INDIA
To the pole!
India launched its first-ever scientific research mission to the South Pole in November. A team of eight scientists from the Goa-based National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) are currently undertaking the 40-day mission, which involves journeying from Maitri, India's round-the-year base in northwest Antarctica, to the pole, 2200 km away.
Headed by Rasik Ravindra, NCAOR's director, the team includes five other scientists and two drivers. Beyond national pride, their stated purpose is to gather data on how climate change has affected Antarctica's environment. The team will also begin construction of India's third base in eastern Antarctica, scheduled for completion by 2012.
Many view the current expedition as an attempt by India to assert its presence in the uninhabited continent. The country has already undertaken 29 missions to Antarctica; the first was from 1981-83, during which it built Dakshin Gangotri, the first base, later de-commissioned. Maitri is India's second base. In the past, India's research interests in Antarctica have focused on studies of the Antarctic ecosystem, earthquakes and ancient geology.