The telescope sat on the ice for an entire year.
The scientists did quickly recover the data vaults from the NASA-funded mission, called GRIPS, which is short for Gamma-Ray Imager/Polarimeter for Solar flares. But due to incoming winter weather – summer only runs October through February in Antarctica – they had to leave the remaining instruments on the ice and schedule a recovery effort for the following year. Finally, in January 2017, it was warm and safe enough to recover the instruments.
For more information visit the NASA.gov feature.
NASA’s GRIPS Balloon Arrives in Antarctica
NASA Flickr album: GRIPS Eyes the Sun During Antarctic Summer