ESA's lab at Concordia station

Dr Nina Purvis in ESA's laboratory at Concordia station in Antarctica.

For two decades, ESA has sent a medical doctor to brave the cold and more for 13 months at Concordia station in Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth. This unique environment – isolated, confined and extreme – mirrors many of the psychological and physiological challenges astronauts face in space. By studying life at Concordia, scientists can better understand these effects, develop countermeasures and prepare for future human missions beyond Earth.

Find out more here.