Overview

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the principal management and coordinating organization in carrying out the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

• The Department of Defense (DoD) launched Operation Deep Freeze to support scientific research on the Antarctic continent over 40 years ago.

• Operation Deep Freeze is the collective term for over 2,000 personnel from units of the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Military Sealift Command.

• Commander, Naval Support Force Antarctica (NSFA) exercises operational control of all assigned units and provides for:
  1. Communication facilities
  2. Weather information services
  3. Air traffic control services
  4. Airport services
  5. Port services
  6. Medical and dental services
  7. Logistic support services

• The National Science Foundation and Naval Support Force Antarctica personnel provide communications services from McMurdo Station northward to Christchurch, New Zealand (2,200 miles), southward to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (831 miles) and eastward to Palmer Station (2,200 miles) in support of the U.S. Scientific Program in Antarctica. Many international stations such as Molodezhnaya (Russia), Dumont D'Urville (France), Scott Base (New Zealand), Casey (Australia) and others also utilize our communications services.