Ten polar explorers spent the Antarctic winter isolated at the German Neumayer III Station, operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) – a process they call overwintering – and the experience serves as an analog to conditions astronauts will face during long-duration space travel, such as a mission to Mars. A collaboration between NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) ensured they had fresh produce available all winter. (Credits: NASA/Jess Bunchek)
By Linda Herridge NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center
When plant scientist Jess Bunchek leaves Antarctica in the coming weeks and returns to her roots at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, she will bring back knowledge to benefit space exploration along with memories that will last a lifetime.
