While 80 gallons or so of fuel may not be much...we must ask a few things....

Can the base really spare it? (though I suspect that they could.....)

Secondly......while the fuel may only be a buck or 2 a gallon....its REAL cost
down in Antartica is probably ALOT more....wouldnt surprise me if its 10 to 50
times more in real cost (those Antartic cargo lifts dont come cheap).....just
as a gallon of water is free but once you get it into orbit its LITERALLY worth
about 80,000 dollars (NASA should start sending up midgets to save costs)

My main question would be....he had to know that there was a FAIR chance he
would have to turn around and refuel....but did he even BOTHER to check with
officials at various bases if he could sleep there or get fuel and food if he
needed to?

If he didnt EVEN do that I say screw em...

maybe give him the fuel at its real cost if they can spare it....but give him a
10 to 20k $ "stupidity/arrogance" charge if he never bothered to ask before he
took off...

take care

Blll