USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) sits hove-to amid Operation Deep Freeze 2026 as penguins pass by during ice liberty in the Ross Sea, Jan. 12, 2026. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, most inhospitable continent on the globe, and each trip requires careful planning and coordination. U.S. military service members are trained and ready to support this vital mission despite the austere environment. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum)