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Antarctic dome to be decommissioned
The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station has been conducting research in Antarctica for more than 50 years, and it has been the southernmost continually inhabited place on Earth over that period. For more than 30 of those years, the iconic image of the place has been that of a giant geodesic dome towering more than five stories above the ice. But now, the dome has been decommissioned, and is scheduled for demolition soon, which has spawned calls from former residents of the station to save what has been called an important piece of American history. According to this story in the New York Times, a portion of the dome is set to be disassembled and sent back to the States as part of a museum that is currently under construction in California. But most of the structure will be cut into pieces and scrapped. But critics of the plan say that the entire dome should be brought home and rebuilt as a monument to U.S. exploration in Antarctica. To do so would require each piece to be disassembled by hand, bolt by bolt, and shipped stateside to be reassembled, at an estimated cost of more than $500,000, far beyond the budget allowed for the operation.
At this point, it seems unlikely that the dome will survive the scrapyard. But for 30 years it has been a symbol of exploration and research in Antarctica, and while its time may have has passed, its contribution to the science is undeniable. It is safe to say, the dome will be missed.
Filed under: History, Antarctica, United States













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick Nov 14th 2009 11:33AM
To the folks insisting that the whole thing be brought back to the States -
Just imagine how much energy will be consumed and Greenhouse Gases released in transporting it. True minded scientists will never allow that to happen!!
Kraig Nov 14th 2009 12:35PM
I believe the scraps will be brought back regardless, so they're going to be shipping it home either as scrap or as full pieces. It'll likely have the same environmental impact either way.
The cost in money and man power are too much though.