HEATING VITAL EQUIPMENT DURING POLAR EXPLORATION

Gorix Ltd were asked to make two special heater pads form the new fabric developed by the company. The Gorix fabric is electro conductive and heats up when electrical current is passed through it. The use that one set of heater pads were be put to was to keep warm computer equipment that was being used in an 800 mile walk from the South Pole to Berkner Island in the Weddell Sea Antarctica.

The walk took 45 days to complete. The computer was linked to a satellite positioning system used by the expedition to navigate across the frozen wastes of the South Polar Ice Cap.

The second heater pad was to prevent the Video equipment used to film the expedition from freezing in the sub-zero temperatures.

The expedition called "One Step Beyond, The Antarctic Challenge" left for Punta Arenas (Chile), there the expeditionary force acclimatised and carried out last minute training and preparation for about 2 weeks before being airlifted to the South Pole by a specially adapted Hercules transport aircraft that will land with the aid of skis on an ice runway.

The expedition was organised under the auspices of UNESCO and several young people from around the world were taking part.

The main push across the Polar Ice Cap was to be undertaken by 2 experienced members of the expedition.