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The sticker at left was issued by NASA especially for use by "Antarctica 2000" Expedition members. |
"EX ANTARCTICA SCIENTIA"
USA ASTRONAUT VISITS TO SOUTH POLE 2000.
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The sticker at left was issued by NASA especially for use by "Antarctica 2000" Expedition members. |
In recent years the Antarctic continent has proved to be a varitable "gold mine" for meteorite seekers because the nature of the continent means that all meteorites which have fallen there are still there easily visible against a snow and ice background. There are in particular some areas where large ablation of glaciers causes a build up of meteorites. The cold and dry climate also helps to preserve meteorites. In the past decade several thousand meteorites have been discovered in the Antarctic including a few from Mars and other equally interesting origins.
In the 1999-2000 Austral summer season a NASA sponsored Expedition undertook a meteorite search in the Thiel Mountains which are situated between Patriot Hills and the South Pole. In this party were two famous American Astronauts Owen Garriott and James Lovell. On the 16th of January, 2000 they made a special visit to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This page celebrates that visit.
The picture at right shows Owen Garriott at left and James Lovell at right with Austrian Balloon pilot Ivan Trifonov (in the middle) from the Russian led Mil 2000 expedition. This photo was taken at Patriot Hills after the Mil 2000 Expedition had returned from the South Pole and before the NASA expedition went there. |
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SPACE SERVICE RECORDS OWEN GARRIOTT. = Scientist-Astronaut. participated on Spacelab and Skylab 11 JAMES LOVELL. = Captain US Navy. participated on Gemini V11 & Gemini X11, Apollo V111 and Apollo X111. |
This picture shows the turbo prop fitted DC-3 aircraft of World Air Logistics which flew the astonaut party in from Patriot Hills to the South Pole Station.
Another view of the aircraft with the South Pole 1999-2000 pile of snow in the background created by digging out for the new station buildings. Note the 5 bladed propellers and skis.
This interesting view shows the inside of the World Air logistics aircraft.
Astronaut James Lovell at right meeting the National Science Foundation's South Pole manager Jerry Marty at the Geographic South Pole with the DC-3 in the background.
James Lovell at the Geographic South Pole
James A. Lovell at the Ceremonial South Pole amidst the circle of flags.
Owen Garriott at left and James Lovell (right) at Geographic South Pole
James Lovell, Jerry Marty (South Pole NSF South Pole Manager) and Owen Garriott at Geographic South Pole.
James Lovell in center and Owen Garriott at right inspecting new construction at the South Pole Station.
James Lovell talking to NSF South Pole manager Jerry Marty inside South Pole Station
James Lovell doing an autograph.
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The picture at left is of the front cover of a special lettersheet produced at the south pole for the two Astronauts visit. This particular one has been autographed by the two visiting astronauts. |
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This picture at left shows the inside of the special letter sheet and has been postmarked on the date of the visit with the South Pole datestamp of January 16, 2000.
It also has one of the special Expedition stickers on it. |
| This cover at right is one
that was originally issued back in 1970 for the launch of Apollo 13. postmarked at Kennedy
Space Center on April 11th, the day of the launch. It was kindly autographed by James Lovell while at the South Pole Station on January 16th |
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| This is the reverse of the above Apollo 13 envelope. It has been postmarked on the date of the signing on the front by James Lovell and certified as such by South Pole Comm Ops radio operator Neil Conant, a veteran South Pole resident. |
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The above is another Apollo 13 cover kindly autographed by James Lovell. it also has been certified on the back in the same fashion as the previous cover.
James Lovell in radio room at South Pole Station with radio operator Neil Conant. |
Owen Garriott in radio room at South Pole Station with radio operator Neil Conant. |
Note Please: This page is part of a commercial site. However none of the items shown are for sale and are from the collection of Steven McLachlan and are shown here only because he wants to skite that he has them courtesy of some very good South Pole friends!
To see photos of the Basler BT-67 (DC-3) aircraft on its return to the South Pole in November 2000 click here
Return to front page of Antarctic Philately
