Illustration showing a cutaway of the Antarctic Snow Cruiser, a snow vehicle designed for use by the United States Antarctic Service Expedition under the direction of physicist and explorer Thomas C. Poulter (1897-1978) from 1937 to 1939. The Snow Cruiser, which measured 17 metre long and weighed 30 tonne, was equipped to travel 8000 kilometres without outside assistance. It had living quarters which could house five crew members, an onboard machine shop, space for two spare tires and the ability to carry a light aircraft on its roof. When the Snow Cruiser arrived in the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, however, it became stuck in the snow due to lack of traction on its smooth tires. The vehicle was abandoned in 1940 as the outbreak of war meant funding for the Antarctic expedition was cancelled.