India's 40th Scientific Expedition To Antarctica Returns To Capetown After Completing A Journey Of 12,000 Nautical Miles by Swarajya Staff - Apr 16, 2021 10:34 AM India's Bharati research station in Antarctica The 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences successfully returned to Cape Town on 10 April, after completing a journey of around 12 thousand nautical miles in 94 days, including stopovers. This achievement concludes four successful decades of India's scientific endeavour in Antarctica. The 40-ISEA comprised Indian scientists, engineers, doctors, and technicians, who began their journey from the Mormugao Port of Goa to Antarctica on 7 January, 2021. The team reached its destination station Bharati on 27 February, 2021, and Maitri on 8 March, 2021. Bharati and Maitri are India's permanent research base stations in Antarctica. The stations are approachable only during the austral summer season between November and March.