Dr Sascha Freigang is the ESA-sponsored medical doctor from Germany spending 12 months at Concordia research station in Antarctica for the 2022-2023 winter. He facilitates a number of experiments on the effects of isolation, light deprivation, and extreme temperatures on the human body and mind. 

BLOG 5 – Concordia 28.11.23 

Now the winter-over 2023 is done and DC19 entrusted the station to the summer team and the next crew. We saw the first plane of the season arrive on 9 November and have started a busy handover period since then. The new ESA-sponsored medical doctor Jessica Studer took over the lab shortly after and is already busy with great research projects, keeping in line with the traditions of the last years – you will certainly read more about them in her blogs!  

Obligatory selfie of Jessica. Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

The tasks of the leaving crew are different depending on the role, but include some training for the new crew, cleaning as well as preparing research material and samples for shipment to the research teams. And of course, at some point, saying goodbye to Concordia, which after more than one year feels very much like home. DC19 left in good spirits on 20 November. The journey home led us through Mario Zucchelli Station, which we reached with a DC3-Basler aircraft, and from there the Italian Airforce flew us to Christchurch with a C130; after that, the rest of the trip would sound a bit less exciting. 

What the end of one year in Antarctica looks like. Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

What happened in the last months at Concordia? We saw the sun come back in August, and it will now stay above the horizon throughout the Antarctic summer until next year. Many of the crew shared the feeling that three months of darkness were actually not too hard on us. That said, seeing the sun after all this time still held some emotions.  

First sunset after the Antarctic night. Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

After this, the winter ended just like it started, with a beautiful twilight period and a shift from the long-lasting darkness to constant daylight. We completed the final stage of data collection for all eight biomedical research projects, did a lot of cleaning inside and outside the station and some of us started making plans for a life beyond Concordia (hiking in New Zealand, applying for new jobs and booking holidays). 

No priority boarding here! Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

Although Concordia is a very special place and truly isolated and remote, it becomes a normal home during the winter and the life here feels quite normal. Maybe it can be described as somewhat simpler, with less daily choices about what to do, where to go and so on around here. Fortunately, that allows us to focus on the tasks ahead and it is safe to say that the whole crew made a remarkable contribution to the scientific community with all the projects conducted over the winter 2023.  

Last picture with DC19 station leader Davide Carlucci before boarding the C130 to leave Antarctica Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

For me, conducting the research in the name of ESA was certainly the privilege of a lifetime and I am grateful for the trust and support I received. It is needless to say that all the study results at Concordia can only be achieved by an immense effort of many people, who plan projects and keep Concordia running.  

With these words I am signing off from this blog. Thank you to everyone who followed DC19. 

Sascha 

Last members of DC19 departing Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-S. Freigang

This is Sascha’s last blog entry as his year in Concordia came to a close; watch this space for news about ESA’s new medical doctor, Jess, who just started her winter-over in Concordia! 

Are you looking for an Antarctic adventure? Apply now to become the research medical doctor who implements the biomedical programme at the Concordia station of Antarctica!