TX5K Clipperton Island Expedition Update

The March, 2013 DXpedition to Clipperton Island has received the callsign TX5K to be used during the operation. With the addition of Luis XE1L, Dave WJ20, and Giovanni I5JHW, the team has 23 members. One space remains available for another operator, scientist, or other supporter who wishes to join the DXpedition.

We are proud to announce that the QSL manager will be Bob N2OO. Offsite team member Dean N7XG is developing new software to help automate some of the operations at the QSL manager and his team.

The expedition will use DXA, the system that enables real-time web display of the log data, first used on Kure Atoll K7C 2005, to provide confirmation of valid QSOs in about 1 minute after they are made. We will also make use of ClubLog and LotW.

The DXpedition will be active on all HF bands and modes for about 10 days. In addition to the radio operations, the team will carry out numerous scientific projects of environmental science, especially involving studying invasive and undiscovered species that have potential for catastrophic disruption of the Clipperton ecosystem. The team will study vortex winds produced by the island, and will document foraging by congenitally deformed birds. Advisor Robert Pitman reports that a significant portion of the masked boobies are deformed and apparently are fed by their parents their entire lives.

The DXpedition is very pleased to acknowledge a personal gift from a world-famous ham of $10,000. While preferring to remain anonymous, the donor hopes that his gift will stimulate others to support the project. A particularly interesting activity will be the real-time Internet video connection with students. After the expedition the students will write essays for a compendium to be titled “Saving the World, by We the Students.” The publication is designed to be the first of a series of “Saving the World, by…” The team also will collect and remove plastic debris from the island. You can help in these efforts by making a donation through the link on the website.

Complete information about the project is available on the website www.Cordell.org/CI. The project is being organized and will be led by

Bob KK6EK
Chris DL1MGB

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