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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Astrophysics Science Division | Sciences and Exploration

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TIGER Questions and Answers

about Antarctic Logistics

Dr. Eric Christian of NASA GSFC was in Antarctica for the launch of the balloon-borne instrument, TIGER. He answered questions about Antarctica and the mission while there and since.


  1. How do you get water to drink?

    I got mine from the tap. They have a very good reverse osmosis plant in McMurdo that gets fresh water from seawater. When you're in a field camp, you just melt (over a stove) snow, and you get fresh water.

  2. If you had been able to go to the South Pole, how would you have traveled?

    Usually people fly down to the pole in LC-130s, military cargo planes that have skis (and also wheels).

  3. How are the garbage and the waste disposed of?

    Garbage and waste are all sent back to the states by ship. They spend a lot of effort to minimize human impact down here.

  4. What mode of transportation do you use?

    Mostly I've been riding in a modified van. (more on the vehicles...)


This page was last modified on October 23, 2003