International Geophysical Year polar programs (1957–1958)

1. ICSU forms the IGY planning committee

   May 1, 1952Labels: ICSU, CSAGI

   • NASA History
   • Britannica

2. Operation Deep Freeze begins U.S. IGY logistics

   Jan 1, 1955Labels: Operation Deep, U S

   • Deep Freeze
   • NSF

3. Britain establishes Halley for IGY observations

   Jan 6, 1956Labels: Halley Station, Royal Society

   • BAS Halley
   • Britannica

4. Soviets open Mirny as a main coastal base

   Feb 13, 1956Labels: Mirny Station, Soviet Antarctic

   • Mirny Station

5. First aircraft lands at the South Pole

   Oct 31, 1956Labels: South Pole, U S

   • Washington Post

6. Amundsen–Scott Station built at the South Pole

   Nov 1, 1956Labels: Amundsen Scott, U S

   • South Pole Station

7. Byrd Station commissioned in West Antarctica

   Jan 1, 1957Labels: Byrd Station, United States

   • Byrd Station

8. World Data Center system created for open sharing

   Jan 1, 1957Labels: World Data, ICSU

   • WDC Overview
   • NOAA NCEI

9. Australia opens Davis Station for IGY work

   Jan 13, 1957Labels: Davis Station, Australia

   • Davis Station
   • Aus Antarctica

10. Ellsworth Station opens on the Filchner Ice Shelf

    Feb 11, 1957Labels: Ellsworth Station, United States

    • Ellsworth Station

11. IGY officially begins worldwide observing campaign

    Jul 1, 1957Labels: International Geophysical, IGY

    • NSF
    • Britannica

12. Soviets establish inland Vostok Station

    Dec 16, 1957Labels: Vostok Station, Soviet Antarctic

    • Vostok Station

13. Explorer 1 launches and reveals Earth’s radiation belts

    Jan 31, 1958Labels: Explorer 1, U S

    • NASA Explorer 1
    • Britannica

14. SCAR formed to coordinate post-IGY Antarctic science

    Feb 3, 1958Labels: SCAR, Antarctic research

    • SCAR History

15. First successful overland crossing of Antarctica completed

    Mar 2, 1958Labels: Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic, South Pole

    • Christie s

16. IGY ends; polar cooperation shapes the Antarctic Treaty

    Dec 1, 1959Labels: Antarctic Treaty, IGY legacy

    • ATS Treaty
    • Britannica