Contents

• Overview
• Construction and Testing
• Challenges in Antarctica
• Project Cancellation and Rediscovery
• Main Challenges
• Conclusion

Overview

The Antarctic Snow Cruiser, designed in 1939 by Thomas Poulter, aimed to facilitate transportation during the United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939-41).

However, it faced numerous challenges and was eventually abandoned in Antarctica.

Construction and Testing

Construction of the massive vehicle began on August 8, 1939, and after 11 weeks, it was test-driven for the first time on October 24, 1939.

The vehicle, measuring 17 meters in length, 6 meters in width, and weighing 34 tons, was designed to carry an airplane on board.

Despite some breakdowns during a 1,000-mile journey from Chicago to Boston, the vehicle reached its destination.

On November 15, 1939, it set sail for Antarctica aboard the USCGC North Star.

Challenges in Antarctica

Arriving in Little America, Antarctica, in early January 1940, the Snow Cruiser faced difficulties during unloading and had issues moving on snow and ice.

Treadless tires and other problems made progress challenging.

The vehicle's longest progress (92 miles) in Antarctica was achieved by moving in reverse.

Scientific studies, including seismological experiments and cosmic ray measurements, began in January 1940.

Project Cancellation and Rediscovery

The project faced funding cancellation in 1940 due to World War II. During Operation Highjump in 1946, a reconnaissance team found the craft, realizing it needed minor maintenance.

Rediscovered in 1958, the vehicle was covered in snow, but subsequent efforts to locate it failed.

There are unverified claims that the Soviet Union took the Snow Cruiser during the Cold War.

Changes in Antarctica's geography, including ice sheet breaks, have led to speculation that the vehicle may have submerged in water.

Conclusion

The Antarctic Snow Cruiser project encountered technical, administrative, and financial issues but contributed to scientific studies in Antarctica.

Abandoned after World War II, its fate remains a mystery, leaving room for speculation about Antarctica's exploration history.