TRANSPOLAR SKITREK PROGRESS REPORT #2: February 5, 1988

     Prepared by Rich Ensign, N8IWJ AMSAT Science Education Advisor
                 For Use With The AMSAT Teachers Guide
            "Exploring The High Arctic From Your Classroom"

The final two Canadian skiers in the Transpolar Skitrek Expedition have been
announced by expedition leader Dr. Dimitri Shparo, UA3AJH.

    Dr. Maxwell Buxton, M.D., a practicing physician from Calabogie, Ontario.
        He is an experienced cross-country skier and backpacker and is 31
        years old.

    Christopher Holloway, a computer technician from Chelsea, Quebec is 30
        years old and is also a well qualified backpacker and cross-country
        skier.

These two complete the full complement of four Canadians participating in the
expedition. Profiles of the first two Canadian skiers may be found in the
guide. Dr. Shparo's profile is in the guide as well. Here is information
about two key Russian expedition members.

    Dr. Mikhail G. Malakhov, M.D. is Medical Chief of the expedition. He is
        Assistant Professor at the Raizan Medical Institute and is 53 years
        old. Dr. Malakhov is married and has two sons.

    Dr. Yury I. Khmelevsky, Ph.D., has his degree in mathematics and is
        Scientific Director of the expedition. He travelled to the North Pole
        with Dr. Shparo's 1979 expedition. Dr. Khmelevsky is 50 years old,
        married and has two daughters and one son.

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Additional topics/questions to be explored in the classroom with the aid of
an amateur radio operator:

    1. How can short wave (HF) signals travel such long distances? Explore
       the term propagation.

    2. What is the aurora borealis (northern lights)? What causes this
       phenomenon? What effect will the aurora have on northern
       communications? Is there a southern lights that could effect
       communications in the Antarctic? What is "Arctic flutter"?

    3. Can you become adapted to the -50 degrees C. dry cold of the arctic?

    4. Why can Arne Christensen and his class in Gistrup, Denmark monitor
       UoSAT Oscar 11 ten times a day while Bindu Rao in Bangalore, India can
       only pick it up on four or five passes per day?

Can you think of additional topics/questions/concepts to explore beyond those
listed here and in the guide? If so, write and tell us what you have in mind.

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Progress Reports like this one may be accessed via packet BBS, AMSAT Nets and
the main educator source, the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board (1-515-961-3325).
Progress Report #3 will be issued on February 12, 1988.