Alex writes: I was interviewed by the Unlimited Space Agency's Director of Human Spaceflight Operations Jon Spooner as he tries to "hack his way into space" as part of NASA's global hack event The Space Apps Challenge. The interview gives a good overview of why I am living on the Concordia base.
Credits: A. Kumar
Alex sent us this request: Dark side of the Earth: Concordia station only has four weeks of sunlight left
before four months of darkness...
What would you do if you were here, in the last weeks of natural light?
Inspire the crew! Share their experience. Post your suggestion as a comment to this blog entry.
Credits: A. Kumar
Alex writes: Since arriving in Antarctica, I want to ask ESA astronaut and fellow doctor André Kuipers to wave to us as he flies by on board the International Space Station and ask him what he sees. I wonder if he has seen Emporer Penguins who are our companions here.
I arrived in Antarctica by ship and flew over the continent by air between the Dumont d'Urville, Mario Zucherelli and McMurdo stations. It was an incredible experience observing the continent from the air. (more...)
Credits: A. Kumar
Alex writes: I have been here for around three months already and it has been hectic. The original Italian station medical doctor had to return home. I was offered the position as the station’s medical doctor – it was the most difficult decision of my life, but a natural one. I felt extremely well supported - the British Antarctic Survey’s Medical Unit – led by Doctor Anne Hicks and Peter Marquis – offered me full telemedicine support alongside that already in place by the French and Italian Antarctica Medical Units.
Alex writes: Our team celebrated our Easter weekend here in Antarctica. Everyone helped out. Giorgio, our chef, impressed us all again and made us each a large chocolate Easter egg. (more...)
Credits: A. Kumar
Alex writes: There was an explosion last week in my research room. No one was hurt and the effects were contained very quickly due to an excellent response of the fire team. Accidents can happen but here the consequences can be much more serious.
For ESA research I need to use lots of batteries that I had been recharging over the weekend. I must have slipped in over 30 Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries in their chargers over the course of the past week.
On Sunday night routine started to creep in and without realising and having read only ‘rechargeable’, I put a Lithium Ion battery in the Ni-Cad charger. I left it charging behind me whilst I continued to work on my computer late at night. (more...)
