Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the departure of the polar scientific base from Cherbourg (Manche) is now set for this Friday. This marks the starting point for Tara’s Arctic exploration, which will span from 2026 to 2045.
The Tara Ocean Foundation had to postpone the launch of its polar scientific base from Cherbourg (Manche) to this Friday, after initially planning it for Tuesday. The delay was due to a defective sensor and rough weather on October 1st, the originally scheduled departure date.
At sunrise, under the watchful eyes of numerous journalists and shipyard workers from Cherbourg, Tara was carefully lowered into the water, millimeter by millimeter. However, « when the keel was submerged, we noticed one of the sensors was taking on water, » explained Ludovic Marie, the project manager for the Tara program.
While repairs were expected to be completed quickly, the rising wind prevented the relaunch. « We have no concerns about the project; these are just part of the uncertainties, » said Mr. Marie.
The futuristic floating laboratory, Tara, equipped with an array of sensors, is set to drift through the Arctic from 2026 to 2045 to enhance scientific understanding of this « climate sentinel, » a region particularly under threat. The first mission, Tara Polaris I, will embark in 2026 for approximately 500 days.
« These future discoveries offer hope »
The station is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and ice, thanks to its thick, rounded aluminum hull. In summer, it can host up to 20 people, including crew members and scientists, who will collect valuable data to assess the impact of climate change on the Arctic. The objective is « to document and understand the dynamics of these transformations, validate scientific data, and catalogue the richness of local biodiversity, » the foundation stated in a press release.
Source: le parisien
