NASA's radar unearths Cold War‑Era base under Greenland ice
NASA scientists have discovered the former military base Camp Century in Greenland. The discovery was made during tests of a device used to study the interior of glaciers. Although the base's existence was no longer a secret, the new technology enabled a detailed view of its structure.
2:08 PM EST, November 28, 2024
As reported by TVN24, in April, NASA scientists, while testing new radar technology, accidentally uncovered the former military base Camp Century beneath the ice of Greenland. This base, built during the Cold War, was part of the Iceworm project, which aimed to create a network of bases equipped with nuclear weapons.
"Initially, we had no idea what it was. We were looking for the bottom of a glacier and suddenly Camp Century appeared," said Alex Gardner, one of the scientists involved in the project, as quoted by TVN24.
Nicknamed the "city under the ice," the complex consists of tunnels drilled into the ice cover. Built in 1960, Camp Century accommodated a permanent staff of 200 people and was equipped with a cinema, gym, and library. Scientific research conducted there over five years provided valuable data for climatologists.
According to CBS News, the base was abandoned in 1967 and eventually became buried under accumulating snow and ice. The decision to abandon the base was due to maintenance difficulties and environmental contamination risks.
New technology allowed for an inside look
The new UAVSAR technology enabled a detailed visualization of the base's structure, which was previously impossible. The radar detected the object 150 miles east of the Pituffik base. Previously, the base had been detected as an anomaly in measurements.
"In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way they have never been seen before," said Greene, who collaborates with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Previous scans used a type of radar that pointed straight down to the ground and generated a two-dimensional image of structures buried under the ice. Greene's flight used synthetic aperture radar, which can create maps with greater dimensionality. NASA's discovery showcases how technology can reveal hidden secrets of the past.
