The DC-8 arrived in Punta Arenas with its support crew and accompanying scientists on Tuesday October 13.  The 757 arrived with the additional cargo and was unloaded and distributed to the science groups on Wednesday October 14.

The first science flight over Antarctica was orginally scheduled to take place on Thursday October 15.  Unfortunately, a trucker’s strike in Chile prevented the shipment of  aircraft fuel to the airport in Punta Arenas, which is being used by the DC-8.  The DC-8 only had 4 hours of power on the plane, since there was no fuel for the generator. Thursday’s first science flight has been canceled since 155,000 lbs of fuel is needed to get to Antarctica and back.

Transit flight from Santiago, Chile to Punta Arenas, Chile.  The route takes the DC-8 over the Andes Mountains.

David Rabine working on the LVIS instrument during the transit flight.

James Yungel and Matt Linkswiler at ATM rack during the transit flight.

Melissa Yang and Glenn Diskin at DACOM during the transit flight.

David Van Gilst working on the network setup.