Category: Journalist Report

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 31-12-2025
Sol: 3

Journalist Report Title: New Years Eve

This morning, we woke up to the smell of French toast and coffee before starting our day. Today, Idris, Katharina, and Vindhya had an early EVA, so they all had time to work on their respective research out in the field. They took the rovers to Kissing Camel Ridge before climbing up so Idris could place her sensors. Once they climbed back down, they headed north so Vindhya could take photos of Kissing Camel Ridge for her identification system. Once they had completed all their tasks, they came back to the hab and took off all their gear before heading up to help finish the puzzle Keegan started.

We had all originally planned to eat lunch around this time, however we all got so invested in the puzzle we decided to wait. Eventually we got to a point where the puzzle was almost done that we took a break to get leftovers and make sandwiches for lunch with some questionable whole wheat bread. However, when finishing the puzzle we ran into a problem: there were multiple pieces missing. Thanks to Keegan and Katharina, though, the last pieces were found in the cabinet and we were able to finish the puzzle. After that we played a long game of BS before eventually parting ways to rest a bit before the busy night. During this time, I worked on making cinnamon raisin bread and a cake to ring in the new year.

While those were baking, Ben and I headed to the science dome to work on forming his bricks from the soil sample he collected yesterday. The rest of the night involves us working on our research projects, playing games, and celebrating the new year!

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 01-01-2026
Sol: 4
Journalist Report Title: Peanut Butter and The Salsa Saga
After a late night celebrating the new year we all took the morning to sleep and rest before starting the day. After a peaceful morning, we finished getting ourselves ready before preparing for the EVA of the day. On this EVA Idris, Katharina, and Armand went to conduct their respective research projects on Hab Ridge. Idris placed more sensors, Kathrina attempted to collect data but had issues, and Armand continued to record problems and how they were resolved while out on EVA. During the EVA the three of them took a break to rest and eat before coming back to the hab. During this time Ben, Keegan, Vindhya, and I were back at the hab doing work and playing games while monitoring them on EVA. However, when they were passing out these snacks all we could hear on the comms from Katharina was “Not the peanut butter. Not the peanut butter! ANYTHING BUT THE PEANUT BUTTER!” leading us to all be confused until we got an explanation later when they came back. What we found out was that Katharina was accidentally on channel one and Idris was trying to hand her a peanut butter bar and she doesn’t like peanut butter at all.
While back at the hab, we worked on our research projects and got done our daily responsibilities before playing some games. Ben was able to do a stress test on his bricks and collect data. Vindhya and I were able to finish the rover and are now going to begin collecting data on the sample collection capabilities tomorrow. Lastly, Keegan was able to finish scheduling the rest of the EVAs for this rotation. After we all finished our work, we sat down and played a few rounds of Clue before beginning dinner.
For dinner we decided to make taco bowls where we prepared something that was supposed to be tortilla chips to dip in some salsa, beans, rice, and we harvested lettuce. However, when opening a new jar of salsa, I spilled salsa all over the kitchen leading to getting out baby wipes and thoroughly cleaning the kitchen area. This event was deemed The Salsa Saga. After cleaning up we all sat down to finish our reports, plan out tomorrow, and play some more games before going to bed.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 01-02-2026
Sol: 5
Journalist Report Title: Terraforming Mars
For breakfast we had cinnamon and nutmeg pancakes before getting ready for the first EVA. The first EVA was going to be Ben, Armand, and Keegan going to Candor Chasma to collect more soil samples, however due to bad weather we decided to switch the EVAs. This means that Vindhya, Katharina, and I had to quickly get ourselves ready and all our equipment ready quickly and go on EVA. While on EVA Vindhya and I tried to collect data on the rover, although due to ports getting dirt in them, we could not connect the components correctly. For the rest of the time, we helped Kathrina collect data for her research project around the hab. Also, due to the bed weather the second EVA was cancelled.
While we were out on EVA, some people took showers, and once we got back we also took showers. I can now say the hab smells better. Also, during and after EVA people worked on their daily responsibilities. Later, Keegan, Ben, Idris, and I played Terraforming Mars for four hours before Keegan won the game by far with 99 points. Afterwards, we all went our separate ways and relaxed before working on our reports and making breakfast for dinner, which will include more pancakes and Spacon. The rest of the night will consist of eating dinner, working on projects, and hanging out before going to bed.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 01-03-2026
Sol: 6

Journalist Report Title: More Terraforming Mars

Today we woke up to foggy and cloudy weather which meant our EVA schedule was going to change. We had determined that the first EVA of the day was going to be cancelled and the second one would happen as planned. Until the EVA in the afternoon, we cleaned up the hab, read, worked on our projects, and then got Terraforming Mars out again. We played this until Ben and I had to go work on our projects. Once Ben had finished the next step of his brick making process and I had finished preparing the rover, we ate lunch. After lunch Keegan, Vindhya, and I got geared up for EVA. While out on EVA, Keegan placed two of Idris’ sensors around the hab and Vindhya and I found a spot to test the rover. While testing the rover, we found that testing on an inclined surface was more complicated than thought. This is because we would have to adjust the linear actuator as we went, so we went ahead and looked for flat areas to test. We ended up testing by the RAM, on the path towards the road, and near the science dome. We were able to collect samples and will collect data on them tomorrow.

While we were out on EVA, Ben and Idris worked on Ben’s research. Using the sample Ben collected on Hab Ridge, they formed more bricks to then be put in the oven. Once I had returned from EVA, I also put my samples in the oven with Ben’s formed bricks.

Once we were all done with working on our research for the time being, we finished our game of Terraforming Mars. In this last game Keegan won again but only by one point this time. We then began preparing dinner where we are going to have bean burgers with barbeque sauce and potato chips. After dinner we will clean up, work on our research projects, and play some more Murdle before heading to bed.

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.

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.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 06-01-2026
Sol: 9

Journalist Report Title: Martian Beef
This morning, we had pancakes before getting ready for the EVA. On EVA, Ben, Katharina, and Ben went to Candor Chasma to perform more research. Ben collected more samples, Katharina was able to collect more data on her signals, and Armand was able to write down more observations. While out on EVA they encountered “Martian” cows and collected a lot of cool rocks for all of us to admire when they got back.
Today was also shower day so Idris, Vindhya, Keegan, and I took showers while the others were out on EVA. During their EVA we also drank our fair share of hot chocolate, read, and made lunch. After lunch and more showers, we started another round of Terraforming Mars after not playing for a full 24 hours. To give us all a fighting chance Keegan is sitting this game out and giving us all advice on how to play. Throughout the game and day people have been working on their research and daily responsibilities.
For dinner we are having more potato soup and red lobster cheddar biscuits with garlic herb butter that doesn’t melt. After dinner we are going to make some potato chips before movie night and finish our game of Terraforming Mars.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 07-01-2026
Sol: 10

Journalist Report Title: “Flavor City”

Last night we watched Jurassic Park after frying a lot of food. I ended up frying potato chips, spam lite, cookie dough bites, and the left-over frying batter made using pancake mix. We moved the table out of the way and put the mattress we found in the loft on the ground, and all got cozy with our blankets and pillows and watched the movie on Keegans laptop. From what I heard, the movie was good, but yours truly fell asleep within the first 30 minutes. I also heard I was not the only one to fall asleep during the movie, but luckily most of us had already seen it.

This morning when we all got up, we ate oatmeal or chocolate milkshake frosted flakes. After breakfast we got ready to go on EVA so Katharina could collect more data and Vindhya and I could get more samples using the rover. We ended up heading back about two hours into the EVA, however, due to me having a bad headache. Despite that though we completed all mission goals.

Later at the hab Keegan, Armand, and Ben made rice and vegetable soup for lunch and hot drinks like hot cocoa and apple cider. After that Vindhya and I went to rest while the others played a round of Phase Ten. Our addiction to Terraforming Mars continues as Vindhya woke up in a panic thinking that we were playing Terraforming Mars without her.

After Phase Ten, the others worked on making mac and cheese with vegetables. I don’t know how this will turn out using essentially plastic cheese, but we have made weirder food, i.e. Orange Chicken with Orange Delight Drink Mix. We are all curious to see how this turns out tonight and if it works then maybe we will write the recipe for it.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 08-01-2026
Sol: 10
Journalist Report Title: Flapjacks
After a competitive game of Uno and Feculence Cranium we went to bed. Vindhya and I slept in to try and recover some before the EVA tomorrow. I am feeling much better but sadly Vindhya still needs some time to recover. Keegan, Ben, and Idris went up to Skyline Ridge to collect Idris’s sensors before the bad weather rolled in. Once they got back, we played another round of Terraforming Mars where Keegan and Armand came in first. However, Ben and I did come in second and we would have won if our gambling had paid off.
After the game we began cleaning up to prepare for our departure on Sol 13. From there a few of us read and relaxed while Keegan, Armand, and Ben played Wingspan. Once I had finished my book, I began dinner. For dinner we had a lot, and I mean a lot, of pancakes and some mashed potatoes.
For the rest of the comms window, we are all getting some work done to prepare for exiting sim and working on our reports. Later we plan on going to the observatory to look at the stars and we will probably play some more games before heading to bed.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Daria Bardus
Date: 09-01-2026
Sol: 12

Journalist Report Title: Our Final Sol on Mars

For our last night on Mars, we watched Jurassic World. I once again fell asleep during the movie only to wake up to the whole crew looming over me while standing in a circle. After that Idris made a velociraptor noise and we all went to bed. This morning, we ate pancakes before preparing for our final EVA. Today, Idris, Armand, Katharina, and I went to White Rock Canyon to gather some more data before writing our final research reports. Once I had finished collecting samples and in between Kathrina’s signals we all started dancing the Macarena and the HOT TO GO dance.

While we were out on EVA Ben, Keegan, and Vindhya worked on their reports and cleaning the hab. Once we got back, we ate lunch and then got to work on our reports. We also took final crew photos in our flight suits before continuing to get work done and showering before our first meal back on Earth.

Tonight, we are going to drive into Hanksville for dinner and then finish cleaning the hab and packing before going to bed. Tomorrow morning, we will finish cleaning the hab and packing our bedding before heading to Grand Junction to catch our flights home.