Here is a concise summary of the text:
**Title:** The Antarctic Snow Cruiser: An Ambitious Failure
**Summary:**
In 1939, the US launched the United States Antarctic Service Expedition to explore Antarctica and establish a claim on the continent. The centerpiece was the Antarctic Snow Cruiser, a 37-ton mobile base designed to sustain a team of 5 for a year. Despite its innovative design, the Cruiser faced numerous issues during its shakedown trip from Chicago to Boston and ultimately failed in Antarctica due to:
1. Underpowered engines (8 horsepower/ton)
2. Smooth, swamp-buggy tires that couldn't grip snowy terrain
The Cruiser was eventually abandoned and used as a stationary laboratory. Its current whereabouts are unknown, likely buried under ice or lost at sea. The project's rushed development and over-optimistic design philosophy are cited as key factors in its failure.
Here are the extracted key facts, each with a number and in short sentences, excluding opinions:
**Historical Context**
1. In 1940, a US team embarked on an expedition to chart unexplored areas of Antarctica.
2. Before 1939, only two expedition teams had set foot on the South Pole, with only one returning alive.
3. By 1939, world powers were claiming parts of Antarctica, but the US was not among them.
**United States Antarctic Service Expedition**
4. In 1939, US President Roosevelt launched the United States Antarctic Service Expedition.
5. The expedition involved two ships with 125 men, aiming to explore unknown regions and establish two field bases.
6. The mission's goal was to lay the groundwork for a US claim on the continent.
**Antarctic Snow Cruiser**
7. The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was a 37-ton mobile base designed for the expedition.
8. It was equipped to sustain a team of five explorers for up to a year.
9. The Cruiser carried its own aircraft for aerial surveys.
10. It was designed by Chicago's Armour Institute of Technology.
11. The Cruiser had 10ft tall rubber wheels and a diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain.
12. It was built in just 11 weeks over a single midwestern summer in 1939.
**Shakedown Trip and Expedition**
13. The Cruiser was driven 1,600 km from Chicago to Boston as a shakedown trip.
14. The trip, expected to take 8 days, lasted nearly 3 weeks due to various issues.
15. The expedition left for Antarctica on November 15, 1939.
16. The Cruiser encountered significant difficulties in Antarctica, primarily due to its smooth tires and weight distribution.
17. The team eventually parked the Cruiser for use as a stationary laboratory.
18. The expedition was cut short due to the looming Second World War.
**Aftermath**
19. The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was last spotted in 1958, buried under several meters of snow.
20. Today, the machine's whereabouts are unknown, possibly buried under ice or sunk in the ocean.