Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Update Erick Chiang Section

Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Update Erick Chiang Section Head Polar Research Support Section Office of Polar Programs

Information Security Update • OPP and the CIO’s office conducted analysis and testing in FY 04. – Initial test identified 141 vulnerabilities; all have been addressed – OPP is working with RPSC to establish an internal process for continuous testing • Vulnerability Analysis and Penetration Tests are part of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) • NSF/OIG recently completed analysis and testing as part of the FY 05 FISMA compliance audit – Four vulnerabilities identified; OPP & RPSC working their resolution at this time – Intrusion detection systems need to be improved; OPP/RPSC developing budget plans to address in FY 06 • Science Systems deployed as part of grant activities will become part of future assessments – Unsecured data collection system in place and transient user systems – such as laptops, present an avenue for unauthorized access and potential disruption

KRASIN • 4 th year of continued heavy ice in Mc. Murdo Sound • USCGC POLAR SEA laid up. Only POLAR STAR available. • World-wide search for back up • KRASIN, owned by Russia, operated by Far East Shipping Co. became available on commercial basis • Largest Non-Nuclear vessel in Russian fleet • 2/3 the HP but 1. 5 times the displacement of a POLAR • Highly successful performance. • Have initiated request for continued support in future years

2004 -05 South Pole Traverse Route

Traverse on Upper Leverett Glacier

SP Const 23 March 2005 SPSE/SM Construction Schedule

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

U. S. Antarctic Program Mc. Murdo Power Plant Phase I • Purpose – Replace Mc. Murdo Station’s aged power generation infrastructure objectives – Improve reliability of power production – Provide an emergency powere and water production source – Increase station fuel effieciency • Cost – Current estimate at complete as forcasted by the project schedule: $11, 900, 165 • On-site construction commenced: 4 DEC 2004 • Conditional occupany through Phase II: OCTOBER 2006 • Project closeout & documentation Complete: APRIL 2007

South Pole Traverse Proof-Of-Concept Accomplishments of Year Three Traverse team completed all modifications to the sleds utilzed last season and departed Mc. Murdo Station, November 11, 2004. Traverse included five towing tractors, thirteen sleds, and Piston Bully equipped with GPR (overall weight approximately 736, 578 pounds). Advanced the trail to South Pole to a point 738 miles from Mc. Murdo Station – Safely crossed the Mc. Murdo Shear Zone for the third time – Crossed the Ross Ice Shelf; experienced no problems with soft snow conditions – Ascent of the Leverett Glacier with minor problems due to crevassing Trail is now well marked with flags every ¼ mile and free of crevassed hazards. Traverse team experiences zero incidents of sled failures, zero incidents of unplanned tractor maintenance and zero requirements for shuttling loads. Team well positioned to complete the Proof-of-Concept Traverse next austral summer with only 298 miles of unproven route to go.

South Pole SPSM FY 05 Accomplishments • Obtained Conditional Occupancy of Elevated Station wings B 1 (Emergency Power and housing for 38) and B 2 (Science) • Completed steel framing and panel enclosure of the remaining Elevated Station wings A 4 (Summer Housing for 66) and B 4 (Multipurpose). This milestone represented 100% completion of the Elevated Station framing and enclosure of all 8 wings. • Successfully relocated the Elevated Dorm to the Dark Sector for science laboratory usage (Ice. Cube Counting House) • Completed Phase I of the new Cryogen Facility in support of expanded dewer storage capacity and FY 05 winter demands