Raytheon Polar Services Company (RPSC) was a division of Raytheon that provided logistics, operations, and staffing for the
National Science Foundation
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...
's operations in Antarctica and Antarctic waters. Its contract with the
United States Antarctic Program
The United States Antarctic Program (or USAP; formerly known as the United States Antarctic Research Program or USARP and the United States Antarctic Service or USAS) is an organization of the United States government which has a presence in the ...
expired on March 30, 2012.
Operational role
The US Antarctic Program Participant Guide lists RPSC's role in Antarctica as the following:
* Supporting science and operating research labs
* Procuring, arranging for transport, warehousing, and issuing equipment and supplies
* Operating and maintaining stations, research vessels, and numerous field camps
* Arranging medical clearance and travel of parties
* Managing transportation of passengers and cargo
* Arranging annual resupply and fuel of
McMurdo
Vice-Admiral Archibald William McMurdo (24 September 1812 – 11 December 1875) was a Scottish naval officer and polar explorer after whom Antarctica's McMurdo Sound, McMurdo Station, McMurdo Ice Shelf, McMurdo Dry Valleys and McMurdo–South P ...
by
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all U ...
contract ships
* Providing marine terminal operations
* Complying with safety, health, and environmental requirements
Raytheon Polar Services operates the
Antarctic Fire Department.
Criticism
Raytheon Polar Services Company has been criticized for failing to cooperate fully in New Zealand's investigation of
Rodney Marks
Rodney David Marks (13 March 1968 – 12 May 2000) was an Australian astrophysicist who died from methanol poisoning while working in Antarctica.
Early life
Marks was born in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia and received his education from the ...
's death. Marks died in 2000 from
methanol poisoning
Methanol toxicity (also methanol poisoning) is poisoning from methanol, characteristically via ingestion. Symptoms may include an altered/decreased level of consciousness, poor or no coordination, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a specific smell o ...
while working at the
Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station
The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a science and technology in the United States, United States scientific research station at the South Pole of the Earth. It is the List of extreme points of the United States, southernmost point under ...
. New Zealand police and the coroner, Richard McElrea, said Raytheon and the National Science Foundation failed to provide full and prompt information to the authorities. New Zealand police believe there was a private U.S. investigation into the death, which the U.S. organizations refused to disclose.
In 2007, two employees of Raytheon had to be evacuated from the South Pole Station after one broke the other's jaw in a "drunken Christmas punch-up".
References
External links
Raytheon Polar ServicesUSAP Program Participant Guide, 2008-2010Defense Contract Audit Agency review of Raytheon Polar Services Company
National Science Foundation
Raytheon Company
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