SWNS_ANTARCTIC_DRILLING_08

A hose in the drilled hole. A GBP7million project to drill beneath two miles of Antarctic ice in search of undiscovered life hangs in the balance – after a major equipment failure. See SWNS story SWDRILL. The malfunction could mean that the project, which took 16 years to plan, would have to be abandoned, potentially wasting millions of pounds of tax payers money. The 12 scientists, from the British Antarctic Survey, are now in a race against time to complete the mission before the borehole reseals as they only have enough fuel for one attempt. Expedition leader Chris Hill confirmed they were past the point of no return and feared the water would re-freeze in the pipes and borehole, halting the programme.
Credit: Pete Bucktrout / British Antarctic Survey / SWNS