Maitri (research Station)
Maitri also known as Friendship Research Centre, is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. The name was suggested by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Antarctic expedition which arrived the end of December 1984, with a team led by Dr. B. B. Bhattacharya. Squadron Leader D. P. Joshi, the surgeon of the team, was the first camp commander of the tentage at camp Maitri. The first huts were started by the IV Antarctica Expedition and completed in 1989, shortly before the first station, Dakshin Gangotri, was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91. Maitri is situated in the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.
An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005
India is planning to replace Maitri research station by a new Maitri-2 station by 2029.
Facilities
The station has modern facilities for research in various disciplines, such as biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, cold region engineering, communication, human physiology, and medicine. It can accommodate 25 people for winter. Fresh water is provided through a freshwater lake named Lake Priyadarshini.
Airfield
ALCI Airbase Novo Runway | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Operator | Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI) | ||||||||||
| Serves | Novolazarevskaya and Maitri | ||||||||||
| Location | Dronning Maud Land | ||||||||||
| Opened | 6 April 2014 | ||||||||||
| Time zone | (UTC+3.30) | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 70°49′17″S 11°38′36″E / 70.821517°S 11.643345°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  ALCI Airbase Novo Runway Location of airfield in Antarctica | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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A blue ice runway, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away, operated by Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI) serves the station and Novolazarevskaya.
See also
- Indian Antarctic Program
- Bharati (research station)
- Dakshin Gangotri First Indian station 1983, converted to support base
- Defence Research and Development Organisation
- Defence Institute of High Altitude Research
- Indian Astronomical Observatory
- Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
- Siachen Base Camp (India)
- List of Antarctic research stations
- List of Antarctic field camps
- List of highest astronomical observatories
References
- ^ Antarctic Station Catalogue (PDF) (catalogue). Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. August 2017. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-473-40409-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Maitri". Polar Conservation Organisation. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "India to replace 'very old' Maitri research station in Antarctica by 2029". WION. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
External links
- National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of Government of India
- Amateur Radio Operator Selected for Antarctica Expedition
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maitri Station.
