When the South Pole Dome was erected in 1975 at the South Pole it was expected to last 10 years. But earlier this month its deconstruction was complete and after 35 years the iconic research station is no more.
The deconstruction was in itself, a remarkable feat of team work and leadership. The plan to disassemble the dome was basically to reverse the order of construction - taking it apart from the top down and peel it like an orange. Time and weather were obvious obstacles.
The project started in mid-November by clearing out the dome and moving snow away from outside perimeter for the heavy equipment to operate. Temperatures need to remain above - 40°F for the cranes and mechanical lifts to work properly - not always guaranteed, even in Antarctica’s summer.
Team leader Brandon 'Shaggy' Neahusan said, "This is a handpicked crew that I've worked with for several seasons now, and as this is a very high-profile project, it's my responsibility to not let my crew feel any of that pressure and just allow them to do their jobs."
No comments:
Post a Comment