Author: jburk

Posted on

Journalist Report – <date – October 20th>

Journalist Report
Crew 319
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Mackenzie Calle
Date: 20-10-2025
Sol: 8

Report from Sol 8

Reporting from Sol 8 10.20.25 17:50PM

Crew 319 enjoyed a more restful Sunday evening and caught up on some sleep before heading out on two, three-hour EVAs today, the longest we have achieved so far. EVA Crew 1 with Commander Rym Chaid and Crew Scientist Shriya Musuku took Perseverance Rover to the dinosaur quarry at the Gateway to Lith to explore the terrain before collecting mineral samples at Cowboy Corner, including some surprise pieces of what appears to be quartz. EVA Crew 2 with Crew Engineer Ricardo J. Gonzalez and Crew Journalist Mackenzie Calle took Opportunity Rover for its first EVA of our mission and headed to Somerville Overlook and were astounded at the views of the canyons and plateaus that we could see for miles. They also collected many geological samples, especially those that had crystalline and botryoidal structures. We noticed a strong sprinkling of red rock amongst the soft clay. The marbling in the canyon plateaus was also very strong.

The two EVAs were very productive and encouraging for both crews.

Posted on

Journalist Report – <date – November 3rd>

Journalist Report
Crew 321
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Yishan Lee and Dianea Phillips
Date: 03-11-2025
Sol: 0

Report from Sol 0

The morning started with an assorted pancake breakfast with coffee prepared by Commander Jen and consumed by the crew at 08:30-09:00. This was followed by Mandatory Training with Station Manager Anderson at 09:00 on the following topics: SAFETY, power and conservation, maintain clean facilities, trash systems, water conservation, safety equipment, bathroom and shower use, comms usage, facility tours, sim procedures (airlock, EVA prep, EVA comms, maps, rovers). We conducted rover training that included group photos before returning to the hab to conclude the training.

At lunch time, Crewmember Jake prepared a tuna salad sandwich for the crew while Commander Jen was on a quest to pick up items in town. The crew decided on a meal prep and journal entry duty schedule, which was recorded on an iPad by Crewmember Parker. Crewmembers Jake and Alex participated in a rapid game of “ninja, hunter, and bear” to determine who would pick up the final journal entry duty. Crewmember Alex succeeded with dodging the duty. Crewmember Parker took the entire crew in his truck to visit the dinosaur quarry. We also picked up pieces of shiny gypsums on the drive back to the hab for our 15:00 program training with Commander Jen.

At a little after 15:00, we reunited with Commander Jen back at the hab, where we discussed the missions of the Spaceward Bound Utah program with the emphasis on sims, science, and education. We discussed and agreed upon norms for the sims. Safety comes first. Commander Jen briefed us on the geologic history of Mars: Pre-Noachian, Noachian, Hesperian, and Amazonian (modern). We were briefed on the rock samples we will be looking for during our EVAs. EVA 1: Gypsum, Sandstone, Sandstone Blueberry; EVA 2: Basalt, Breccia, Petrified wood as analog for sulfur. After the EVA sessions, we will have time to put together videos/materials for our students. This evening, crewmembers will prepare their own crew bios that include a photo and 3-4 sentences about themselves to be sent to Commander Jen via email. We are looking forward to a delicious baked potato dinner prepared by crewmember Jake. Tomorrow, we will wake up on Mars!!!

Posted on

Supplemental Operations Report 01Nov2025

[title Supplemental Operations Report – Nov 1st]

Date: 11/1/2025
Name of person filing report: Anderson Wilder
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Crew car. Power system battery, inverters. HAB outer shell.

Power system: Kohler generator replaced on 10/30 with new Generac generator. 25h break in maintenance performed on 11/1.
1) 25 hr maintenance (including oil, oil filter, and air filter change) conducted on 11/1.
2) Current generator hours – 68.

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 85%
Director Tank: 80%
Intern Tank: 77%
Generator Tank: 60%
Propane refilled on 10/27/2025.

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 550 gallons (above safety level 130 gallons)
GreenHab – 220 gallons (above safety level 60 gallons)
Outpost tank – 450 gallons
Septic Tanks emptied: Yes on 10/20/2025

Rovers:
Sojourner rover used: No.
Hours: 221.0
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: _ %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: Rovers maintenance done on 10/03/25.

Cars:
Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies, Loa for maintenance
Crew Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
General notes and comments: Crew car driver’s side front ball joint is bad. HAB car routine maintenance completed on 31 Oct.

Summary of Internet: Nominal.
EVA suits and radios:
Suits: Nominal.
Comms: Nominal.
T-Echo EVA-link: Nominal.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Reinstalled tunnel tarp tie downs after previous wind incursions.
Summary of Hab Operations: Nominal
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Nominal
Summary of SciDome Operations: Nominal.
Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory failing to open. Motors are turning on, but there’s no movement. Working with Peter on next steps.
Summary of RAM Operations: Cleaned. Nominal.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Nominal.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nominal.

Posted on

Supplemental Operations Report – October 25th

Date: 10/25/2025
Name of person filing report: Ben Stanley
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Crew car. Power system battery, inverters, generator. Hab outer shell.

Power system:
Generator burning about 1/2 qt/day oil; refills required accordingly.
No changes to batteries or slave inverters observed.
1) 100 hr maintenance (including oil and oil filter change) conducted on 10/22.
2) Current generator hours – 10463.5.

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 75%
Director Tank: 51%
Intern Tank: 64%
Generator Tank: 40%

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 550 gallons (above safety level 130 gallons)
GreenHab – 200 gallons (above safety level 60 gallons)
Outpost tank – 550 gallons
Septic Tanks emptied: Yes on 10/20/2025

Rovers:
Sojourner rover used: Yes to chase off tourists.
Hours: 221.0
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: _ %
Currently Charging: Yes

Cars:
Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
Crew Car used and why, where: To Hanksville, Grand Junction for supplies.
General notes and comments: Crew car driver’s side front ball joint is bad. HAB car maintenance is pending.

Summary of Internet: Nominal.

EVA suits and radios:
Suits: Nominal.
Comms: Nominal.
T-Echo EVA-link: Some t-echo devices malfunctioning. Planning to troubleshoot this week.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Nominal.
Summary of Hab Operations: Nominal.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Nominal.
Summary of SciDome Operations: Nominal.

Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory failing to open. Motors are turning on, but there’s no movement. Waiting to hear from Peter Detterline regarding next steps.

Summary of RAM Operations: Nominal.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Director’s trailer furnace repaired and functioning properly.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nominal.

Posted on

Journalist Report – <date – October 23rd>

Journalist Report
Crew 319
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Mackenzie Calle
Date: 23-10-2025
Sol: 11

Report from Sol 11

Reporting from Sol 11 10.23.25 20:21

Today was our last full Sol on Mars! It’s hard to believe that our mission is almost over. Crew 319 is feeling nostalgic more than anything. This mission with the WBA has been over a year in the making and the constant on all of our horizons. It’s bittersweet that it is coming to an end but we are all so grateful to have been a part of this journey and this historic mission.

While we have been on Mars, we have only had real time communication with Martian Mission Support. But that changed this morning when we were able to speak live to another Martian crew at Monsaraz Mars Analog Station. It was so exciting to hear about their past two weeks and being the first ever mission at their habitat. What they have created in such a short period of time is inspiring. They took us on a virtual tour of their hab and then we showed them around MDRS. We saw their superhero-like black spacesuits, a drone video of a night EVA, and got to put faces to many familiar names.

The rest of our day has been busy with getting the station in order before our simulation ends, capturing final media, doing surveys and reports, and reflecting about our experiences.

Signing off from Crew 319. Ad astra.

Posted on

GreenHab Report – <date – October 23rd>

Green Hab Report
Crew #319
Position: Crew Journalist & Green Hab Officer
Report prepared by: Mackenzie Calle
Date: 23-10-2025
Sol: 11

Environmental control (fan & heater): Fan min 75F, max 80F
Average temperatures (last 24h):
Maximum temperature (last 24h):
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 60.8F
Hours of supplemental light: 0
Daily water usage for crops: 0.1 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 2 gallons
Water in the Tank (160 gal useful capacity): __159___ gallons remaining (System last updated 44 minutes ago and we used about 2 gallons of water in the last 30 minutes)
Time(s) of watering for crops: 0
Changes to crops: Spaceseed microgreens partially wilted
Soil Moisture Level: 9.2 (Average of five points, one on each corner and center)

Green Hab Officer unfortunately arrived at the Green Hab this morning to find the Spaceseed microgreens partially wilted. They had been growing stronger every day but either too much time was allowed or a temperature fluctuation has now made them inedible.

Posted on

Operations Report – <date – October 23rd>

Report title: Operations Report
Crew #: 319
Position: Crew Engineer
Report prepared by: Ricardo Javier Gonzalez
Date: 23-10-2025
Sol: 11

NON-NOMINAL SYSTEMS

Non-nominal systems:
Nothing to report

Notes on non-nominal systems:
Nothing to report

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: N/A

General notes on rovers:
All other rovers nominal.

CAMPUS

Summary of Hab operations:
Water Use (see notes): 24.62 gal/d
Main tank level (remaining gallons, see notes): 177 gal (42.5%)
Static tank pipe heater (ON or OFF) (Orange cable): ON
Static tank heater (ON or OFF) (Black cable): ON
Toilet tank emptied (NO or YES): Yes

Summary of internet:
Nothing to report

Summary of suits and radios:
Suits – all suits are nominal.
Radios – all radios are nominal

Summary of GreenHab operations:
Water use: 0.1 gal
Heater (ON or OFF): ON
Supplemental light (hours of operation): 0 hrs
Harvest (name, weight in grams): N/A

Summary of ScienceDome operations:
Crew Scientist completed some so observations of the scorpion invader that we found in the lower hab
Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off or Automatic): OFF

Summary of RAM operations:
Nothing to Report

Summary of any observatory issues:
Nothing to Report

Summary of health and safety issues:
HSO reported all crew safe and all Health Equipment to be intact

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:
N/A

Posted on

Sol Summary – <date – October 23rd>

Report title: Sol 11 Summary Report
Crew #: 319
Position: Mission Commander
Report prepared by: Rym Y. Chaid
Date: 23-10-2025
Sol: 11

Summary Title: Return to our Mothership: Planet Earth!

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

This is Commander Rym Y. Chaid transmitting from Mars Desert Research Station.

Today marked our final Sol on Mars. Tomorrow, we will egress the station and return to our home planet: Earth. It’s a strange feeling to prepare for departure from a place that, in so little time, began to feel like its own small world.

Our crew spent the day fully immersed in end-of-mission operations. We completed all remaining inventories, organized and cleaned the habitat, and worked on finalizing our reports for submission to Mission Control Center. Every checklist was reviewed carefully, every item accounted for. The station that has carried us through this extraordinary journey now stands ready for the next crew who will continue what we began.

Along with our crew, I also spent the day conducting my final interviews and recording the closing scenes for my documentary film, capturing the last glimpses of life inside our Mars base and the voices of a crew that lived, worked, and grew together in this unique mission.

As our Mission on Mars came to a close, we took time to sit together and reflect on what this time here has meant to us, as explorers, as crewmates, and as individuals. We spoke about the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and the small victories that made this mission unforgettable. We leave Mars with a deeper appreciation for one another and for the experience that shaped us as the Ares I Crew of the WBA Mars Maiden Voyage.

Our focus begins to shift toward the return to Earth. We know the transition will take time, adjusting from the novelty of Mars to the familiar pace of home, but we carry with us the knowledge, memories, and spirit that this mission has given us.

Tomorrow, we leave this red world behind. Tonight, we rest as one crew, grateful, proud, and ready for what comes next.

End Transmission.

Commander Rym Y. Chaid

Anomalies in work: None.
Crew Physical Status: All Crew in Good Health.
EVA: None.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Greenhab Report, Operations Report. EVA Reports.
Support Requested: None at this time.

Posted on

Sol Summary – <date – October 22nd>

Report title: Sol 10 Summary Report
Crew #: 319
Position: Crew Engineer
Report prepared by: Ricardo J. Gonzalez
Date: 22-10-2025
Sol: 10

Summary Title:

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

This is Crew Engineer Ricardo J. Gonzalez transmitting from Mars Desert Research Station.

Today, the crew woke up to prepare for their last set of EVAs for our historic mission. Commander – Rym Chaid and Crew Engineer – Ricardo Gonzalez were part of the morning EVA crew that embarked on a far journey to Green Mars View. The morning was a crisp, cool one filled with sunshine and excitement as they were conducting the longest distance EVA yet. When the crew arrived at the destination, they were met with a stunning view of deep canyons, with green flat lands and a river at the bottom! At the site, the EVA crew collected a variety of geological samples and captured marvelous images of all the landmarks in view, close and far. They even got to see Martian chipmunks! After some moments of appreciation over the beautiful views of their last EVA, they safely made their way back to MDRS.

The afternoon EVA was led by Crew Scientist – Shriya Musuku and Crew Journalist – Mackenzie Calle with another long journey to the Sea of Shells! They left MDRS in great spirits and in warmer weather conditions. About halfway to their destination, HABCOM and Mission Support realized that they were not tracking them via the EVA Link technology. After some troubleshooting, the crew proceeded to their EVA destination through narrow and winding roads. When they arrived, they were met with breathtaking views. After collecting their samples and taking a plethora of photos, they stood and appreciated the beauty of the vast landscape before proceeding back to MDRS

All crew made it back to MDRS safely and in good spirits to end their last set of EVAs.

End Transmission.

Crew Engineer – Ricardo J. Gonzalez

Anomalies in work: None.
Crew Physical Status: All Crew in Good Health.
EVA: 2 EVAs. One in the morning – exploration of Green Mars Views, and one in the afternoon – exploration of Sea of Shells
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Greenhab Report, Operations Report. EVA Reports.
Support Requested: None at this time.

Copyright © The Mars Society. All rights reserved. | Main Site