ESA – Antarctic mist

Because the Northern hemisphere tucks into longer nights, Antarctica bursts into its season of daylight.

After 4 months of evening, the crew of Concordia analysis station, situated on Dome C within the Antarctic peninsula, noticed first light in August, marking the top of the dreaded winter-over, a interval of darkness and isolation.

The arrival of spring means the residents of Antarctica say goodbye to the final true evening and people Milky Method views.

Every year, ESA sponsors a analysis medical physician by way of the winter months to run experiments on the remainder of the 15-strong crew. There are few different locations on Earth that resemble the isolation and excessive local weather astronauts will endure on different planets – giving ESA the chance to check know-how and learn the way people behave in shut quarters.

Present ESA-sponsored medical physician Nadja Albertsen is wrapping up her residency at Concordia.

Along with working simulations and amassing blood and urine samples, Nadja spent the 12 months running a blog about life and science within the Polar Desert. You will discover her posts on the Chronicles from Concordia blog. Learn additionally a CNN feature on life at Concordia and the way it’s making ready people for Mars. 

Forward of the inflow of summer season guests, the crew are additionally busy with housekeeping: linens are washed, mattresses are cleaned and adjusted, and contemporary meals provides are on their method.

Concordia hosts as much as 80 researchers within the busy summer season months who flock to Concordia to verify tools, setup sensors and run experiments for a number of weeks.

The subsequent ESA-sponsored medical physician is Stijn Thoolen. He arrives with and his fellow crew mates for his or her Antarctic keep in November.