The station features hydraulic legs that will keep it from being buried under the snow

Feb 6, 2013 19:11 GMT  ·  By

Only yesterday, the British Antarctic Survey debuted its Halley VI research station, whose construction costs amounted to an impressive $40.6 million (€30.01 million) and which is expected to serve as a home for a total of 52 daredevil scientists.

The architects and engineers who have worked on designing and building this state-of-the-art Antarctic research station explain that, in order to make sure the Halley VI can successfully withstand local environmental conditions, they have decided to equip it with several pairs of hydraulic legs.

It is their belief that these hydraulic legs will keep the research station from being buried under the snow.

More precisely, said legs are to allow the Halley VI to climb on top of whatever snow happens to pile up in this part of the world on a yearly basis.

Furthermore, it looks like these hydraulic legs have skis attached to their bottom, meaning that the researchers inhabiting the Halley VI will find towing it away from danger a fairly easy thing to do.

The Halley VI Antarctic station is basically made up of a series of blue pods which are to serve as research rooms and living rooms.

As far as socializing and recreation go, it looks like a red pod inserted smack in the middle of the blue ones will serve as a communal living space.

According to the official website for the British Antarctic Survey, the Halley VI Antarctic research station is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf.

Commenting on its making its debut, David Willetts, UK's current minister for universities and science, stated as follows:

“The new Halley Research Station is a triumph of British design, innovation and engineering. The UK’s world-class polar science community now has a unique, cutting edge suite of laboratories on the ice.”

The funding needed in order to build this highly innovative research station was provided by the UK Environment Research Council and the UK Department of Business Innovation and Skills.