Military and civilian research team for Inspire 22 arriving in Antarctica — The military and civilian research team for Inspire 22 arriving in Antarctica (Picture: Inspire 22 Twitter).

Arctic/Antarctic

Inspire 22: Military and civilian research team sets off on Antarctic expedition

Members of a tri-service military and civilian research team have set off on an Antarctic expedition to research the metabolic cost of sustained polar travel.

The team, sponsored by BFBS, is made up of guides, doctors and physiologists – with a teacher and engineer also joining the expedition.

Using state-of-the-art techniques and wearable kit, the team is looking to understand how an austere environment has an effect on human metabolism.

And they're off! The largest medical research expedition to ski to the South Pole - INSPIRE 22.
The team have been flown to the start of the Messner route and set off on their way to the South Pole. See our insta & fb pages for Nadja's account of their final day at Union Glacier pic.twitter.com/AQoU557Wc7
— @Antarctic_Inspire_22 (@Go_Inspire_22) November 25, 2022

The team of 10 set off on 25 November and will ski more than 900km across the polar plateau to the South Pole, carrying all their supplies for up to 55 days.

Temperatures are expected to hit -40°Celsius, with 60mph winds, and the team will be eating in excess of 5,000 calories per day.

BFBS trustees are sponsoring the Inspire 22 expedition through the BFBS Welfare Fund which supports amenities, activities and projects that promote the efficiency of the Armed Forces. BFBS is the parent company of Forces News.