Dale Andersen: While at Untersee Oasis, we will continue our studies of Lake Untersee and it’s stunningly beautiful and interesting ecosystem. This year we will again be diving beneath its thick, 3.5 m perennial ice-cover to make observations and collect samples to depths of ~30 m.
We also have with us DeepTrekker’s Revolution/Nav ROV (remotely operated vehicle) which will provide us with access to any area of the lake to its maximum depth (170 m, or ~560 ft) wherever we make a dive hole for it – the ROV has a 300 m tether, but keep in mind the lake is 6 km long and 3.5 km wide.
This year’s participants are from Canada, Russia and the US.
– RAS – Russian Academy of Sciences
– AARI – Arctic Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia)
– TAWANI Foundation
– TFF – Trottier Family Foundation
– ALCI – Antarctic Logistics Centre International
We’ve completed our 2 weeks of quarantine here in Cape Town, the final Covid-19 PCR test was negative, and the weather at the Novo ice-runway is forecast to be suitable for landing the IL-76TD-90VD aircraft that will take us to Antarctica. We depart Cape Town tomorrow at 0900 local, and will arrive at the Novo ice-runway at approximately 1230 (UTC). Time to get busy, back in a couple of months!
I am looking forward to having a mix of human and robotic capabilities for our work underwater again!
Astrobiology
