The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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A Concordia crew member inspecting seismographs that record electric current in the Earth’s crust and mantle three km from Concordia research base in Antarctica.
During the cold and dark winter it is impossible to access the seismographs so they are placed in insulated containers to keep them at operating temperature.
Concordia base is too far to supply the seismographs electricity from its generators so batteries are used. The batteries are stored in separate containers and recharged by solar panels. The batteries store enough energy to operate the equipment during the winter period when no sunlight is visible for four months.
In the summer, when the weather is warm enough that diesel does not freeze, the seismograph equipment can be reached by vehicle for inspection and maintainance.
ESA sponsors a medical research doctor in Concordia to study the effects of isolation in preparation for future missions.