Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Season (12–18 January 2026)

UPDATE #7
Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 12 January 2026: Overland Traverse Imagery – And Hello ISS

Originally written by Keith Cowing, published on Astrobiology.com here. Previous reports back to 1996 are available at https://astrobiology.com/dale-andersens-field-reports.

Keith’s note: Dale Andersen and his astrobiology research team departed the Ultima ice airstrip where they arrived the other day – and drove their snowmobiles south to their research base location at Lake Untersee.

I posted some slightly blurry pics yesterday but now that they have their Starlink up and operational, there’s more imagery and a video to show you.

Oh yes – Dale Andersen is holding a International Space Station Crew 11 patch. His friend and fellow biologist, astronaut Zena Cardman, have worked together and had planned an antarctica/space conversation – but the crew’s early return cancelled that.

But first: why do they go to this remote location year after year? According to Dale: “Lake Untersee is a difficult place to live and work. But we are seeking new knowledge. Knowledge that will inform us about Earth’s past history and help us understand its future. Our research also helps guide the search for evidence of life on other distant worlds such as Mars or the outer moons of Jupiter or Saturn … or beyond.”

Here are some of the pics sent from Lake Untersee Base Camp via Starlink.

Keith’s note: Astrobiologist Dale Andersen is heading back in Antarctica at Lake Untersee in January-February 2026 for another field season of research.

• Previous reports
• Astrobiologist Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Report: Preview: 2026 Lake Untersee Field Seas

Dale and I have been proving research updates – from Antarctica – since 1996. We think we actually had the first webserver (located in my old condo) updated from Antarctica. More details here: Dale Andersen’s 1996 Antarctic Field Research Photo Albums

UPDATE #9
Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 18 January 2026: Lake Untersee Base Camp Is Operational

Originally written by Keith Cowing, published on Astrobiology.com here. Previous reports back to 1996 are available at https://astrobiology.com/dale-andersens-field-reports.

Keith:

We just completed the camp last night, and today a storm will move in with 50 mph winds (more?) and perhaps some snow. Should provide a quick test of our handiwork!

The layout is organized to maximize protection for the various tents. We positioned the sea-container to block the major winds out of the SE, so the central camp sits in its lee.

Just downwind of that, the red and red/white Weatherports form the backbone of operations—each is rated to 110 mph and they are now serving as the kitchen tent, a small garage/workshop, the lab and dive tents (all red), plus two personal tents (the same size as the smaller garage/workshop).

In the central area, the three Heimplanet inflatable tents are tucked in and protected from wind on almost every side. Keith’s note: there is an interesting Star Trek connection between the Heimplanet tents at Lake Untersee and “Star Trek Strange New Worlds” from 2024: That Time Star Trek Tents Were Actually Used In Antarctica. The tents used in Strange New Worlds Season 2 episode 8 were made by Hemiplanet – and they have graciously assisted Dale and his crew and sought out their expeditionary expertise. Check out their blog post “Exploring the Frozen Frontier — Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Expedition with the Heimplanet Mavericks and Cave Tent“

Scene with Hemiplanet tents from Star trek Strange New Worlds episode 208 — CBS/Paramount

We also have the 5 BRP Lynx Commander snowmobiles and Yamaha ATV sheltered from SE gusts and parked nose-in toward the south—into the hardest winds we may see—with covers on. The sleds behind the snowmobiles are also tied into the ice with ice-screws. The ATV sits in my sled to hold it down during high winds.

The tents and the platforms they sit on are all anchored into the thick lake ice with guy lines. On key load points we add anchor springs to help dampen the hardest gusts that pound us from time to time. Better to dissipate that energy through a spring than to concentrate it at the sew points and risk fabric failure or tearing.

On the shore, we set a single North Face dome tent (personal) and a pyramid tent for the toilet facility.

Dale

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Weather report for 19-25 January 2026 at Lake Untersee via Gemini AI:

“For the upcoming week at  Lake Untersee, Antarctica, expect peak summer conditions characterized by relatively mild temperatures for the region, high UV exposure, and potentially high-velocity winds.

Weekly Forecast: January 19 – January 25, 2026

Key Weather Factors

• Temperature: Temperatures are trending slightly below the regional January average of 34°F. Highs will hover between 11°F and 17°F, while lows may dip to 8°F.
• Wind & Visibility: Persistent southeasterly winds are common, averaging 18–25 mph. Be prepared for rapid changes in visibility during snow showers.
• Daylight: Expect near 24-hour daylight (the “Midnight Sun”), which is typical for this latitude in January.
• Precipitation: While the region is technically a polar desert, frequent but light snow showers are expected through much of the week.

Operational Notice

For field teams at Lake Untersee, be advised that “blizzard conditions” were recently forecast to potentially begin around Sunday, January 25. Ensure all shelters and tents are secure, as the area can experience sudden, extreme wind events up to 110 mph. For real-time updates and field status, you can monitor Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Reports.”