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"Imagine, the pitch-black darkness of the Arctic winter surrounding you, the sound of drifting snow is drumming away on the sides of your shelter, as the wind howls. Outside it is -50 degrees Fahrenheit. You are hundreds of miles from any help, other than that of yourself, your roommates, and the limited resources at hand."

So begins a report that reached ExWeb about an uncoming Arctic voyage, and it continues:

"Now imagine you are in an aluminum hulled sailboat locked in sea ice, drifting towards the North Pole. This may sound like the script of an action adventure movie, but in reality it is an exciting, new initiative in Arctic research called the Tara Arctic. The head of Tara Arctic is the French businessman: Etienne Bourgois"

Wintering at 80 degrees North

On Sunday, September 3rd, the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranisyn was able to rendezvous with Tara, which had been detained in the small Russian coastal village of Tiksi for two weeks. The crew had been awaiting the final approval of immigration documentation and customs approval, from a labyrinth of bureaucratic governmental policies issued hundreds of miles away. On September 1st, permission was granted to leave, allowing the ship and crew to continue the trip they began on July 11, 2006 in France.

Once Tara joined the Dranitsyn, the two vessels headed towards the pack-ice. Upon their arrival to the ice, the icebreaker began to make its way North, passing through leads, fracturing ice several feet thick, and when necessary breaking through ice ridges that may have extended 30 feet into the frigid ocean waters. Tara, following close behind, was able to reach its destination of 80 degrees North latitude, well into the multi-year ice in which it will become frozen.

There are some important things man can do that instruments cannot”

The rounded and flat hull of the 116-foot Tara will allow her to remain frozen safely from the extreme pressures applied by the pack-ice for the two year exploration of the Arctic. During this time, it will drift with the moving ice some 2,800 miles, past the North Pole, through Fram Strait, along the Northeast side of Greenland.

There are many challenges to make this type of exploration a success, so one may wonder why it is necessary to send humans on such a journey. Jean-Claude Gascard explained, “If we could avoid Tara we would.” He added that all of the preparations and organization of such a trip are greater than that of using automated scientific buoys, but “There are some important things man can do that instruments cannot.”

Arctic Astronauts

Many of the specialized pieces of equipment and techniques used to study the Arctic environment require the presence of humans. For example, the instruments used to detect solar radiation use optical sensors that need to be cleaned periodically in order to function properly. The collection and analysis of water samples and most biological data one might collect are “impossible to be automated,” according to Gascard. He continued to explain that there is a need to be flexible when gathering data. If the data collected is not correlating with scientific models, then changes in the data collection may be required.

Beyond the technical challenges, Jean-Claude notes that the greatest challenge for humans is to be able to tolerate the Arctic winter, “in a very hostile environment.” In addition, the ability of an individual to be exposed to difficult situations and to be away from their family over an extended period of time is a concern. This is why Gascard compares the experience of the crew to that of astronauts.

Engineer stays full time; data made available to all scientists

The all-volunteer crew of eight males will be led by an engineer from New Zealand who is skilled in sailing and has worked in similar isolated situations in Antarctica. Two mechanics, a doctor, two science technicians, and two experienced sailors will accompany him. According to Gascard, the lead engineer wants to stay on board Tara for the full two years, while other members of the crew will be rotated in and out of the ship over time.

The Tara Arctic expedition, along with DAMOCLES, will provide scientists with a cross section of all physical and many biological parameters across the Arctic. Jean-Claude Gascard hopes that the results “will be used as a resource in Arctic science research,” and he notes that the data will not be protected, but will be available to all scientists for use in their own research.

The first winter will prove to be a long and intense experience for the crew of Tara. The ultimate success of the expedition is not only going to be dependent on the will and expertise of the crew, but of nature itself. What does the harsh environment of the Arctic winter have in store for this small group of dedicated explorers? Only time will tell.