Working in extreme subzero temperatures, Australian Caterpillar dealer William Adams unloaded the AST3-1 telescope on the highest point on the Antarctic Plateau, and coldest place on earth, Dome A. The project site reaches -80°C in winter.
William Adams deals Caterpillar in Australia. The 129-year old firm regularly uses tractors for construction work in Antarctica, mainly for international groups building scientific stations.
Fassi’s Australasian distributor, 600 Cranes, supplied the F110AC.0.22 active and the F155AC.0.22 active cranes for the telescope installation on Dome A. William Adams mounted the two Fassi Cranes on the backs of two tractors.
The telescope is one of three planned for use by Chinese, US and UK researchers at PLATO, the PLATeau Observatory.
