Month: February 2026

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Journalist Report – January 5th

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 05-01-2026
Sol: 7

Journalist Report Title: Orange Delight and Our Addiction
After another late-night of Terraforming Mars where the whole crew played and Keegan won yet again, we all finally went to bed before getting up for a busy day. We started this morning by getting up and eating apple cinnamon pancakes and preparing the rover for today’s EVA. Today, Keegan, Vindhya, and I drove to White Rock Canyon to try and collect more dirt samples. Although, due to high wind speeds not long after arriving we had to turn back, meaning we could not collect samples today. However, we are planning on going back another day. Also, during EVA Vindhya and I struggled with releasing the park break on Curiosity, however whenever Keegan gave it a try, he got it down with no problem. Vindhya and I are still confused about why we could not release the break and have chosen to believe Keegan has magic.
Once we got back to the hab we ate lunch and played some chess before taking some time to rest. The rest of the day was not very eventful. We all just ended up getting some work done and playing games before dinner. For dinner today we had orange chicken and rice. Now you may be asking yourself how we made orange chicken without oranges. Idris ended up using orange delight drink mix to make the sauce, our favorite drink. To be clear, that is sarcasm, no one except maybe Keegan is a fan of “the orange drink."
Today we have not played a round of Terraforming Mars, however our addiction to the game might get the better of us. More to come on that tomorrow. The rest of the evening will consist of us getting some more work done, playing games, including guessing everyone’s favorite songs, and hopefully an early night.

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GreenHab Report – January 5th

Report title: GreenHab Report
Crew #: 326
Position: GreenHab Officer
Report prepared by: Vindhya Ganti
Date: 1-5-2025
Sol: 8
Environmental control (fan & heater):
GH Fan Max: 80 degrees F
GH Fan Min 75 degrees F
Heating: 73 degrees F
Average temperatures (last 24h): 83.45 F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 96.3 degrees F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 70.6 degrees F
Hours of supplemental light: ON: 18:00 OFF: 20:00
Daily water usage for crops: 1 gallon
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: No
Water in the Tank (160 gal useful capacity): 149 gallons remaining
Time(s) of watering for crops: 15:30
Changes to crops: Replaced microgreen blackout lids with clear ones, since foliage has been found on both experimental groups.
Narrative: Sprayed liqui-grow onto vegetables, watered microgreens and plants. Massed microgreens prior to watering for data collection. 90% germination in the paper towel group, with the highest shoot being 2 centimeters. Vermiculite has over 50% germination, with most of the seeds being taller than the paper towel group.
Harvest:
Support/supplies needed: Microgreen SOP doesn’t cover protocol for transferring seeds from tray to soil. When should I do that? Additionally, the camera power cable is not in GreenHab, so while I’ve downloaded the app and everything, it can’t properly connect to the camera because it’s not turning on. Requested images of radish microgreen and setup are attached to this report.

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Sol Summary – January 5th

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Commander
Report prepared by: Keegan Chavez
Date: 05-01-2026
Sol: 8
Summary Title: Old Problems, New Games
Mission Status: Weather is impeding research progress, all other systems nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The Crew Commander poured some of the most symmetric apple cinnamon pancakes he has ever poured to prepare for the day. While the EVA for the day started well, weather conditions worsened and the team had to be recalled. It was better to play it safe in the unforgiving Martian environment. The crew has decided that potato soup is the best lunch and will be the primary option to finish off the mission. In the afternoon, the health and safety office taught the crew a new board game that became an instant favorite, Muehle. In the evening the crew engineer made delicious orange delight chicken and everyone settled in for a third round of whodunit.
Look Ahead Plan: The data collection that was planned for today had to be reallocated to Sol 12, the crew was already planning a return trip to White Rock Canyon. Tomorrow other projects should be moving ahead, including more samples collected for the brick making project and data collection for the RF mapping project.
Anomalies in work: High winds disrupting EVA operations
Weather: Partially cloudy, high winds
Crew Physical Status: Healthy and fit
EVA: Keegan, Daria and Vindhya left for White Rock Canyon to test the rover on a softer, more sandy terrain. The team made it to White Rock Canyon and began surveying the operation site before winds began to pick up. It was clear communication with CAPCOM was being compromised and Mission Support had reported high winds were expected before the end of EVA operation hours. The crew commander decided to have the EVA team return to base. Secondary objectives were accomplished, such as familiarizing the crew journalist with the region for a return trip and becoming comfortable with the operating range of the rovers.
Reports to be filed:
Sol Summary
GreenHab Report
Operations Report
Journalist Report
Daily Photos
EVA Report
EVA Request

Support Requested: None

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Operations Report – January 5th

Report title: Operations Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Engineer
Report prepared by: Iris Stevenson
Date: 05-01-2026
Sol: 8
Non-nominal systems:

  • Pressurized tunnels

Notes on non-nominal systems:

  • Many tunnel components had broken zip ties but were repaired by Crew Engineer. Main issue is a 6” rip along the junction to the Science Dome which has been temporarily repaired

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: YES
Hours: 298.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 59%
Currently charging: NO
Opportunity rover used: NO
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
Curiosity rover used: YES
Hours: 342.3
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 62%
Currently charging: NO
Perseverance rover used: NO
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
General notes on rovers:

Summary of Hab operations:
Water Use (see notes): 31.28 gal
Main tank level (remaining gallons, see notes): 176.7 gal
Main water tank pipe heater: ON
Main water tank heater: ON
Toilet tank emptied: NO
Summary of internet: Nominal
Summary of suits and radios: Radio communication interrupted by distance and inclement weather during EVA.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
Water use: 1 gal
Heater: ON
Supplemental light: 2 hrs, 1800-2000
Harvest: None
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Crew Scientist made more bricks with his own tools.
Dual split: Automatic
Summary of RAM operations: Zip ties and duct tape used to repair pressurized walkways.
Summary of any observatory issues:
Summary of health and safety issues:
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

  • Request for additional wide zip ties in RAM to repair eventual possible damage to pressurized tunnel system in coming days
  • Request for rovers Spirit and Curiosity to be plugged in
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Sol Summary – January 4th

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Commander
Report prepared by: Keegan Chavez
Date: 04-01-2026
Sol: 7
Summary Title: Back In Action
Mission Status: All operations nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Another quick breakfast of cereal and oats, the crew was a bit slower to rise this morning after a late-night Terraforming Mars game. Cloudy and foggy weather delayed the EVA again, but this time the crew was able to go out and perform a full EVA in the afternoon. Time spent at the Hab was filled with preparing the rover project for its next outing and supporting the RF project. Once the crew had returned to the Hab, the crew’s scientist immediately began the brick making process, which now needs to be split across 2 days to address power concerns. After a meal of very good Martian Chili, the crew enjoyed a more relaxed and quieter evening.
Look Ahead Plan: The crew scientist will continue the brick making process over the next couple evenings. The next EVA will give the rover team a chance to test the rover in a new environment. And the health and safety officer will look to evaluate data gathered on the last EVA and prepare for the next one.
Anomalies in work: Foggy and cloudy morning, fog cleared and partially cloudy in the afternoon
Weather: Partially cloudy, windy evening
Crew Physical Status: Healthy and fit, relaxed and in high spirits
EVA: Katharina, Ben, Idris and Armand were on EVA 8. Ben was investigating a new region to collect samples for his brick making project. One hard rock and one soft clay sample were collected from the region around Phobos Peak. Katharina ran into difficulties with the RF Mapping project early due to a mechanical failure of the antenna on the RF meter. With some guidance from the commander over CAPCOM and the steady hand of the crew engineer, she was still able to acquire good data from the area.
Reports to be filed:
Sol Summary
GreenHab Report
Operations Report
Journalist Report
Daily Photos
EVA Report
EVA Request

Support Requested: None

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Operations Report – January 4th

Report title: Operations Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Engineer
Report prepared by: Iris Stevenson
Date: 04-01-2026
Sol: 7
Non-nominal systems:
Notes on non-nominal systems:
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: NONFUNCTIONAL
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
Opportunity rover used: YES
Hours: 241.0 hr
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 70%
Currently charging: NO
Curiosity rover used: NOT AVAILABLE
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
Perseverance rover used: YES
Hours: 390.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 71%
Currently charging: NO
General notes on rovers:

Summary of Hab operations:
Water Use: 28.15 gal
Main tank level: 208.0 gal
Main water tank pipe heater: ON
Main water tank heater: ON
Toilet tank emptied: NO
Summary of internet: Nominal
Summary of suits and radios: Nominal
Summary of GreenHab operations:
Water use: 1 gal
Heater: ON
Supplemental light: 2 hrs, from 1800-2000
Harvest: basil, 2.71g
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Crew Journalist and GreenHab officer worked on their rover with their tools. Crew Scientist worked on his samples using the oven and his own tools.
Dual split: Automatic
Summary of RAM operations: Light bulb and package retrieved. Old light bulb placed in RAM.
Summary of any observatory issues:
Summary of health and safety issues:
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

  • Request for non-burnable kitchen trash and bathroom trash placed in RAM to be removed
  • Request for old light bulb in RAM to be removed
  • Request for Perseverance and Opportunity rovers to be plugged in to prepare for tomorrow’s EVAs
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GreenHab Report – January 4th

Report title: GreenHab Report
Crew #: 326
Position: GreenHab Officer
Report prepared by: Vindhya Ganti
Date: 1-4-2025
Sol: 7
Environmental control (fan & heater):
GH Fan Max: 80 degrees F
GH Fan Min 75 degrees F
Heating: 73 degrees F
Average temperatures (last 24h): 76.95 degree F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 83.7 degrees F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 70.2 degrees F
Hours of supplemental light:
ON: 18:00 OFF:20:00
Daily water usage for crops: 1 gallon
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: No
Water in the Tank (160 gal useful capacity): 150 gallons remaining
Time(s) of watering for crops: 11:30
Changes to crops: No changes
Narrative: Sprayed liqui-grow onto vegetables, watered microgreens and plants. Massed microgreens prior to watering for data collection. Now noticed 90% germination in the paper towel group, with the highest shoot being 1 centimeter. Vermicular remains at about 30% germination. Harvested Basil for dinner.
Harvest (include which crop and mass in grams): 2.71 grams of Basil harvested
Support/supplies needed: No supplies needed

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Journalist Report – January 4th

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 01-04-2026
Sol: 7

Journalist Report Title: Even More Terraforming Mars
After having a late-night game of Terraforming Mars Ben, Idris, Keegan, and I finally went to bed at 1:30 am just to wake up early again to get ready for an EVA. Today, Ben, Idris, Kathrina, and Armand went to Phobos’s Peak to collect samples and gather data. Ben was able to gather more samples for his bricks, Katharina was able to get more data points, and Armand was able to write down more observations.
While they were out on EVA, Vindhya did some work in the GreenHab and worked a little on the rover. When Vindhya came back to the hab I then went down to the Science Dome to work on the rover and will be working on it more tonight. Keegan stayed on comms the whole time the EVA was going on, and he helped Kathrina troubleshoot some issues she was having and prepared lunch. Later, Vindhya and Keegan prepared dinner, which was chili and rice.
The rest of the night will consist of working on our projects and playing games before going to bed early after an exhausting day.

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EVA Report – January 4th

Report title: EVA Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Biologist
Report prepared by: Armand Destin
Date: 04-01-2026
Sol: 7
EVA #: 8
Purpose of EVA: Testing of rf signal strengths for research. Geologic sample collection for brick construction, effects of harsh Martian environment on participants.
Start time: 12:00
End time: 16:00
Narrative: The team drove the rovers to the north part of Cow Dung Road and parked at Pooh’s Corner. The team progressed inland to make rf signal readings and collection geologic samples. After several readings and collections, the team went to Phobos Peak to do more research. More rf readings were made back at the rovers and the crew returned to the Hab.
Destination per MDRS Map: Phobos Peak (just north of it)
Destination Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4251000, E519500
EVA Participants: Armand Destin (Crew Biologist), Ben Huber (Crew Scientist), Katharina Guth (Health and Safety Officer), Idris Stevenson (Crew Engineer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive the rovers from the Hab and go north on Cow Dung Road and park at Pooh’s Corner. Walk to the north of Phobos Peak to the desired location.
Mode of travel: Walking and driving (Perseverance and Opportunity)

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