Project Overview - The Tara Polar Station is designed to study the rapidly warming central Arctic, which is warming four times faster than other regions [1] - The station will conduct multiple drifts over the next 25 years to document the changes in the Central Arctic [3][12] - The first mission is scheduled to begin in late August 2026 and will last approximately one and a half years [11] Station Design and Capabilities - The station's design resembles a flying saucer or lozenge shape, optimized for Arctic conditions [2][3] - It features four decks with 12 cabins, accommodating up to 24 people, but typically one person per cabin during winter [4][5] - The station includes approximately 200 square meters of living space and 120 square meters of laboratory space [5] - A moon pool provides direct access to the under-ice environment for deploying scientific equipment [5][6] - Specialized laboratories are equipped for ice coring, DNA sequencing, microscopy, and other scientific assays [6][7] Scientific Focus - Research will focus on planktonic organisms and their role in regulating the Arctic climate system [7][8][9] - Studies will investigate how these organisms influence cloud formation, precipitation, and ice formation [9][10] - The project aims to understand the impact of pollution, including chemical pollutants and black carbon, on the Arctic ice [14] - The research seeks to understand what an ice-free Arctic will look like in the summer months within the next 25 years [13] Testing and Deployment - Initial sea trials were conducted in Brittany, France, in April 2024 [11] - The station is currently undergoing ice testing near the Arctic Circle with the assistance of a German icebreaker [11] - After testing, the station will return to France for adjustments before its first scientific mission [11]