Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 6 January 2026: Flying South to Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctica
Keith’s note: Astrobiologist Dale Andersen is heading back in Antarctica at Lake Untersee in January-February 2026 for another field season of research. Update: Dale and team have landed. Picture below.
After a 5-6 hr flight from Cape Town, South Africa, Dale and his team will land at the Novolazarevskaya Station ice-runway in Antarctica. They will unpack, gather their stored gear, and prepare for the overland traverse to their research camp at Lake Untersee in a few days.
Dale’s work is coordinated through the SETI Institute. We’ll be posting his updates here. You can read about his prior exploits from this field season and past field seasons back t the 1990s.
IL-76TD Jet – Dale Andersen.
Dale’s flight to Antarctica was aboard this IL-76TD jet seen just prior to departure from Cape Town today, 6 January 2026. “The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union’s Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967. The Il-76 has seen extensive service as a commercial freighter for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items that cannot be carried by other means. It has also been used as an emergency response transport for civilian evacuations as well as for humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world. Thanks to its ability to operate from unpaved runways, it has been useful in undeveloped areas. Specialized models have also been produced for aerial firefighting and zero-G training.” (Wikipedia)
The view inside the IL-76TD – Dale Andersen.
Weather at Novo Station as Dale departed South Africa. Here is the current condition webcam at Current weather condition at Ultima Airbase – Ultima Antarctic Logistics
IL-76 on the runway at Novo station – Ultima Antarctic Logistics
Related Links
- Previous reports 2026-1996
- Astrobiologist Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Report: Preview: 2026 Lake Untersee Field Seas
- Keith: Dale and I have been proving research updates – from Antarctica – since 1996. We think we actually had the first webserver (located in my old condo) updated from Antarctica. More details here: Dale Andersen’s 1996 Antarctic Field Research Photo Albums
