https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/06/16/a-rare-risky-mission-is-underway-to-rescue-sick-scientists-from-the-south-pole/?tid=pm_national_pop_bBy Sarah Kaplan June 16 at 2:34 PM
The 10-meter South Pole Telescope and the BICEPTelescope at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in 2008. (Keith Vanderlinde/National Science Foundation via Reuters)
Two small bush planes are flying to the South Pole this week to evacuate workers at the Amundsen-Scott research station — a feat rarely attempted during the middle of the Antarctic winter.
Kelly Falkner, the director of polar programs for the National Science Foundation (which runs the South Pole station), said that at least one seasonal employee for contractor Lockheed Martin requires medical treatment not available at the station and needs to be flown out. A second worker may also be rescued. Falkner couldn't provide further details about the medical motivation behind the rescues for privacy reasons.
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