News
10.01.2012
Forward – towards the South Pole!
“SAT & Company” JSC has provided assistance to the public organization called “Kazakh Geographical Society”, in its realization of the first enormously scaled project, also called “The first Kazakhstan’s scientific expedition to the South Pole” towards the least researched continent – The Antarctica.
This expedition was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Independence of Republic of Kazakhstan
The practical purpose of this expedition was to conduct the scientific research at the most southern tip of the Earth by Kazakhstan’s scientists who work in the sphere of geography, meteorology and climatology.
In addition to carrying-out its scientific goals and establishing the national flag of Republic of Kazakhstan at the South Pole, KazGeo has put in front of itself the most important task; that is to take the distinguished place among the developed nations of the world that have common interests on the continent of Antarctica which, at the present moment, is the global treasure of the planet. The status of Antarctica is that it is a neutral Land, free of any military actions and industrial developments, and open only to scientific researches; that has been adopted by the International Agreement on Antarctica. Currently, out of all the republics of the former Soviet Union, there are only two states that are the participants of this Agreement – and they are Russia and Ukraine; and only Russia has its own polar stations and conducts scientific researches.
Kazakh Geographical Society that was created in 2010, has already been known among the world’s geographical societies, thanks to this very project of the polar expedition – developed and fully realized by the members of KazGeo themselves. It was preceded by a titanic work. The project was divided into two major stages, each of which was the important event by itself both for KazGeo and to the world’s prestige of Kazakhstan alike.
The first stage was an auto-race by the members of KazGeo over the Antarctica from Russian station Novolazarevskaya to the South Pole. To carry this out, new jeep automobiles of Toyota Hi Luxury type were purchased which, afterwards, had undergone the re-equipment of their aggregates, power mechanisms and made fully fit to the severe conditions of Antarctica. The agreement was reached with the Russian side on the use of its polar station as a starting point, research and approval of the route, preparation of all the needed documents and a lot of other things. This stage was more than successful. And, in December 2010, the test was given – it included a car-drive in real conditions of this route; this pilot Kazakh team included in itself the members of KazGeo – Konstantin Orlov and Stanislav Makarenko. They drove on the cars 2308 kilometers for 108 hours across the icy desert of Antarctica, through the snow blocks, hummocks and tracks. This auto race was written in the Guinness book of records as the most speed reach of the South Pole by cars. The official ceremony of handing the certificate to the team members was conducted in June 2011 in Astana directly by the Commissioner of this world’s organization – Jack Brokeband.
At the same time, the Scientific Council of KazGeo has formed and carried-out the program of the expedition, which provided a unique possibility to Kazakhstan’s scientists to conduct a practical research of the natural-climate conditions of the White Continent. By a recognition of the world’s scientists–meteorologists and climate researchers, Antarctica represents a special research laboratory which allows to provide a more precise prognosis on weather and climate conditions around the globe for a short and long-term perspectives.
So, on November 28th, 2011 the expeditionary team of KazGeo, via a transit stop in Abu Dhabi, has flown to the South African port of Cape Town, where in the night of the 1st to the 2nd of December with an air flight, they have finally reached Novolazarevskaya station in Antarctica. Due to the no-fly weather condition, the flight was delayed for almost two days, which, in its turn, had postponed the starting time of the route from the planned December 3rd to the 4th.
Upon adapting to the local climate conditions by our new polar explorers, assembling and a final preparation of the technical, scientific equipment and all needed fit-out, on December 4th, 2011, the expedition started to proceed towards the most southern tip of the planet. The explorers have used an already checked-out test-driven on the road two jeeps – Toyota Hi Luxury and an additional Toyota Prado, both of which were also reinforced and brought with them from the Continent.
The expedition was headed by the organizer of the project and the founder of KazGeo, the Chairman of the Presidium of Kazakh Geographical Society – Nurlan Abduov. The expedition team also included the navigator persons Konstantin Orlov and Berik Baimagambetov, the mechanical engineer from Iceland, Eiyo, and a Russian polar explorer – the doctor and a video technician, Vasiliy Mozzhukhin.
The route of the expedition, almost 2.5 thousand kilometers one-way, was laid on a difficult land relief, through icy deserts and mountain areas full of deep cracks and snow hummocks. Eight days of a constant move in a polar summer. Snow, the ruthless sun blinds the eyes and burns the skin but does not warm the body and icy-cold wind that gets in everywhere. That, how these three jeeps of this auto caravan were moving through a snowy blizzard. Outside is minus 45 degrees Celsius of a summer frost of Antarctica, you can’t shut-off the engine otherwise it won’t start, the tires and rubber pipes, hoses are freezing because of the icy cold and can burst – and that is why it is impossible to stay at one place for a long time. Short halts, light sleep and off they go. And under these conditions they still managed to carry-out their main scientific program of their expedition: at any given locality they were measuring the radiation, taking the samples of the snow and ice cover, and other natural material.
There were breakages of the equipment along the way, the tires burst, the jeeps were falling through a deceptive snow covering few times and, practically, each halt was followed by un-digging of the cars covered by snow. Thousand kilometers around there is a white silence, a complete snow haze, not a soul. Towing vehicles, winches, shovel, sledge hammer and other instruments, the skill of the mechanic and experience in travelling, and, most importantly, enthusiasm, work and will power – all these allowed them to complete this difficult road before the planned timetable. On December 12th, the expedition has reached the international camp called “Amundsen – Scott”, established by Americans and located 20 km from the South Pole.
In Antarctica, on December 14th, there was a holiday dedicated to 100 years since the discovery of the South Pole. Everybody who was at this camp went towards the point of the South Pole and our explorers have also joined the worldwide festivity. In a festive ceremony, at the most southern tip of the Earth, next to the flag of Norway, - the flag of Republic of Kazakhstan was raised in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Independence of Kazakhstan.
The weather forecast for the upcoming days was not favorable and, that is why, the decision was made to return to the Russian station on the 15th. Ahead, is the same road, but, it appeared to be shorter. Just within five days, overtaking the bad weather, as much as they could, our explorers have reached Novolazarevskaya station. Bad weather had reached them at the base where they had to sit-out for several days, awaiting summer weather. Only on the 26th, the members of the expedition have returned to Astana.
Along with the national banners at the South Pole, the flag of “SAT & Company” JSC – a Kazakhstan Holding that provided an overwhelming support in making this expedition a reality – was raised. Perhaps, the success of this expedition is also partially due to the help of the main symbol of “SAT & Company” JSC that was taken to the road by these Kazakhstan’s pioneers - a good luck talisman.
Good luck in the future grandiose projects! Іске СӘТ!
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