A total eclipse at the 'Top of the World'

Published Aug. 14, 2008
821st Air Base Group Public Affairs

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- A solar eclipse is a rare celestial phenomenon that brings together many elements in the universe.

Another rare phenomenon occurred July 28 when three Purdue AF Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and graduates from Purdue University's Air Force ROTC Detachment 220 and two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets visited Thule AB to take advantage of a unique opportunity to accomplish an experiment.

Researchers from Purdue and the U.S. Air Force Academy traveled to Thule AB, the Department of Defense's northernmost base, to study the behavior of electronic systems and radioactive decay rates during a rare total solar eclipse.

Members of the team hope the data gathered will help researchers learn how solar activity disrupts various forms of communications, such as satellite communications, the Global Positioning System and other equipment used by the Department of Defense.

"We hope this experiment may allow us to anticipate these disruptions and take steps to avoid or minimize the problems," said Dr. Ephraim Fischbach, professor of physics at Purdue.

The project took some time to coordinate. But, after two years of planning and working with three Thule AB commanders, the team finally arrived on the 9,996-foot white runway at the end of July, delivered by a KC-135 flown by members of Indiana's 434th Air Refueling Wing from Grissom Air Reserve Base.

When the aircraft doors opened, Purdue graduate and AFROTC detachment commander Col. Michael Silver met the deputy commander of Thule AB, also a Purdue and AFROTC graduate, Lt. Col. David C. Arnold. Also involved was Royal Danish Air Force Lt. Col. John V. Blagreen, who is the Danish Liaison Officer, and the Danish Polar Center, which is the national umbrella for science in Greenland.

For Colonel Arnold, the Purdue connection was a bonus.

"As the northernmost Purdue Boilermaker in the world, it's been great to have some folks to talk to about how things have changed or stayed the same since I graduated from Purdue," he said. " But mostly I have tried to be the eyes on the ground for the team, answering questions about paperwork, workspace, and so on. The science is up to them!"

The team immersed themselves in the Thule experience. They shared a meal at the Top of the World Club, ran the world's northernmost marathon, climbed 700-foot Thule icon Mount Dundas, and visited the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Site and the Air Force Satellite Control Network ground station to learn more about Air Force space operations.

"This is a great opportunity for them to get exposed to an Air Force base, Air Force life, and scientific research," said Colonel Silver. "Additionally, these cadets will continue this research and receive graduate-level credit next semester."

The team returns to Indiana on August 6th, eager to get to work.
"All of us will spend many months analyzing the data and writing up the results of the various experiments," Professor Fischbach said.

The cadets have been involved in the planning of the research project since last April. They helped perform the experiment and will be co-authors on upcoming scientific papers resulting from the data.

Cadet Billy Terry said he hopes the mission will get him into graduate school.

"It's really awesome to be a part of this experiment," Cadet Terry said. "It's really a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not just for the traveler's experience, but the research is one of a kind."

Research Team Visits Thule AB