Month: February 2026

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Saranya Ravva
Date: 22Dec2025
Sol: 7

Journalist Report Title:
Finding Calm on a Demanding Planet

Mars Trivia Question, answer at the end of the report:
How many moons does Mars have?

Sol 7 began where Sol 6 ended, with a late-night movie. We closed the evening watching Shutter Island, a mystery thriller movie filled with tension, striking cinematography, and just enough intensity to ensure we all knocked ourselves out soon after, or perhaps the other way around.

We woke up to one of Isabella’s favorite soundtracks, Good Days by SZA and Adrianna picked it from Cesare’s downloaded playlist and decided to keep it simple with the good old cereal. As usual, we gathered around the dining table during the communications window, catching up on work, filling out applications, and sharing stories while listening to music. At this point, starting the day together like this has become a habit. We know our roles, our rhythms, and how to ease into the sol as a crew.

Soon enough, it was time to prepare for EVA #8. Today’s destination was Sea of Shells, also known as The Moon, a site rich in geological history. Ellenah headed out to collect more data for her solar panel and circuit experiments. Morgan focused on his telecommunications project, timing how quickly he could dig a trench, assemble cables, disassemble them, and restore the terrain. Cesare collected geology samples, and this site quickly proved to be one of the most exciting locations so far. The area contains a wide variety of ancient seashell fossils, estimated to be about 70 million years old, along with gypsum deposits, placing us firmly in a Jurassic-era landscape.

Once Ellenah completed her measurements, she shared that the landscape felt strikingly lunar. She took a moment to sit, reflect, and meditate, describing how the environment cleared her head and left her feeling calm and rejuvenated. Morgan later summed up the EVA with his characteristically precise assessment, calling it “most excellent,” which carries serious weight coming from him. Cesare even mentioned that he would like to rearrange upcoming EVAs to include another return to this location.

Back at the habitat, Adrianna served as HabCom for the first time. We walked her through radio channels and procedures, and she handled the role smoothly. Inside, I documented the different orientations of the seeds germinated in petri dishes for my RPM project and transferred them into the GreenHab. Once the communications window opens again, I plan to explore ways to integrate them into our garden setup.

Isabella and Adrianna spent time cozying up into the bean bags, transforming them into the perfect hybrid space for productive work and relaxation. I fully approve, as they have become one of my favorite places to write journalist reports. When the EVA crew returned, we collectively decided that the afternoon called for a movie. On a planet this demanding, rest is part of survival. We watched Shrek, which, surprisingly, was my first time seeing it. I found it wholesome and comforting, especially as I quietly started building the surprise Lego Christmas tree I had brought for the crew. It felt like the perfect addition to our growing list of small holiday surprises.

Then everyone took some personal downtime. I volunteered to help with dinner alongside Adrianna. Together, we cooked a meal that quickly filled the habitat with warmth and good smells. We made soy-glazed tofu using soy sauce, syrup, and lemon juice, loved the sauce so much that we used it to dress dehydrated vegetables and chicken as well, and served everything over rice making it a nice Chinese stir fry and adding to the variety of cuisines we are cooking up on this mars kitchen.

As the evening communications window opened, we gathered once again around the table, writing reports, planning our next EVA, and catching up on pending work while the internet allowed. We decided to eat until our hearts, and stomachs, were full and planned for more meal ideas for our upcoming sols. There is a quiet sense of contentment settling in now. We are deep into the mission, comfortable in our routines, and increasingly aware of how quickly this time is passing.

Trivia Answer:
Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. They are small, irregularly shaped natural satellites with low gravity, likely formed from re-accreted debris following an ancient impact rather than from a single large collision like Earth’s Moon.

Sol 7 complete. Mars feels steady, reflective, and quietly grounding.

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.