Accession No. PA.2009.0004: Eugene W. Van Reeth, 2009 March
[identification of item], "We Called It Ice Sensing" Manuscript by Robert A. Nyden, SPEC.PA.56.5043, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 November; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 November
Robert A. Nyden graduated with a bachelor of science in chemistry from San Jose State University in 1969. Following his graduation, he served in the United States Navy Antarctic Development Squadron Six as an Ensign, working on polar aircraft navigation from 1970 to 1974. During this time, he was assigned to navigate flights used to map the thickness of ice fields in Antarctica. After his discharge from the Navy in 1974, Nyden worked as an advanced materials engineer building structures for space vehicles at Ford Aerospace Corporation, including parts of Voyagers 1 and 2. In 1979, Nyden shifted to self employment as a cabinetmaker; as of 2025, he still builds cabinets.
"We Called It Ice Sensing" Manuscript by Robert A. Nyden dates from 2009, and consists of a typed manuscript illustrated by colored photographs. It is a memoir written by Nyden that describes his time as a United States Navy polar aircraft navigator on flights to map the thickness of ice fields in Antarctica and Greenland between 1970 and 1974. It also has colored photographs depicting scenes from the flights, and charts containing data collected on these flights.