Australia's Antarctic programme is being rescheduled after extreme weather delayed the research ship, Aurora Australis. The Aurora Australis was due to arrive at Davis station last Tuesday to pick up summer expeditionary, before heading onto Casey station. But heavy pack ice and blizzard conditions stalled the ship about 160 nautical miles from Davis. The Australian Antarctic Division's Operations Manager Robb Clifton says the French ship L'Astrolabe was on standby to finish the job, but the Aurora broke free at the weekend. The incident has delayed the division's shipping programme by up to a week, including a voyage to Macquarie Island to eradicate pests.