Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Saranya Ravva
Date: 21Dec2025
Sol: 6
Journalist Report Title (if applicable): Becoming Regulars on Martian Ground
Mars Trivia Question, answer at the end of the report:
Why does Mars appear red when viewed from Earth?
Sol 6 began quietly. We had spent the previous evening chatting, doing chores, and slowly drifting toward sleep, eventually deciding to skip movie night altogether in favor of rest. Sometimes the most Martian decision is choosing sleep. While we rested, our Commander planned the following day’s schedule, setting the tone for another purposeful sol.
Everyone woke up by 8:00 a.m. Today’s wake-up music was Simple As This by Jake Bugg, Adrianna’s favorite track, and the beat instantly lifted the mood. We gathered around the dining table and spent the morning catching up on emails, coding, writing reports, and planning project steps during the communications window. When the internet closed, the habitat shifted smoothly into EVA mode.
We reviewed the EVA route one final time and began preparations for EVA #7. Having been to Barrainca Butte earlier in the mission, the Commander kept me back to help guide the route. I love that we are already becoming familiar with these Martian paths, recognizing landmarks and terrain like locals.
Adrianna, Isabella, and I suited up and headed out right on schedule. It was sunny again, so I decided to skip FLIR imaging until after the EVA to save it for more optimal conditions. The rover ride took about 20 minutes, followed by a roughly one-mile walk to the base of the butte. The Commander advised us that the climb would be too steep and suggested collecting rocks from the base. But the three of us enjoy a challenge.
We decided to scout an alternate route. By circling behind the mountain and traversing horizontally across the mid-section, we found a viable path upward. Adrianna led, I followed, and Isabella brought up the rear. After climbing about a quarter of the route, we felt short of breath and paused to acclimatize. We continued upward slowly, driven by determination more than anything else. We experienced mild dizziness and the unmistakable strain of exertion, but we pushed on until we reached nearly three-quarters of the mountain.
We decided to stop there, prioritizing safety while still feeling deeply satisfied with how far we had come. Over the course of the climb, we ascended over 300 feet. From that point, we captured stunning photos of both ourselves and the surrounding landscape. Along the way, we collected visually interesting rocks from different layers of the mountain and carefully recorded longitude, latitude, elevation, and images so Cesare can analyze them for his geology project. Adrianna and Isabella also gathered valuable Garmin biometric data for their physiological study.
After returning to the habitat, I captured thermal images of the exterior of the habitat to support a comparative analysis with previous measurements. We then came inside and immediately refueled with leftover pizza, tuna, and saltines. The rest of the day moved at a slower pace. People took personal time, napped, chatted, and relaxed. It felt earned.
I spent some time in the science dome and ultimately decided to stop the RPM experiment for now, as the gears had loosened again. Tomorrow, I plan to take close-up images of the plants in different orientations and explore whether they can be transferred to the GreenHab for continued growth.
I volunteered to cook dinner and made Kichidi, an Indian comfort dish made with lentils, rice, vegetables, and simple spices. We had also run out of salt earlier, and mission control came through with a resupply, which felt like a major victory. Sometimes it is the smallest things that bring the biggest relief.
As the evening communications window opened, we gathered at the table to write reports, work on projects, and reconnect with the outside world. There is a quiet realization settling in now. We feel fully embedded in the MDRS routine. This habitat has become home. With less than a week remaining, time feels like it is accelerating.
Trivia Answer:
Mars appears red because its soil contains iron oxide, or rust, which reflects red light and gives the planet its distinctive color when viewed from Earth.
Sol 6 complete. Mars no longer feels unfamiliar. It feels lived in.