When is it happening?

I-TASC is part of the 2007/08 International Polar Year which started on 1 March 2007. The I-TASC project in Antarctica during the International Polar Year has three distinct phases.

The first phase was a Reconnaissance and Communication Expedition (I-TASC RECE) between December 2006 - February 2007 codenamed Operation GROUNDHOG. This involved the identification of remote sites of scientific and environmental interest within 100km of SANAE for the deployment of the LADOMIR mobile station in 2008/2009; the gathering of meteorological, geographical and logistical data relating to the sites identified, the identification of a site close to SANAE base for the testing of the prototype UMTHOMBO WOMLILO life systems module in the 2007/2008 summer season, the deployment of an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at the test site to monitor and log shifts in weather and environmental data over the next year and the establishment and testing of a solar/wind powered packet radio communication link to enable the transfer of live data between the test site and SANAE base.

The second phase of the project is the Systems Installation and Testing Expedition (I-TASC SITE) from December 2007 - February 2008 codenamed UMTHOMBO WOMLILO (Well of Fire). The Systems Installation and Testing component of the expedition will deploy the prototype UMTHOMBO WOMLILO module at an approved site in the immediate vicinity of SANAE IV (1km due east of  the base) to test the safety and structural integrity of the future remote station architecture and life systems. The crew will also augment the remote sensing, communication and renewable energy systems at the remote site and effect any necessary repairs and maintenance to the GROUNDHOG AWS unit.

Subject to the successful testing of the UMTHOMBO WOMLILO prototype unit at SANAE and IEE approval at the 2008 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Washington the third phase of the project will be the remote Field Installation and Research Expedition (I-TASC FIRE) in 2008/2009 codenamed Operation LADOMIR. The remote Field Installation component of the expedition will involve the deployment and operational readiness testing of the LADOMIR Renewable Energy Remote Polar Research Base at the chosen location. LADOMIR will be configured to accommodate a crew of six (three scientists and three support staff) and enable the planned remote field research programs to be completed during the SANAP IPY Antarctic summer season of 2008/2009. The UMTHOMBO WOMLILO prototype module will remain in place at SANAE IV to provide systems orientation and safety training for incoming LADOMIR-bound crews. 

There is no time limit for the project to end, we hope it will be run in the future by those interested in continuing the project for as long as it is useful and of interest.