Saildrone research fleet to circle Antarctica for 5 years

Saildrone research fleet to circle Antarctica for 5 years NOAA and partners to test limits of technology and science A Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicle is towed out of the Australian port of Hobart, Tasmania, before being released into the Southern Ocean to collect vital oceanographic data. (Image credit: Courtesy of CSIRO/APP) October 13, 2026 The Southern Ocean is one of the roughest and most dangerous bodies of water on Earth. It’s also key to understanding the global climate system.