Byrd Station
The busy summer season at Byrd Station was beginning when I arrived in the fall of 1963. For the next few months we brought in supplies (all delivered by air), hosted summer visitors, repaired equipment, and prepared the station for winter. After the last resupply flight departed, the wintering-over party, which consisted of about ten scientists and twenty U.S. Navy support personnel, settled into our various routines.
(New) Byrd Station in the summer of 1963-1964
Most of the station is below the surface, in tunnels covered by steel arches. The three large structures above the surface are the aurora observatory, the Rawin dome, and the balloon inflation shelter. The Rawin dome protected radar equipment used for tracking weather balloons. The excavation just to the right of the balloon inflation shelter was for the purpose of replacing the steel arches over the geomagnetic "absolutes building" with arches made of non-magnetic aluminum.
Most of the station is below the surface, in tunnels covered by steel arches. The three large structures above the surface are the aurora observatory, the Rawin dome, and the balloon inflation shelter. The Rawin dome protected radar equipment used for tracking weather balloons. The excavation just to the right of the balloon inflation shelter was for the purpose of replacing the steel arches over the geomagnetic "absolutes building" with arches made of non-magnetic aluminum.
Byrd Station in the Twilight of Early Spring, 1965
The twilight of early spring was welcome after months of total darkness. From left are twin 177-foot antenna masts, aurora tower, Rawin dome, and balloon inflation shelter. The masts were for a cosmic-ray study, and were erected the previous summer by U.S. Navy Seabees, who also put a flagpole atop the left mast and raised a U.S. flag. But winter winds of up to 80 mph have now completely shredded the flag. In the fall there was a third of it left when I, looking for something to do after dinner, wondered if I could retrieve the flag and tentatively began climbing the mast. Although I did manage to reach the top, because of the wind, the cold, and my fatigue, I dared not stand atop the mast to try to reach the flag.
The twilight of early spring was welcome after months of total darkness. From left are twin 177-foot antenna masts, aurora tower, Rawin dome, and balloon inflation shelter. The masts were for a cosmic-ray study, and were erected the previous summer by U.S. Navy Seabees, who also put a flagpole atop the left mast and raised a U.S. flag. But winter winds of up to 80 mph have now completely shredded the flag. In the fall there was a third of it left when I, looking for something to do after dinner, wondered if I could retrieve the flag and tentatively began climbing the mast. Although I did manage to reach the top, because of the wind, the cold, and my fatigue, I dared not stand atop the mast to try to reach the flag.