Cellular_ polar research station Antarctica is the driest, the busiest and most extensive place on Earth, half-year-shrouded. People still live here. They set up the research stations in which they live and work. In these extreme climatic conditions, the station originates and disappears due to natural behaving. Stations provide researchers with safety and space for research, including comfort. They are built in different ways and provide different comforts, according to technological and transport options.

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No description available.

Atmospheric nitrous acid (HONO) is a significant and sometimes dominant OH source at polar region. An improved method of detecting HONO is developed using photo-fragmentation and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The detection limit of this method is 2-3 pptv for ten-minute integration time with 35% uncertainty. The abundance of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) HONO measurements during ANTCI (Antarctic troposphere chemistry investigation) 2003 exceeds the pure gas phase model predictions by a factor of 1.92±0.67, which implies snow emission of HONO. A 1D air-snowpack model of HONO was developed and constrained by observed chemistry and meteology data. The 1D model includes pure gas phase chemical mechanisms, molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion, windpumping in snow, gas phase to quasi-liquid layer phase HONO transfer and quasi-liquid layer nitrate photolysis. Based on the air-snowpack model, snow emission of HONO is highly likely and will be transported to place of the measurements. The pH, thickness of quasi liquid layer and contineous nitrite measurement are key factors to calibrate and validate the air snowpack model.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O parasitismo é uma importante força seletiva em populações, assim como a competição e a predação. Os parasitos sanguíneos podem afetar a coloração da plumagem, a seleção sexual e o sucesso reprodutivo em aves. As aves da região Antártica têm sido mencionadas na literatura como livres de hemoparasitos. A Baía do Almirantado, na Ilha Rei George, Península Antártica, é a maior Baía da região, abrigando diferentes espécies de aves durante o período reprodutivo. Dentre elas, estão duas espécies de skuas, as mais frequentes da Antártica, skua-sub-antártica (Catharacta lonnbergi) e skua-polar-do-sul (C. maccormicki) e três espécies de pinguins, pinguim-antártico (Pygoscelis antarctica), pinguim-papua (P. papua) e pinguim-de-adélia (P. adeliae). Skuas e pinguins são aves que se dispersam durante o inverno austral, podendo ser potenciais reservatórios e transmissores de parasitos, embora resultados negativos de hemoparasitos tenham sido encontrados para diversas outras aves marinhas e também para a região Antártica. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a presença de hemoparasitos em pinguins e skuas antárticos na Baía do Almirantado. Amostras de lâminas de esfregaço sanguíneo e de sangue para análises moleculares de pesquisa de Plasmodium/Haemoproteus foram coletadas em dois períodos reprodutivos, de dezembro de 2010 a março de 2011 e de dezembro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012. Um total de 185 amostras de aves foram coletadas, incluindo 120 pinguins e 65 skuas. Skuas foram tiveram resultados negativos para hemoparasitos. As três espécies de pinguins foram positivas para Plasmodium/Haemoproteus , via técnica molecular, incluindo dois P. papua,dois P. antarctica etrês P. adeliae. Apenas um indivíduo confirmado positivo pela técnica molecular, pertencente a P. papua, foi positivo utilizando a técnica de esfregaço sanguíneo, com diagnóstico de Plasmodium sp. Não houve diferença significativa entre indivíduos machos e fêmeas das espécies parasitadas, assim como entre adultos e filhotes. As aves parasitadas (n=7), foram categorizadas abaixo do peso (n=5) e acima do peso (n=2). O presente estudo é o primeiro a relatar hemoparasitos na região Antártica e também é o primeiro registro de presença de hemoprotozoários para as três espécies de pinguins analisadas. A ausência de hemoparasitos em aves antárticas tem sido justificada pela ausência de potenciais vetores na região. Portanto, é possível que os pinguins parasitados tenham adquirido a infecção durante a dispersão por ocasião do inverno austral. No entanto, skuas antárticas também são aves migratórias, que podem atingir regiões com potenciais vetores reconhecidos, mas nunca foram diagnosticadas com hemoparasitos, o que foi reforçado pelos resultados negativos do presente estudo. Nesse caso, acredita-se que skuas, podem ter um sistema imune competente ou que a ausência de hemoparasitos nessas aves seja justificada por confinamentos filogenéticos entre parasito-hospedeiro. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a existência de vetores na Antártica, rotas migratórias das aves da região e especificidade parasito-hospedeiro. Os resultados inéditos encontrados no presente estudo devem, portanto, servir como ponto de partida para o entendimento das interações parasito-hospedeiro, de forma a contribuir para a preservação do ambiente antártico. / Parasitism is an important selective pressure in populations, as well as competition and predation. Blood parasites can affect the color of plumage, sexual selection and reproductive success in birds. Antarctic birds have been mentioned in literature absent of blood parasites. Admiralty Bay is located at King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula, and is the largest bay on the region, harboring different avian species during the reproductive period. Among them, are the two most common skuas of Antarctica, the brown-skua (Catharacta lonnbergi) and the south-polar-skua (Catharacta maccormicki), and tree penguins species, the Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica), the Gentoo (P. papua) and the Adelie (P. adeliae). Skuas and penguins are seabirds that migrating during the southern winter, and may be potential reservoirs and transmitters of parasites. However, negative results of blood parasiteshave been found in several seabirds and also to the Antarctic region. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of blood parasites in Antarctic penguins and skuas at Admiralty Bay. Blood smears and blood samples for molecular analyses to research Plasmodium/Haemoproteuswere collected in two reproductive periods, from December 2010 to March 2011 and from December 2011 to March 2012. A total of 185 bird samples were collected, including 120 penguins and 65 skuas. Skuas were negative for parasites. The tree species of penguins were positives to Plasmodium/Haemoproteusby molecular analysis, including two P. papua, two P. antarctica and tree P. adeliae. Only one positive penguin by molecular technique, a P. papua, was positive in blood smears, diagnosed with Plasmodium sp. There was no significant difference between male and female individuals of the parasitizedspecies, as well as between adults and chicks. Parasitized birds (n = 7) were categorized as underweight (n=5) and overweight (n=2).The present study is the first to report blood parasites in the Antarctic region and is also the first record of the presence of blood protozoa for the three penguin species analyzed. The absence of blood parasites in Antarctic birds has been justified by the absence of potential vectors in the region. Therefore, it is possible that the parasitized penguins acquired infectionwhen they disperse during southern winter. However, antarctic skuas are migratory birds, and they can reach regions with recognized potential vectors, but have never been diagnosed with blood parasites, what was reinforced by data of the present study. In this case, it is believed that skuas may have a competent immune system, or that the absence of these parasites in these birds is justified by phylogenetic constraints between the host-parasite. Nevertheless, little is known about the existence of vectors in the Antarctica, migratory routes of birds in the region and parasite-host specificity. The inedited results found in this study should therefore serve as a starting point to understand the host-parasite interactions, and to contribute to the preservation of the Antarctic environment.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O parasitismo é uma importante força seletiva em populações, assim como a competição e a predação. Os parasitos sanguíneos podem afetar a coloração da plumagem, a seleção sexual e o sucesso reprodutivo em aves. As aves da região Antártica têm sido mencionadas na literatura como livres de hemoparasitos. A Baía do Almirantado, na Ilha Rei George, Península Antártica, é a maior Baía da região, abrigando diferentes espécies de aves durante o período reprodutivo. Dentre elas, estão duas espécies de skuas, as mais frequentes da Antártica, skua-sub-antártica (Catharacta lonnbergi) e skua-polar-do-sul (C. maccormicki) e três espécies de pinguins, pinguim-antártico (Pygoscelis antarctica), pinguim-papua (P. papua) e pinguim-de-adélia (P. adeliae). Skuas e pinguins são aves que se dispersam durante o inverno austral, podendo ser potenciais reservatórios e transmissores de parasitos, embora resultados negativos de hemoparasitos tenham sido encontrados para diversas outras aves marinhas e também para a região Antártica. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a presença de hemoparasitos em pinguins e skuas antárticos na Baía do Almirantado. Amostras de lâminas de esfregaço sanguíneo e de sangue para análises moleculares de pesquisa de Plasmodium/Haemoproteus foram coletadas em dois períodos reprodutivos, de dezembro de 2010 a março de 2011 e de dezembro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012. Um total de 185 amostras de aves foram coletadas, incluindo 120 pinguins e 65 skuas. Skuas foram tiveram resultados negativos para hemoparasitos. As três espécies de pinguins foram positivas para Plasmodium/Haemoproteus , via técnica molecular, incluindo dois P. papua,dois P. antarctica etrês P. adeliae. Apenas um indivíduo confirmado positivo pela técnica molecular, pertencente a P. papua, foi positivo utilizando a técnica de esfregaço sanguíneo, com diagnóstico de Plasmodium sp. Não houve diferença significativa entre indivíduos machos e fêmeas das espécies parasitadas, assim como entre adultos e filhotes. As aves parasitadas (n=7), foram categorizadas abaixo do peso (n=5) e acima do peso (n=2). O presente estudo é o primeiro a relatar hemoparasitos na região Antártica e também é o primeiro registro de presença de hemoprotozoários para as três espécies de pinguins analisadas. A ausência de hemoparasitos em aves antárticas tem sido justificada pela ausência de potenciais vetores na região. Portanto, é possível que os pinguins parasitados tenham adquirido a infecção durante a dispersão por ocasião do inverno austral. No entanto, skuas antárticas também são aves migratórias, que podem atingir regiões com potenciais vetores reconhecidos, mas nunca foram diagnosticadas com hemoparasitos, o que foi reforçado pelos resultados negativos do presente estudo. Nesse caso, acredita-se que skuas, podem ter um sistema imune competente ou que a ausência de hemoparasitos nessas aves seja justificada por confinamentos filogenéticos entre parasito-hospedeiro. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a existência de vetores na Antártica, rotas migratórias das aves da região e especificidade parasito-hospedeiro. Os resultados inéditos encontrados no presente estudo devem, portanto, servir como ponto de partida para o entendimento das interações parasito-hospedeiro, de forma a contribuir para a preservação do ambiente antártico. / Parasitism is an important selective pressure in populations, as well as competition and predation. Blood parasites can affect the color of plumage, sexual selection and reproductive success in birds. Antarctic birds have been mentioned in literature absent of blood parasites. Admiralty Bay is located at King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula, and is the largest bay on the region, harboring different avian species during the reproductive period. Among them, are the two most common skuas of Antarctica, the brown-skua (Catharacta lonnbergi) and the south-polar-skua (Catharacta maccormicki), and tree penguins species, the Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica), the Gentoo (P. papua) and the Adelie (P. adeliae). Skuas and penguins are seabirds that migrating during the southern winter, and may be potential reservoirs and transmitters of parasites. However, negative results of blood parasiteshave been found in several seabirds and also to the Antarctic region. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of blood parasites in Antarctic penguins and skuas at Admiralty Bay. Blood smears and blood samples for molecular analyses to research Plasmodium/Haemoproteuswere collected in two reproductive periods, from December 2010 to March 2011 and from December 2011 to March 2012. A total of 185 bird samples were collected, including 120 penguins and 65 skuas. Skuas were negative for parasites. The tree species of penguins were positives to Plasmodium/Haemoproteusby molecular analysis, including two P. papua, two P. antarctica and tree P. adeliae. Only one positive penguin by molecular technique, a P. papua, was positive in blood smears, diagnosed with Plasmodium sp. There was no significant difference between male and female individuals of the parasitizedspecies, as well as between adults and chicks. Parasitized birds (n = 7) were categorized as underweight (n=5) and overweight (n=2).The present study is the first to report blood parasites in the Antarctic region and is also the first record of the presence of blood protozoa for the three penguin species analyzed. The absence of blood parasites in Antarctic birds has been justified by the absence of potential vectors in the region. Therefore, it is possible that the parasitized penguins acquired infectionwhen they disperse during southern winter. However, antarctic skuas are migratory birds, and they can reach regions with recognized potential vectors, but have never been diagnosed with blood parasites, what was reinforced by data of the present study. In this case, it is believed that skuas may have a competent immune system, or that the absence of these parasites in these birds is justified by phylogenetic constraints between the host-parasite. Nevertheless, little is known about the existence of vectors in the Antarctica, migratory routes of birds in the region and parasite-host specificity. The inedited results found in this study should therefore serve as a starting point to understand the host-parasite interactions, and to contribute to the preservation of the Antarctic environment.

No description available.

Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sub-Antarctic islands represent the only mid to high latitude terrestrial biomes in the Southern Hemisphere. These islands have various geological origins and histories, well-preserved terrestrial ecosystems and high levels of species endemism. In an attempt to understand the evolution and biogeography of terrestrial taxa in the South Polar Region, the first broad-scale molecular phylogeny was constructed for the unique terrestrial group, the ameronothroid mites (genus Halozetes (Oribatida)), collected from sub-Antarctic and Maritime Antarctic localities. Phylogenetic analyses based on a combined mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI)) and nuclear (histone-3 (H3)) sequence dataset indicated that the evolution of these mites were habitat specific (i.e. intertidal, supralittoral and terrestrial). Notwithstanding criticisms levelled against a molecular clock, the mites were evolutionary young (<10myo), contrary to their status as an ancient group predating Gondwana fragmentation. Biogeographic analyses indicated a complex pattern mainly sculpted by multiple independent dispersal events across the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone similar to previous findings for other marine and terrestrial taxa. Also, the molecular phylogeny displayed considerable discourse with contemporary taxonomy suggesting the need for taxonomic revisions and reassessment of morphological characters. Sub-Antarctic Marion Island, the larger of the two islands comprising the Prince Edward Island archipelago (PEI), has experienced extensive glaciation and volcanism. To assess the impact of historical events (volcanism (including recent eruptions) and glaciation) and contemporary mechanisms (gene flow) on the genetic spatial distribution of species from Marion Island, two mite species namely Eupodes minutus (Prostigmata) and Halozetes fulvus (Oribatida) as well as a single plant species, Azorella selago (Apiaceae), were selected as model organisms. For independent phylogeographic analyses, mitochondrial sequence data (COI) were obtained for both mite species, while chloroplast sequence (trnH-psbA) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data were generated for the cushion plant, A. selago. Since A. selago is typified by two growth forms namely discrete cushions and continuous mats, it was essential to examine the growth dynamics prior to phylogeographic analyses. The sequence and fragment data indicated that both mite and plant species were significantly substructured across Marion Island. Manual comparisons indicated unique populations on the western (Kaalkoppie for H. fulvus, La Grange Kop for E. minutus and Mixed Pickle for A. selago), eastern (Bullard Beach for H. fulvus and Kildalkey Bay for E. minutus), northern (Middelman and Long Ridge for H. fulvus) and southern side (Grey Headed for H. fulvus and Watertunnel for A. selago) of the island. Importantly, the western side had unique localities for all species. Interestingly, based on the H. fulvus data, the western populations were relatively young, characterized by high migration rates, small effective (female) population sizes with no isolation-by-distance. The opposite scenario was found for the eastern populations. This spatial genetic structure described for species on Marion Island can be ascribed to both historical events and environmental conditions. These areas with their unique genetic composition are of special conservational concern; consequently this research will contribute to an active management plan for PEI, South Africa’s only Special Nature Reserve. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sub-Antarktiese eilande verteenwoordig die enigste terrestriële bioom in die middel tot hoër breedtegrades van die Suidelike Halfrond. Hierdie eilande besit ‘n verskeidenheid van geologiese oorspronge en geskiedenisse, goed-bewaarde terrestriële ekosisteme en hoë vlakke van endemisme. In ‘n poging om die evolusie en biogeografie van terrestriële taksa in die Suid Pool Area te verstaan, is die eerste grootskaalse molekulêre filogenie saamgestel vir ‘n unieke terrestriële groep, die ameronothoïed miete (genus Halozetes (Oribatida: Ameronothroidea)), vanaf menigte sub-Antarktiese en Maritime Antarktiese lokaliteite. Filogenetiese analises gebaseer op die saamgestelde mitochondriale (sitokroom oksidase subeenheid I (COI)) en nukluêre (histoon-3 (H3)) basispaarvolgordes het aangedui dat die evolusie van hierdie miete habitat spesifiek is (m.a.w inter-gety, supralitoraal en terrestrieël). Ongeag die kritiek teenoor ‘n molekulêre klok, is hierdie miete evolusionêr jonk (<10mjo), wat teenstrydig is met hulle status as ‘n antieke groep wat terugdateer voor Gondwana fragmentasie. Biogeografiese analises het ‘n komplekse patroon aangedui wat grotendeels gekarakteriseer word deur menigte onafhanklike verspreidingsgebeurtenisse bo-oor die Antarktiese Polêre Frontale Zone, wat ooreenstemmend is met vorige bevindinge vir ander mariene en terrestriële taksa. Die molekulêre filogenie het ook aansienlik verskil van die tradisionele taksonomie, dus is taksonomiese aanpassings en herklassifisering van morfologiese karakters noodsaaklik. Sub-Antarktiese Marion Eiland, die groter eiland van die Prins Edward eilandgroep (PEI), het uitermate glasiasie en vulkanisme ondervind. Om die impak van historiese gebeurtenisse (vulkanisme (insluitend onlangse uitbarstings) en glasiasie) en kontemporêre meganismes (geenvloei) op die genetiesgespasieërde verspreiding van spesies vanaf Marion Eiland te bepaal, was twee mietspesies naamlik Eupodes minutus (Prostigmata) en Halozetes fulvus (Oribatida) asook ‘n enkele plantspesie, Azorella selago (Apiaceae), gekies as model organismes. Vir onafhanklike filogeografiese analises, was die mitochondriale basispaarvolgorde (COI) vir beide mietspesies bepaal, terwyl chloroplast basispaarvolgorde (trnH-psbA) asook geamplifiseerde fragmentlengte polimorfisme (AFLP) data gegenereer was vir die kussingplant, A. selago. Aangesien A. selago gekenmerk word deur twee groeivorme, naamlik diskrete kussings en aaneenlopende matte, was dit noodsaaklik om eers die groeidinamika van die plant te ondersoek alvorens ‘n filogeografiese studie kon geskied. Die basispaarvolgordebepalings en fragmentdata het aangedui dat beide mietspesies sowel as die plantspesie betekenisvolle substruktuur vertoon regoor Marion Eiland. Informele vergelykings het unieke populasies aangedui op die westelike (Kaalkoppie vir H. fulvus, La Grange Kop vir E. minutus en Mixed Pickle vir A. selago), oostelike (Bullardstrand vir H. fulvus en Kildalkeybaai vir E. minutus), noordelike (Middelman en Long Ridge vir H. fulvus) en suidelike kant (Grey Headed vir H. fulvus en Watertunnel vir A. selago) van die eiland. Die westelike kant besit dus unieke lokaliteite vir al die spesies. Interressantheidhalwe het die H. fulvus data getoon dat die westelike populasies relatief jonk is en gekarakteriseer word deur hoë migrasiesyfers en klein effektiewe (vroulike) populasiegroottes met geen isolasie-oor-afstand nie. Die resultate vir die populasies aan die oostelike kant van die Marion Eiland was presies teenoorgesteld. Dié beskryfde substruktuur vir die spesies op Marion Eiland is afkomstig van beide historiese gebeurtenisse asook omgewingstoestande. Hierdie areas met hul unieke genetiese samestelling, is belangrik vir natuurbewaring. Hierdie navorsing sal bydra tot die bestuursriglyne van PEI, Suid Afrika se enigste Spesiale Natuurreservaat.

Der Neutrinofluss der durch die Wechselwirkung hochenergetischer kosmischer Strahlung mit dem kosmischen Mikrowellenhintergrund entsteht, produziert etwa 0.1 Ereignis/km^3 und Jahr. Um in wenigen Jahren eine ausreichende Anzahl an Ereignissen zu selektieren, muss ein Volumen von mindestens 100 km^3 instrumentiert werden. Die groessten aktuell im Bau befindlichen Detektoren, mit einem Volumen bis zu 1 km^3, benutzen optische Sensoren um das Licht zu detektieren, das durch die Neutrinowechselwirkungen produziert wird. Aus Kostengruenden ist es nicht moeglich mit dieser Technologie 100 mal groessere Detektoren zu bauen. Eine Alternative besteht darin, die durch den bei der Neutrinowechselwirkung entstehenden Teilchenschauer hervorgerufenen akustischen Signale und Radiosignale oder deren Kombination nachzuweisen. Eis ist dafuer ein vielversprechenden Medium, weil es die Moeglichkeit bietet alle drei Signal (optisch, akustisch, radio) nachzuweisen. Eine Grundvoraussetzung fuer die Entwicklung eines solchen Detektors ist die Bestimmung der akustischen Eigenschaften des Eises am Suedpol. Das South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) wurde mit dem Ziel gebaut, den Rauschuntergrund, die tiefenabhaengige Schallgeschwindigkeit, die Untergrundereignisrate und die Schall-Abklinglaenge zu messen. Der Detektor besteht aus 4 Trossen, bestueckt mit akustischen Sensoren und Transmittern, die in Tiefen zwischen 80 und 500 m im Eis am Suedpol installiert wurden. Zusaetzlich wurde ein Transmitter (Pinger) entwickelt, der in mehreren wassergefuellten Bohrloechern zum Einsatz kam. Nach drei Jahren ist guter Fortschritt bei der Messung aller beschrieben Groessen erzielt worden. Insbesondere haben es der kombinierte Einsatz von SPATS und des Pingers ermoeglicht, die erste in situ Messung der Abklinglaenge zu 312+68-47 m vorzunehmen. In dieser Arbeit werden die Entwicklung der Hardware, die Analyse und die Resultate dieser Messung vorgestellt. / The neutrino flux generated by the interaction of high energy cosmic rays with the cosmic microwave background is predicted to produce about 0.1 event per km^3 per year. The detection of a sufficient number of events in a few years requires to instrument a volume of at least 100 km^3. The biggest detectors nowadays in construction, covering a volume of about 1 km^3, utilize optical sensors to detect the light produced by neutrino interactions; to extend this instrumentation method by the two necessary orders of magnitude is cost-prohibitive. An alternative is to use the radio or the acoustic signal generated by the neutrino-induced particle cascade, or even better, to use both of them in a hybrid detector. Ice is a promising medium since in principle all three signals can be detected simultaneously. The growing optical experiment IceCube, located at the geographic South Pole, could be complemented with radio and acoustic sensors. A pre-requisite to do so is to measure the acoustic properties of South Pole ice. The South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS) has been designed to measure background noise, sound speed profile, transient events rate and acoustic attenuation length at that location. The system is comprised of four strings of acoustic sensors and transmitters which are installed at depths between 80 and 500 m. In addition, a retrievable transmitter (called pinger) has been developed and used in several water-filled holes. After almost three years of operation, good progress has been achieved for all the goals. In particular, the attenuation length, one of the most important parameters for determining neutrino detection feasibility, and for which only theoretical estimates were available previously, has now been measured in situ with high confidence to be 312+68-47 m. In this work the hardware developed and the analysis performed to achieve this measurement are presented together with the final result.

Currently, the South Pole has a large data problem. It is estimated that 1.2 TB of data is being produced every day, but less than 500 GB of that data is being uploaded via aging satellites to researchers in other parts of the world. This requires those at the South Pole to analyze the data and carefully select the parts to send, possibly missing out on vital scientific information. The South Pole Carrier Pigeon will look to bridge this data gap. The Carrier Pigeon will be a small unmanned aerial vehicle that will carry a 30 TB solid-state hard drive from the South Pole to various destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, but it has been designed to y to Christchurch, New Zealand. This 87 lb. UAV will be able to y 3,650 nmi. up to 25,000 ft., using a 5.7 hp. engine. It will feature an de-icing system on the leading edge of its 8 ft. span wing to allow it to y through cold, moist climates. It will have a 39 in. long fuselage with a tail boom of 33 in. The aircraft has been designed to be made out of composites, thus reducing both the weight of the aircraft as well as its drag. It has been designed to come apart in order to be shipped successfully to the South Pole. There, it will be assembled and launched via a custom pneumatic launcher. It will y autonomously to 15,000 ft. and cruise climb throughout the flight to 25,000 ft., before descending to its destination. There, it will be caught by a net restraint system, where the hard drive will be extracted. The Carrier Pigeon is truly a unique vehicle for its size, range, and robustness.