The IceCube Upgrade project’s progress report for last week has earned the name, as “progress” smoothly continues. The drill camp now has two tower operations sites. One will serve as the installation practice site. The image above is a view looking down from one of the towers, with the wrapped-up drill supply hose reel centered in the frame. Below is a group photo taken in front of that hose reel.
The enhanced hot water drill—the main drill used to make the 1.5 mile deep boreholes—has also been put in place, commissioning pumps and generators as well as testing and installing water tanks. The area set up to test optical modules was completed last week, and most of the modules were tested, with good results. Almost all of the cargo has arrived or is on track to be delivered on time. Current population has been steady (at 32), but a dozen or more arrivals are expected soon from McMurdo.
