2024-2025 USAP Field Season
Station and Vessel Schedules

The United States Antarctic Program operates three permanent research stations on the continent and two research vessels.

Opening Dates

	Austral Summer Openings		Austral Winter Openings
	Operational	Science	Austral Winter Openings
McMurdo (Early Season*)	14 Aug 2024	Continuing through Winter/WinFly	25 Feb 2025
McMurdo (Mainbody)	1 Oct 2024	9 Oct 2024	25 Feb 2025
South Pole	1 Nov 2024	4 Nov 2024	15 Feb 2025
Palmer	1 Oct 2024	23 Oct 2024	20 Mar 2025
Research Vessel	Vessel Operates Year-Round
*A limited number of science projects deploy early

Estimated Population

	Summer	Winter
McMurdo	975 (weekly average)	280 (winter total)
South Pole	105 (weekly average)	45 (winter total)
Palmer	30 (weekly average)
RV/IB* NBP	Capacity per cruise: 45 science and staff
*RV/IB, Research Vessel/Icebreaker

View descriptions for 2024-2025 USAP field season projects, sorted by event number.

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Additional information pertaining to the 2024-2025 Field Season.

Search by project title, event number, or team member here.

Download the PDF version of the 2024-2025 Science Planning Summary below.

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