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Total U.S. funding in scientific grants for the IGY program 

 was $42M via the National Science Foundation (NSF). Logistical 

 support for the Antarctic and operational support for rockets 

 and satellites reached roughly $500 M. No published figures 

 were available for the Soviet program, but the investment must 

 have been comparable to that of the U.S. 



The Antarctic program involved 12 nations: Australia, 

 Argentina, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, 

 South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and the 

 Soviet Union. Forty-eight new stations were established on the 

 margins and interior of Antarctica. Ratification of the 

 Antarctic Treaty was one of the great political successes 

 attributable to the IGY. The Treaty set aside an entire 

 continent for scientific and peaceful purposes. Its text 

 states, "Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and 

 cooperation toward that end as applied during the international 

 geophysical year shall continue subject to the provisions of the 

 present treaty". The treaty was signed in 1959 and came into 

 force in 1961. 



Today, 18 countries conduct research in and around 

 Antarctica. Over 40 permanent over-wintering stations are 

 maintained, which during the austral summer are supplemented by 

 many temporary field stations, over 35 dedicated 

 Antarctic-research and resupply vessels, and over 50 aircraft. 



