Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In a secluded part of Antarctica – which is already devoid of much life – lies a small research station called Concordia. Living there is similar to living on another planet.
Like the International Space Station, Concordia is classified as an ICE environment: Isolated, Confined, and Extreme. This makes it a perfect analogue for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Our medical doctor, Sarah Gaier, has been working here since November 2025. After months of perpetual Antarctic sunlight, she is now bracing for the exact opposite: near 24-hour darkness until August.
Part of her day involves stepping outside in extreme conditions (around -60°C in this video) to store and preserve blood samples. These are eventually shipped back to Europe to help researchers understand how the human body adapts to prolonged isolation, confinement, and high altitude.
📹 ESA-Dr Sarah Gaier
#ESA #Antarctica #Space
In a secluded part of Antarctica – which is already devoid of much life – lies a small research station called Concordia. Living there is similar to living on another planet.
Like the International Space Station, Concordia is classified as an ICE environment: Isolated, Confined, and Extreme. This makes it a perfect analogue for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Our medical doctor, Sarah Gaier, has been working here since November 2025. After months of perpetual Antarctic sunlight, she is now bracing for the exact opposite: near 24-hour darkness until August.
Part of her day involves stepping outside in extreme conditions (around -60°C in this video) to store and preserve blood samples. These are eventually shipped back to Europe to help researchers understand how the human body adapts to prolonged isolation, confinement, and high altitude.
📹 ESA-Dr Sarah Gaier
#ESA #Antarctica #Space
