JACEE Antarctic Photo Album

This page is under construction. When complete, it may replace the separate pictures on the other JACEE pages.

LC-130 Hercules

The LC-130 is a ski-equipped Hercules C-130 cargo plane. Most of the Antarctic fleet is operated by the US Navy, although a few are operated by the Air National Guard. Most participants in the US Antarctic Program fly into McMurdo Station from Christchurch, New Zealand on a Hercules. Deployment from McMurdo to remote field camps is often accomplished through the LC-130's as well. Each year there are also a few C-141 flights to McMurdo, and in many years, a single C-5 flight. ELZ, JACEE-12

Group shot of the JACEE-13 field team

From left to right are Eric Zager, Bjørn Nilsen, Ellen Roberts, and John Gregory. Mike Pelling, JACEE-13

Eric

Eric sitting on helium isopacks. Kanaya Chevli, JACEE-11

JACEE-10 Piggyback Experiment

Mark Wilbur? JACEE-10

Gondola Hanging

Mike Pelling, JACEE-13

Compatability

Gondola being removed from Sprung Structure for compatability test. ELZ, JACEE-11/12

Launch Vehicle and Gondola

Insulation has now been applied to the gondola, and solar panels added below. Mike Pelling, JACEE-13

Balloon Unrolled

The balloon is unrolled. Most of the balloon is in the wooden crate which will be pulled down the flight train allowing the material to lay flat. Two people on the right are holding the very top of the balloon. When fully inflated and at altitude the balloon will be about 120 m across. ELZ, 11/12

Bottom of Flight Train

Below the balloon is a parachute, and below that, our payload. ELZ, 11/12

Inflation

Inflation tube & spool ELZ, 11/12

JACEE-13 Inflation

Cloudy day. Quality low. Mike Pelling, JACEE-13

Launch of JACEE-10 with Mt. Erebus in the background.

Balloon Launch

JACEE 11/12 with pink clouds for some reason. At the bottom is our payload. The orange material above is the parachute. The rest of the material above that is balloon, and will inflate as it climbs to higher altitudes and air pressure drops. ELZ, JACEE-11/12

Movie of Launch (547 Kb)

The launch is a delicate operation because the balloon is fragile, and will tear if the payload swings or twists too much as it is released. In this sequence the launch vehicle will drive to the left to minimize swinging. ELZ, JACEE-11

Balloon Path

In December and January stratospheric winds blow in a circle around the South Pole. The path taken by JACEE-13, shown here, is atypical in that the balloon strays north about 300 miles as it circles. Ordinarily the balloon will stay at the same latitude or spiral southward into the Pole. ELZ, JACEE-13

Penguins

Adélie Penguins by Hut Point ELZ, JACEE-12

More Penguins

JACEE-13 Inflation

John Gregory & Payload

General Debris

Ground Equipment