Monthly Archives: F Y

Travelling to Concordia

Astrolabe Marseille close up

Credits: A. Kumar

Alex writes: I left the London (UK) and flew to Singapore and then onto Sydney.  From Sydney I then flew to Hobart, in Tasmania.  I joined other members from the French Polar Institute (IPEV) and the Italian Antarctic Programme (ENEA) on the French L’Astrolabe, a near icebreaker class vessel.

We were travelling with French ex-prime minister Michel Rocard and French Polar Institute Director Yves Frenot among other VIPs.

I was the ship’s doctor – responsible for the health and well-being of the multinational crew and passengers. It took around 10 days to reach land – the Antarctic coast.   It was a magnificent experience – from enduring 12 metre swells of the Southern Ocean to clear skies above the still ocean dotted with icebergs.  (more...)

Settling in… to -80 degrees centigrade

Alexander Kumar remove before flight

Credits: A. Kumar

Alex writes: My name is Alexander Kumar and I am a doctor and explorer. I applied to be ESA’s research physician at the Concordia base station in the Antarctic and I was chosen for the job.
My mission
My mission during the next 8 months: to survive the permanent darkness of the winter with temperatures below 80 degrees centigrade while performing research for the European Space Agency. Of course I am not alone in my endeavours, there are 13 of us at the Concordia base. I am the only British member of the European crew.
(more...)