X-SciTech

100 years - and counting - at the South Pole

By Charles Cooper

December 14, 2011 / 3:45 PM EST / CBS News

Wednesday marks the 100th anniversary of explorer Roald Amundsen becoming the first to reach the South Pole. In this image Amundsen, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting (l

The base at Framheim, February 1911 Wikipedia

Over the decades, scientists and support personnel have conducted research at the South Pole on myriad projects. But the conditions are anything but balmy as evidenced by this 1960 photo. The ice sheet below South Pole is nearly two miles thick

Dick Prescott National Science Foundation

A C-124 Cargo plane airdrops lumber to U.S. Navy Seabees at the South Pole, December 1956 as they went about the construction of a research station.

A Dec. 4, 1956 aerial view of the first permanent station at the South Pole

Dave Grisez, National Science Foundation

This C-47 was the first airplane to land at the South Pole on Oct. 31, 1956.

Group shot of the U.S. Navy Seabees who built the first South Pole station. Work was completed in late December, 1956

Keith Vanderlinde, National Science Foundation

Today the South Pole Telescope collects data on cosmic microwave background radiation and black matter

Ann Hawthorne, National Science Foundation

The South Pole offers six months of constant sunlight for studying the sun. This 1985 image shows researcher Martin Pomerantz at the Pole

Calee Allen, National Science Foundation

Weather balloons launched at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The base was named in honor of two explorers. Norwegian Roald Amundsen led the first successful expedition to the South Pole 100 years ago. The other half of the base's name was in memory of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who lost the race against Amundsen and arrived at the South Pole more than month later, only to find Amundsen's tent, a Norwegian flag and a letter from Amundsen. Scott and four companions died on the way out.

Dome of the South Pole station, which was completed in 1975

1993 overhead shot of the geodisc dome and support tunnels at the South Pole Station

The entrance to the dome filled up with snow and ice accumulation, as demonstrated in this 1975 photo. It ultimately required the digging of an access tunnel

Patrick Hovey, National Science Foundation

Korean War vintage Jamesway huts

J. Dana Hrubes, Space Sciences Laboratory, South Pole Station

U.S. flag, backlit by Southern Lights, flies at half staff in June 2004 in memory of former President Ronald Reagan. The flag was also lowered after the 9/11 terror attacks and the Space Shuttle Columbia loss in 2003

No longer any need for roughing it. A look at the base recreation room

Scott Jackson, National Science Foundation

Isolation of the U.S. South Pole Station. The nearest human habitation is McMurdo Station on Ross Island, about 900 miles away

Glenn Grant, National Science Foundation

2008 ceremony including the 12 original signatory nations of the Antarctic Treaty

Chris Danals, National Science Foundation

July 2005 image taken during the 6-month-long Antarctic night.

cot Jackson, National Science Foundation

Aerial photo taken in 2005 of new South Pole station. The older station is at lower left

D.A. Harper Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica

South Pole Infrared Explorer was used to probe areas where new stars form by recording their infrared emissions.

Atmospheric Research Observatory tracks changes in the Earth's atmosphere

Tumbleweed rover is an experimental device designed to land on other planets. In 2004 tests, it has traveled more than 40 miles around the pole.

Charles Cooper

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

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