German Antarctic Receiving Station
German polar research station for satellite operations and geodesy.
The station's main building consists of fifteen 20-foot ISO containers, with an additional infrastructure complex of twenty 20-foot ISO containers, all situated on rock suitable for geodetic long-term observations.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Cape Legoupil, Antarctic Peninsula, on Isabel Riquelme islet (Schmidt Peninsula)
- Islet dimensions
- 300 m wide, 200 m long, 50 m from mainland
- Main station building
- Fifteen 20-foot ISO containers
- Infrastructure complex
- Twenty 20-foot ISO containers
- Operators
- German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG)
- Year-round occupation since
- Beginning of 2010
- Maximum personnel
- Ten scientists, engineers and technicians
Facts from the source article.
Operations and responsibilities
The German Antarctic Receiving Station is jointly run by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG), working closely with Chile. DLR owns the facility, overseeing satellite operations, management, infrastructure, and logistics, with all logistical tasks coordinated through the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH). BKG handles all geodetic measurements. Since early 2010, year-round campaign teams have occupied the site, with up to ten scientists, engineers, and technicians present at any time.
Choice of location
The station, built in 1990/91, sits beside the Chilean Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, which is run by the Departamento Antártico del Ejército. It bears the name of Chilean freedom fighter Bernardo O'Higgins. The site was selected because of a partnership with INACH, stable ground for a radio telescope, the need to receive data from the European ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites over Antarctica, and the ready Chilean facilities and support.
Accessibility and logistics
Getting to the German Antarctic Receiving Station relies on a long-running partnership with Chile, giving DLR and BKG access to Chilean Antarctic bases and polar transport. The station can be reached from Punta Arenas by going through King George Island via ship, plane, or helicopter. Flights from the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR) are also a key part of the logistics. The O'Higgins airstrip (ICAO: SCBO) is open year-round for specialized polar aircraft. When needed, a 1000-meter runway is carved into a glacier about three kilometers southeast of the station, and a Chilean Air Force (FACh) DHC-6 Twin Otter on skids flies in from King George Island. The Chilean Army team at General Bernardo O'Higgins station handles runway prep and uses Ski-Doos to move people and cargo to and from the strip. On rare occasions, FACh flies a Bell 412 helicopter between King George Island and the Schmidt Peninsula. King George Island's Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin airfield (ICAO: SCRM) gets several visits each year from Punta Arenas via Hercules C-130 planes operated by FACh, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), and the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU). FAB flies for PROANTAR, and FAU flies for the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute (IAU). In the southern summer, the private airline Aerovías DAP runs commercial flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island. Ships can reach O'Higgins during the southern summer, depending on sea ice and icebergs. The Chilean Navy uses the vessels ATF Lautaro and Almirante Oscar Viel to deliver marine diesel oil, move containers and general cargo, and occasionally swap out personnel. Because the water around the Schmidt Peninsula is shallow, ships cannot dock at the pier. When the sea allows, people and smaller items are ferried by inflatable boat. Containers are moved on and off the Almirante Oscar Viel using a self-propelled barge. That ship also has an MBB Bo 105 helicopter to transfer people and small cargo when sea ice makes inflatable boats unusable.
Research
The station's primary instrument is a 9-meter antenna built to withstand Antarctic storms with gusts up to 180 km/h. It serves dual purposes: communicating with satellites—both receiving data and sending commands—and functioning as a radio telescope. Installed during the 1990/91 austral summer, it began operations in 1991. Additional equipment includes permanent GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO reference stations, a pressure level, a radar level, and two weather stations. The radar level provides absolute sea level data referenced to GPS, while repeated absolute gravimetric measurements have been taken. The weather stations continuously log temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction, and speed. From 1991 until July 4, 2011, the station received SAR and other sensor data from the ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites. Since 2007, it has supported the TerraSAR-X mission's TSX satellite, and after the launch of its twin TDX on June 21, 2010, it became crucial for the TanDEM-X mission, handling data reception and enabling monitoring and commanding of both satellites. Its role is growing for the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, and it will also receive downlinked data from the SMILE mission, a joint ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences project.
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