Balloon Launch Facilities at McMurdo Pictures stolen from Boomerang site

What to expect at McMurdo The facilities are probably better than you think –24 hour internet connectivity –24 hour phone connectivity (just use phone cards) –If required, get FR isolation cage and other structures built (needs to go into SIP) There are several regions: McMurdo, Pegasus, and Williams (aka Willie) Field –McMurdo: where you’ll sleep most of the time, ship offload; –Willie Field: about 30 minutes by van from McMurdo - has dining facilities –Pegasus: ice runway for jet aircraft, C141, C5

Interior of building at Willie Field

Highbay door, balloon gondola ready for pickup by Delta

Delta Picking up the payload

Vans available for use Solar panels Delta

Moving Platform Waiting to be attached to balloon

Balloon, being inflated at Willie Field Mt. Erebus

Erebus Balloon Inflation Tubes Helium trucks Delta with payload

Landing via parachute View from tracking aircraft

Parachute Boomerang Shields Recovery of payload on Ross Ice Shelf; we should be so lucky