Nebergall_2006_2abstr
Copyright
© 2006 by Kent Nebergall. Published by The Mars Society with
permission.
LESSONS IN POLAR
EXPLORATION – CAMP CENTURY AND THE ANTARCTIC SNOW CRUISER
Kent Nebergall
ABSTRACT
Trenches are dug in the surface. Two dozen habitats
capable of supporting a population of 200 are placed within and buried, then linked
with tunnels. A nuclear reactor is
assembled and powers the cold remote outpost. Extensive scientific work is completed,
including core samples that influence understanding of the history of the
planet for the remainder of the century.
The moon in 2030? Mars in 2040? Try Greenland - 1960. Welcome to Camp Century - the US Army's
city under the ice.
A rover larger than a semi is unloaded to explore a remote
frozen world. It is designed to
operate for over a year with crew of four, and trek over 5000 miles of
uncharted landscape with a form of hybrid electric propulsion. It even carries an aerial survey craft
on its top deck to allow the crew to map the terrain ahead. The Antarctic Snow Cruiser - Built in
Chicago in 1939 to explore Antarctica.
This is a survey of the technologies, successes, failures,
and attitudes behind some of the most ambitious exploration projects before the
moon landings.