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The National Science Foundation is responsible for the conduct of the United States National Program in Antarctica under Presidential Memorandum 6646 of February 5, 1982. As such, it supports all U.S. scientific activities in the Antarctic at three major stations (two on the continent, McMurdo and South Pole, and one on the peninsula, Palmer), on two research vessels, and at a number of field camps. Antarctica is a land having no indigenous population. All life support and infrastructure have to be brought in by ship and airplane. South Pole Station depends exclusively on air support, mostly from McMurdo Station which is 800 miles away. In this paper, some of the challenges facing the United States Antarctic Program in this decade are examined. Of great concern is the conduct of the program in an environmentally sound and responsible manner.

The United States Antarctic Program implements the U.S. policy of an active and influential presence in Antarctica. The principal expression of this policy is through the conduct of scientific research. This paper describes recent changes in the logistics structure necessary to support the scientific program. It also describes several improvements in communications, highlights accomplishments of the Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics program, and presents a status report on the South Pole Redevelopment Project.