Yardstick Studio has partnered with Hamelmann Communications as part of the South Pole Traverse Improvement Project (SPoT) in Antarctica. We will be designing, developing and constructing new traverse modules with Leidos, as part of the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC), for the National Science Foundation, in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).
The SPoT Program delivers fuel and supplies to USAP stations at the South Pole. Each year during the austral summer field season, the SPot 14-person crew drives the 2080-mile round-trip trek from McMurdo Station to the USAP stations and research projects at the South Pole. A trip that takes about a month each way. They do this in tracked Caterpillar and Case tractors, dragging large bladders of diesel fuel and sleds filled with supplies.
The SPoT modules we are designing will be the new and upgraded living, sleeping, and working spaces for the team, and will be replacing their current modules in the 2025-2026 season. There are two sets of three modules we will be designing and building. Each set will consist of:
- A Kitchen Module, which will contain a kitchen, dining area, a bathroom, laundry, and some office desk space.
- A Generator Module (known as the “GAF” – Generator, Ablutions, & Food). Each GAF will contain two generators to provide power and heat to the modules, restrooms with Incinolet toilets (ablutions), a food storage walk in freezer (food), and also a full working shop with all the tools and supplies needed to maintain and keep all equipment running and functioning on their journey.
- And a Dormitory module where the crew will sleep each night.
