research program. Including studies of the structure of the Antarctic slope front, the structure and circulation of waters in the shelf and the continental slope near the Russian station were conducted from the ship along the meridian of 138°30 °D.
Russkaya is the only Station on a stretch of coast stretching over one and a half thousand kilometers and one of the least studied areas of the Pacific sector of Antarctica. Polar explorers call this place the Pole of Winds, as the wind speed here reaches 75 m/s. February and March are the only months of the year, when ice conditions and weather conditions allow ships to approach the Station and carry out scientific research.