Crew Photos – April 3rd
Journalist Report – April 3rd
Journalism Report
MDRS Crew 313
April 3, 2025
By Riley Nuttycombe
Crew 313 woke up back on earth today and it was snowing! We had planned a field trip to collect more rock samples but it was too muddy to make doing so safe. We stayed in the hab most of the day. We did some cleaning in preparation for our departure tomorrow. Emily Lehnardt and David Joy departed early in the day. By dinner time it had dried out enough for the remaining crew and Ben from mission support to drive to Hanksville for burgers for dinner.
Crew Photos – March 31st
Journalist Report – March 31st
Journalist Report Sol 0
31 March 2025
By Emily Lehnart
We are preparing for our exploration of Mars tomorrow. As we met for our inaugural breakfast as MDRS crew 313, we synergistically discussed goals and objectives for our upcoming EVAs tomorrow and Wednesday. MDSRS crew 313 eagerly anticipated the Mars spacesuit training, the Mars rover training and discussed what EVAs look like. Additionally, we created Mars rock kits. Commander Jen Carver shared her infinite wisdom regarding the geological history of Mars. The MDRS crew was in awe. Finally, we took a short walk to the education building to compare Earth rocks and Mars rocks and determine which Earth rocks were analogous on Mars. This will help us tomorrow as we embark on our first EVA to collect Mars rocks. Go MDRS 313 Crew!
Crew 313 Crew biographies, photos and mission patch 31Mar2025
[title Crew biographies, photos and mission patch – March 31st]
Crew 313 Bios
Jen Carver-Hunter
Jen Carver-Hunter is a 5th grade teacher at a Title 1 School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carver-Hunter is the crew commander for the Spaceward Bound Utah program at the Mars Desert Research Station. She is also an alumni member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute and a current member of Space Center Houston’s SEEC Crew.
Inline image
Emily Lehnardt
Emily Lehnardt first "gravitated" towards the exciting world of astronomy during a high school lecture about black holes. From that moment, she has actively pursued anything space related. She is the former director of the Utah Women Astronomical Society which focuses on STEM and astronomy outreach. Her love of knowledge, exploration, and space is contagious, and, for her indefatigable talent for teaching, Emily is a two-time-award winning educator. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in science education with a research interest in astronomy and STEM. Additionally, she is collaborating with Clark Planetarium to create robust astronomy curriculum for rural communities. Emily loves to travel and share her passion about astronomy with others.
Becca Hodgkinson
Becca Hodgkinson is a National Board Certified Teacher who has worked at Escalante Elementary in Salt Lake City, UT since 2004. For the past three years, her sixth grade students have been maintaining a commercial hydroponics unit in order to study how matter cycles through the ecosystem and potential ways humans might be able to grow food on Mars. She is a three time graduate from the University of Utah and a proud mom of two young adults.
Samantha Reynolds
Samantha Reynolds is a homeschooling educator of 15 years, community organizer, and meditation instructor. She loves connecting people to resources and outlets for their passions, and looks forward to sharing the MDRS experience with others. In her free time she enjoys travel, reading, learning new things, and spending time with family.
Riley Nuttycombe
Riley Nuttycombe is a 17 year old high school student out of Boulder Colorado. She enjoys reading and writing science fiction, working on CAD projects, and playing ultimate frisbee. This is her third mission to MDRS where she is working on a project (the Mars Trek Project) to design and test her own EVA helmets.
David Joy
David Joy is a junior high school science teacher in Northern Utah. He is currently teaching physics and integrated science, but has also taught chemistry and Earth & Space science. In 2020 he earned a Ph.D. in outdoor education and social justice. This is his second Spaceward Bound mission at MDRS, and he is grateful to have these opportunities.
Crew Photos – April 2nd
Journalist Report – April 2nd
Journalism Report
MDRS Crew 313
April 2, 2025
Sol 2
By Becca Hodgkinson
Crew 313 had two successful EVAs today. In the morning, the crew took rovers Curiosity, Perseverance, and Spirit to a site to the south to look for basalt and breccia analogs. They then traveled north to Kissing Camels to scout for petrified wood samples for their analog rock sample kits. All rovers worked well, and the crew was able to try out different helmet and backpack configurations.
In the afternoon, four members of the crew took a second walking EVA back to the Marble Ritual, gathering even more rock and mineral specimens to add to their collections. All EVA objectives were met, and EVAs were completed within the approved timeframe. Afterwards, the crew finished up their Martian geology experiments in the Science Dome.
EVA Report – April 2nd
Crew 313 EVA Report 02-04-2025
EVA # 3
Author: Jen Carver-Hunter
Purpose of EVA: Geologic sample collection
Start time: 10:00
End time: 12:00
Narrative: The crew was prepped and ready for their EVA shortly at 10:00. They traveled south on Cow Dung Road to the wash along the road to Barrainca Butte. At the wash, they walked west toward Barrainca Butte, collecting geologic specimens. After 20 minutes of specimen collection, the crew loaded up in the rovers to drive to their second collection site at Kissing Camel Ridge. The crew walked along the wash to the southwest of Kissing Camel Ridge, collecting geologic specimens before returning to the rovers to drive back along Cow Dung Rd to the Hab.
Destination: Road to Barrainca Butte and Southwest Kissing Camel Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 519700, 4247300 and 518200, 4249300
Participants: Jen Carver-Hunter, David Joy, Becca Hodgkinson, Emily Lehnardt, Riley Nuttycombe, and Samantha Reynolds
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road south to 1101 (Rd to Barrainca Butte) and then returning North to Kissing Camel Ridge and the Hab
Mode of travel: Spirit, Curiosity, and Perseverance Rovers
EVA Report – April 2nd
Crew 313 EVA Report 02-04-2025
EVA # 4
Author: Jen Carver-Hunter
Purpose of EVA: Helmet Test Data Collection
Start time: 14:00
End time: 15:00
Narrative: The crew left the Hab and turned north on Cow Dung Rd. They started at the Marble Ritual and then walked slightly east and south to examine geologic samples while testing the suits and helmets. By the end of the EVA, crew was tired and returned to the Hab via Cow Dung Rd.
Destination: Marble Ritual and surrounding area
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518500, 4251000
Participants: David Joy, Emily Lehnardt, Riley Nuttycombe, and Samantha Reynolds
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Marble Ritual and then back to the Hab
Mode of travel: N/A
Sol Summary – March 28th
Morning Briefing
The day began with a briefing on the mission objectives and safety protocols. Today’s EVA focused on searching for signs of life on Mars and identifying an optimal site for a new habitat to be built. Students utilized scientific instruments to analyze soil and rock samples while also assessing terrain stability, radiation exposure, and resource availability for future habitat construction. Today’s EVA ended in a simulated electrocution that led to cardiac arrest in one of the team members.
Cardiac Arrest Response and CPR in Space Environments
Objective: Perform an emergency medical response to a cardiac arrest scenario in a simulated EVA environment.
Teams identified and responded to a simulated astronaut experiencing cardiac arrest.
Students practiced performing CPR under simulated Martian gravity conditions, incorporating modifications for effectiveness in reduced gravity.
Automated external defibrillator (AED) protocols were reviewed and applied in the field.
Communication strategies were tested to ensure clear relay of patient status and intervention steps between EVA teams and the Hab.
Debriefing and Lessons Learned
Following the EVA, students participated in a debriefing session where they discussed key takeaways, challenges faced, and strategies for improvement. The session reinforced the importance of quick medical decision-making, teamwork, and adapting life-saving techniques for extraterrestrial environments. Students also discussed medical futility and the ethical challenges of losing a crewmember.
End of Week Reflection and Movie Night
To close out the week, students gathered for a movie night, providing a chance to reflect on the skills they developed and the challenges they tackled throughout the training program. The event fostered camaraderie and offered a well-deserved break after an intense week of mission simulations.
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