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Thurston Island/Antarctica Ice Shaft Melting (1.2M Diameter) for Observation of In-Glacier Conditions
Thurston Island/Antarctica Ice Shaft Melting (1.2M Diameter) for Observation of In-Glacier Conditions
Hi all!
I¹m looking for scientific applications to utilize our technology to melt 1.2-meter diameter shafts into the glacier for observation or specimen collection. This is the same technology that was used to melt shafts up to 80 meters into the Greenland ice sheet to open a cavern around a WWII Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter, disassemble it and return it to the US for restoration and flight status.
For the families of these men we are organizing a mission - either through the US Navy or privately - to Thurston Island to recover the remains of 3 US Naval air crewmen left in a temporary grave during Operation Highjump, 1946 The grave is now located between a depth 30 and 50 meters. Operation Highjump remains the largest ever exploration mission of the Antarctic continent, consisting of 4700 men, 13 ships and 13 aircraft.
We are looking for scientific applications of the technology - such as to sample bedrock or place instrumentation. Our goal is to use the scientific application and further experimentation the technology in our recovery operation to apply for NSF support.
Any and all suggested applications are greatly appreciated as well as any other government programs of any nationality that might be able to assist us in this endeavor. Lacking NSF support our greatest possibility of success lies in an icebreaker/helo drop off (4.1 miles inland) with retrieval at a later date. Our operation is 2 parts over 2 seasons, the first being a 6 to 8 day mission to run ground penetrating radar over the site to map the debris field and send a steam probe to the largely intact 35 meter wing where the men are buried. The following year we will perform the actual recovery of the remains of the men under the guidance of a CILHI/JPAC cold weather anthropologist.
Please contact Lou Sapienza. Executive Director/Expedition lead @ 06-240-9869 in Seattle, WA
For further information see:
www.george1recovery.org