This blog tells the tale of a Portuguese man building space technology in the Netherlands going to Antarctica to launch an American telescope.
This expedition is part of my work at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research regarding the technology developed for NASA balloon mission GUSTO. GUSTO is expected to launch from Antarctica during December of 2023.
By Jose Silva
Chapter 3: Antarctica arrival
The ride from the Phoenix Airfield to McMurdo took us 45 minutes. The transport had very high windows that quickly got foggy. It was not a particularly exciting ride. Nevertheless I could feel my heart racing. We got out near the center of the station. It resembles a...
Chapter 2: Christchurch
Our stay in Christchurch was planned to last four days. On the day we arrived, we went for a walk in the city to take in its energy, grabbing dinner in a local food court. On the morning of the second day we had a shuttle pick us up and other USAP participants to the...
Chapter 1: From Europe to the other side of the World
Packed and ready to fly to Los Angeles After months of medical exams, gear hunting and other preparations the time to start this journey arrived. On the 24th October everything was ready. Packed with 2 large suitcases, a backpack and a lot of expectations I took a NS...
Prologue
Antarctica Antarctica remains the most mysterious continent in the world. Its breathtaking views inspire awe and its quick changing weather fuels the fears of even the bravest explorers. The exploration of this continent started relatively recently. The existence of...
