project boreas considered the use of bioinspired robots to support pole station. ‘arctic fox’, ‘arctic hare’, ‘snow bunting’ (a flying robot) and ‘lemmings’ would support science and exploration objectives from pole station by enabling remotely controlled data collection at many spatial scales either from the rovers or from the station. the design study investigated communications for pole station and satellite requirements for sustaining base to field communications. the unique psycho-social issues associated with the long and permanently dark martian polar winter were addressed. medical requirements for long-term operation at the martian polar ice caps were investigated in addition to the nutrition requirements, which were used to constrain the life support system design.