Later than 18 days in the glacial land of Antarctic, arriving at the airport according to the schedule has been an especially warm homecoming. After nearly three weeks journeying the bottom of the world, four members of the expedition to Antarctica was home for a hero's welcome. This makes up history and an incredibly emotional event for us all.
Terrible weather condition restricted the Antarctica's scientific quest for about 10 more days than anticipated, therefore, as the arrival day finally came, the welcome party was arranged immediately. An hour earlier as the plane was about to reach its destination, relatives and peers sat in black plastic airport chairs peep in at the large windows on the runway and glimpsing at their watches. Along the corridor, 25 students together with instructors and parents, nibbling turkey sandwiches and were about to pamper their instructors with embrace.
A lot of people brought along a bunch of heart shaped balloons, a dozen roses and a mass of made by hand welcome logos bearing pictures of penguins. The four team members brought two bags of meteorites which will later be photographed, cut open and tested and tales of a mission accomplished. The expedition also composed two retired NASA astronauts, a scientist from NASA and a Chicago resident who contributed significantly in funding part of the expedition. The expedition motivated the group to the Patriot Hills of Antarctica, South Pole and Thiel Mountains though it is not high as the Rockies, yet just as beautiful.
Arriving in the States, there was a complaint made with regard to the technology brought along the trip. Unsatisfactory were the satellite phones. The things that they left behind were what these stood for. In no time he will be able to return to being a professor of astronomy and geology in a populated continent.
This kind of adventure in an unfamiliar territory was not the first one for these people. The two traveled to Turkey with a scientific team last summer to view the solar eclipse from the coast of the Black Sea. In Antarctica they stayed for a few more days unexpectedly and they experienced the same thing over there. For the solar eclipse was why they went there but they stayed for an intense earthquake as well. The earthquake struck when the two were 200 miles away from its epicenter and so the magnitude they felt was only 5.5.
When it comes to the Antarctica trip he liked the camaraderie best but he also considered this to be a less stressful trip with its blue ice fields not to mention the snow covered scenery. For the team which had a retired NASA scientist it was somewhat an exclusive club. But they are ordinary down to earth people who were very approachable. With them there are no egos, just fun. Days in Antarctica, expected or otherwise, were spent with much reading, talking, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing as well.
For a 24 year old team member speaking with reporters and staff members what she planned to wear on such a trip a month ago consisted of heavy gloves, boots, goggles, and an energetic smile. She wore a cheerful smile upon returning with some sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt. She was an avid fan of space science and this made her a participant in the Mars like continent trip. This kind of trip was an amazing learning opportunity for the students. Kids tying everything in leads to learning. Teachers who are also explorers allow the kids to live science and history.
The main focus of her experimentations was temperature, rocks, and gravity, similar to the students' focus back home. As well as satellite phone, email was also used to send the information to 11 classrooms. Very funny were the questions raised as well as the answers given. Comical was how the answers all differed from each other. What she was able to teach the students was that temperatures that can go well below zero plus a snowy desert can change results easily.
Unable To Return Yet Again
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