On October 21, 2025, a critical logistical operation was executed as over 600 kg of supplies for the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) project were successfully airdropped to Casey Station, marking the start of the drilling season for 2025-26. The supplies included essential items such as flatpack benches, rubber flooring mats, ice core trays, driller suits, mechanical parts, and frozen food. This operation was part of a nine-tonne delivery of various station supplies, including fresh food and medical provisions, conducted by a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III at an altitude of 1,500 metres.
This airdrop represents the kickoff for Operation Southern Discovery, the Australian Defence Force’s initiative aimed at enhancing the scientific and logistical capabilities of the Australian Antarctic Program. According to Dr. Joel Pedro, Science Lead for the MYIC project, the success of the drilling operation relies heavily on this logistical support. “The one to two million years of climate information that this ice core will provide will improve understanding of long-term climate and ice sheet stability and aid in testing climate models,” Dr. Pedro stated.
Phased Logistics for Enhanced Efficiency
Mr. Simon Owen, Director of the Australian Antarctic Division’s Operations Management Centre, explained that the airdrop is the first step in a “three-phase approach” to support the MYIC project. The second phase will involve a fly-off from RSV Nuyina to Casey Station, delivering additional drilling equipment and sensitive scientific instruments, along with a 10-person tractor-traverse team. This team will transport equipment over 1,200 km to the designated drill site at Dome C North.
Phase three includes the delivery of a four-tonne ice core drill winch to the French station Dumont D’Urville via the L’Astrolabe. This winch will subsequently travel by French traverse to the Australian ice-core drilling site. “The airdrop, combined with the Casey fly-off, will enable Australia’s traverse team to de-winterise tractors and other equipment, allowing them to depart Casey approximately four weeks earlier than would usually be possible,” Mr. Owen added.
Dr. Pedro highlighted that this phased logistics approach ensures timely pre-positioning of equipment before the arrival of the eight-person team of ice core scientists and drilling engineers in late November. “The multiple pathways for delivering cargo to the drill site this season aim to safely position our equipment, supporting two months of science and ice core drilling,” he explained.
Challenging Conditions and Ambitious Goals
The drilling site at Dome C North, located over 3,200 metres above sea level, presents unique challenges due to its extreme conditions. “There is a narrow window of opportunity from late November to late January when conditions are warm enough for operations. Outside this period, temperatures can drop below -50 to -60°C, making it impossible to work or logistically support operations at this remote location,” Dr. Pedro noted.
During the previous season, teams spent a month at Dome C North, installing a large drilling shelter and testing ice-core drilling equipment under harsh conditions. They successfully drilled 150 metres into a planned total of 3,000 metres of ice, with the retrieved cores currently being analyzed at laboratories in Hobart, Australia. The team also conducted geophysical surveys to better understand the physical properties of the deep ice.
This season, a significant focus will be on setting up a sophisticated, cable-suspended, electro-mechanical drill capable of reaching depths of 3,000 metres and withstanding temperatures as low as -55°C. Developed over nearly six years in collaboration with international research groups, this new drilling system aims to drill 400 metres this season, with a target of 1,000 metres annually thereafter. Achieving this goal will position the project to reach bedrock by 2029.
The MYIC project holds the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of Earth’s climatic history, providing invaluable data that could inform future climate models and strategies. As the airdrop signals the beginning of a crucial season, the collaborative efforts of the Australian Antarctic Division and its partners remain pivotal to the success of this ambitious scientific endeavor.
