TRANSPOLAR SKITREK PROGRESS REPORT #9A March 26, 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 Amateur Radio supported Transpolar Skitrek Expedition made excellent progress across the frozen Arctic Ocean in the early part of the past week. Calm days made the -35dC temperatures bearable as the skiers trekking averaged more than 20 km per day. Ice conditions were excellent with few hummocks, cracks in the ice or leads of open water. The skiers are in excellent spirits and have developed into a closely knit team, despite cultural differences. The Arctic is full of surprises, however, and the "moving group" (a term expedition communicators use to refer to the skiers) found the going very difficult as the week progressed. High winds and blowing snow prevented the skiers from pressing on. The Transpolar Drift Stream, a major Arctic Ocean current, carried them westward slightly as well. Expedition Leader Dimitri Shparo also experienced a minor injury to his ankle. None of these factors are affecting the determination or ability of the skiers to continue to the Pole and Canada beyond. With almost 400 kilometers behind them, the skiers look forward to calm days and warmer weather. (Insert the single paragraph of Report 9B here when placed on TMAIL 3/29, Tuesday afternoon) The Digitalker on UO-11 has been marking the progress of the skiers with improved enunciation and up-to-date reports. SARSAT/COSPAS operations via the ELT the skiers are carrying and the hybrid link to the University of Surrey have been functioning as intended. Educators and hams have been testing antenna systems for UO-11 reception and have found the HT with whip antenna desirable for portable reception and the turnstile with reflector or TR antenna desirable for fixed operation. The TR antenna is described in the "Satellite Experimenters Handbook" by Dr. Martin Davidoff, available from AMSAT HQ. Many of the elementary and secondary schools following the trek are contacting each other and comparing trek watching activities. This sharing is being coordinated by AMSAT's Science Education Advisor Rich Ensign, N8IWJ. If you want a school you are helping to become a part of the sharing, contact Rich for a list of schools involved. His address is 421 N. Military, Dearborn, MI 48124. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Skitrek Progress Reports, and daily Position/Condition Reports may be accessed via packet BBS, AMSAT Nets and the main educator source, the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board which may be reached at (1-515-961-3325). TRANSPOLAR SKITREK / PROJECT NORDSKI COMM - SKI TEAM POSITION LOG ----------------------------------------------------------------- DAY/TIM UTC LATITUDE LONGITUDE REMARKS ----------- -------- --------- -------------------------------------------- 26MAR 12:15 84d43.1m 95d50.5mE -42dC Clear wind NW 2-3mps 2-days = 32.4km 25MAR No position report 24MAR 13:00 84d25.6m 95d58.2mE -37dC wind 40km/hr snowstorm 0km 23MAR 13:00 84d28.9m 96d12.4mE -33dC Strong head winds 20-40km/hr 15km 22MAR 13:02 84d19.0m 97d02.9mE Everything good ice, temp, progress 28km 21MAR 13:00 84d03.5m 97d40.4mE -39dC ice excellent few leads&hummocks 21km 20MAR 11:40 83d51.8m 97d27.4mE -36dC wind 1-2mps good ice & spirits 26km 18MAR 13:00 83d37.9m 97d21.7mE -31dC no wind no open water good cond 22km 17MAR 13:00 83d11.7m 97d26.6mE -35dC wind 3-5mps from SE 24km 16MAR 13:00 82d58.7m 97d28.9mE <1st air drop successful of 14MAR. Team 15MAR Camped in igloo