Category: Journalist Report

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (22-02-2026)

Sol: 7

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : Full throttle toward the second week !

Today’s program : two extravehicular activities. Julien, Adèle and I went outside the station this morning, while Lou was acting as CapCom. The goal was to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments and to explore an area located farther from the station, called Compass Rock. In the first few minutes, we faced a communication issue as Adèle’s radio was not functioning properly. It took us time to identify a false contact between her headset and her radio and to find a solution, making us lose 30 minutes. My radio also broke halfway through the EVA for the exact same reason, but we were able to react faster. We didn’t have time to explore but we could successfully replace the batteries. When entering our spacesuit, we really feel like we are on Mars. We see through a window, our movements are restrained and we don’t hear any sound other than the words of our crewmates over the radio. When exiting the station, we immediately have a tunnel vision and must therefore be even more vigilant, because this is when mistakes can arise. Our radio is the only way to communicate and when it breaks down, on the Red planet, far from the station, we felt particularly lonely.

In the meantime, Célia could make her first observations using the solar telescope ! Until today, it was too windy to open the dome protecting it, but the weather conditions are finally ideal !

Félix worked with Gaspard on his botany project. The objectiive is to study the potential use of the resources coming from a confined space to improve the soil fertility. He uses a Rasperry Pi to monitor humidity, temperature and take pictures of the plants growing in the GreenHab.

This afternoon, Gaspard, Félix and Lou performed an EVA to move the atmospheric instruments west of Marble Ritual, where they will be more protected. Adèle acted as CapCom and we could test a new EVA protocol that we wrote after the morning EVA. The EVA team could exit and enter the station again without any problem.

Later in the afternoon, Félix, Célia and I went to the GreenHab to water the plants and Félix showed us hier his germinating broccoli microgreens. Adèle, Gaspard and Julien went to the Science Dome to complete sessions for the Orbital Architecture and NeuroErgonomics experiments. Lou kept 3D printing components of the SupaeroMoon rover.

We are waiting for the communication window, completing our daily questionnaires. Tomorrow, if the weather is favorable, we will use the Parrot drone to start building a 3D map of the Red planet.

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (23-02-2026)

Sol: 8

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : First step far from the station

Soon after waking up, we started the day with an upper body strengthening session organized by Adèle. Then, it was time for Célia, Lou and I to leave for a photogrammetry EVA. The objective was to head to Compass Rock to set up way points and take pictures with the ANAFI AI drone from Parrot. These pictures will allow us to create a 3D map of the site. We will then organize orienteering EVAs, where two teams will have to look for checkpoints, after going through a different training. One team will have access to the 3D map, while the other team will only use a 2D map. We will compare their efficiency. The first team will be composed of Adèle and Gaspard, studying the 2D map, while Félix and Julien will have access to the 3D map. It was the first time that we could go as far and we were amazed by the views offered to us. We really felt like we were exploring a new world !

During this time, Felix was acting as CapCom of the EVA and continued working on his botanist project with Gaspard. He set up the webcam and prepared the python script for the Raspberry Pi. Julien is working on a paper for a conference in Munich that will take place in April : the SSEA. It is about the scientific mediation that we have done in primary, middle and high schools during our year of preparation and our mission.

Today, Adèle has also started to do interview with Gaspard, Félix, Julien and Lou. As an HSO (Health and Safety Officer), she makes sure that everyone feels good. These moments allow us to have a one-on-one discussion, which is rare in such a small space. Our rooms are 4 m² and the HAB (our main habitat) is 8m in diameter and is divided into 2 floors and a mezzanine. So we spend most of our time in a small space, and being able to meet in small numbers is critical to be able to confide in each other.

This afternoon, Gaspard tried to make distilled water for the GreenHab but the
equipment was not suitable. Célia went to the observatory but the dome had a
problem and no longer opened.

Felix, Celia and Lou had a session of the NeuroErgonomics experiment and Adèle and I had a session for Orbital Architecture. These are two human factors experiments where the tasks we have to perform are similar. In both cases, the objective is to study how confinement impacts our cognitive skills and it is therefore interesting to carry them out during analog missions.

Tomorrow, Adèle, Félix and Julien will go even farther on the Red Planet.

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (24-02-2026)

Sol: 9

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : Cowboy Corner

Today, the goal was to explore this new planet! Félix, Adèle and Julien did an EVA at Cowboy Corner towards Tharsis Montes. Before that, they stopped by Marble Ritual to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments. It is a task that we have to conduct every 2 days. After a 15 minutes drive with the rovers, they were able to explore new landscapes. They walked 1 kilometer and the field was more difficult than the other EVA. Spacesuits were cumbersome and long walks were exhausting with all the equipment to carry on. But it offers awesome view on this new planet where every day we are taking a step forward, getting to know her better !

Meanwhile, Gaspard, Lou and I started to create the 3D map for the photogrammetry experiment. Yesterday, we took photos of the area and today we could create a first map which will be used this week for the orientation races. Célia was CapCom for the EVA, but for the solar observations, there were some issues with the opening of the dome. We hope that we will fix that in the following days ! Instead, she did some treatments for her nocturnal observations.

This afternoon, we took a little break because the morning was quite intense. Afterwards, we had an HSO brief from Adèle to discuss all together about everything we felt during the first week of the mission. We then went back to our respective daily tasks. Adèle and I also had a NeuroErgo session.

Lou kept working on her AirLock project to enhance the fidelity of our simulation. For now, the countdown for the decompression starts when we go out of the station, but not when we come back because the sensors were only installed on the inside door of the airlock. This afternoon she made the sensors for the outside door.

Félix and Célia planted the broccoli microgreens that they prepared together last week. Microgreens are seeds that grow very rapidly, from which we will eat the leaves and the remains of the seed. They have a strong taste and will nicely enhance our meals. Our mission lasts a full month et we will be able to follow the full life cycle of the sprouts.

Tonight, we will plant the flowers seed that Félix prepared for us!

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (25-02-2026)

Sol: 10

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : Mars as far as the eye can see

We woke up with a dance session prepared by Adèle and Lou. We started with 20 minutes of Just Dance and then we followed a Bachata class from Lou.

Today, we kept on exploring ! This time, Lou, Célia and Gaspard went in the direction of Kissing Camel Ridge. They were able to bring the PARROT drone to take some beautiful videos from the base, the rovers and their exploration by foot. Once again, they discovered new landscapes before their amazed eyes. Coming back from the EVA, Gaspard told us : “You can witness Mars as far as the eye can see, there is no sign of life there”.

Meanwhile, Julien went to the Science Dome to perform an Orbital Architecture session and Félix planted the radishes and worked on his RaspBerry Pi. Adèle prepared her next HSO briefs: we will keep on practicing with the tools that can help and guide us for our introspection and relationship with others. In the context of isolation, our social interactions are limited to those we have inside the crew. It is very important to keep working and informing ourselves on Non Violent Communication. Whether it is in our everyday life, but even more while we are on a mission like this one, having tools that allow us to learn more about ourselves strengthens our connexion with others. This guarantees a healthy climate in the station, where the needs and limits of everyone are fully respected.

In the beginning of the afternoon, we did a team brief for the preparation of the mid-mission video. We are going to film a short movie about what we are living and the experiments we are conducting.

Adèle then went to the Science Dome to install the NeuroErgo experiment, so that Julien and Gaspard could then perform their sessions. With Célia, we went to the observatory to identify why the roof refuses to open, preventing any solar observation for the last 3 sols. After testing the voltage of the batteries, we detected an issue on a mechanical stop for the opening mechanism.

In the end of the afternoon, Lou and I finalized the preparation of the Photogrammetry experiment. Tomorrow, a first team will leave with the 2D version of the map to do the orienteering race we prepared on Sol 9.

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (26-02-2026)

Sol: 11

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : Finding the North without magnetic field

Last night, Félix organized an activity in the GreenHab. Everyone was able to plant flower seeds in their pots. If everything goes well, they will sprout out of the ground in 2 days and will have grown in 15 days.

This morning, Adèle organized a cardio session. After that, it was EVA orienteering for the team with the 2D map: Adèle and Gaspard. I went with them to organize the race, take photos and videos with the drone. Before leaving, they had a preparation time to preview the positions of the beacons on the 2D map. Then, we moved by rover to Compass Rock and we went to the starting point of the race by foot. We started the stopwatch and Gaspard and Adèle were able to begin the race. In 30 minutes, they found 5 beacons out of 8, which gave them 5 letters that form a word. They managed to guess it. The outing was very physical, it was very hot, and we returned exhausted. Tomorrow, the team with the 3D map will do the same race and we will compare their results.

Meanwhile, Julien, Célia, and Félix worked on writing abstracts and an article. An abstract is a summary that allows proposing a scientific publication on an experiment or aspect of our mission at the occasion of a conference. Célia and Félix started writing an abstract about the Lab’Ex experiment for the IAC. Julien almost finished writing an article on our scientific mediation activities he will present at the SSEA conference in Munich in April.

This afternoon, Félix worked on his botanist project. He prepared the pots that will host micro sprouts of watercress. His Raspberry is programmed to automatically take measurements of temperature, humidity, and light.

Gaspard, Lou, and Célia continued working on the repair of the opening mechanism of the observatory and started building a new limit mechanism. They were almost able to install it, and Célia will be able to make solar observations tomorrow!

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (27-02-2026)

Sol: 12

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : The Sun from Mars

Last night, Adèle organized a meditation session. Once seated in the mezzanine of the HAB, she guided us through what is called a body scan, which allows us to become aware and relax the entire body.

Gaspard first gave us a quick briefing on the last day before the weekend. We then had a session of muscle strengthening to start the day. The entire crew is going on an EVA for photogrammetry this week, and today it was the team’s turn with the 3D map to go on an orienteering race. One of the difficulties on Mars is to be able to identify accessible areas. Mars remains a hostile environment, and being able to map it before sending humans there could be very useful. Using the 3D map, Julien and Félix, accompanied by Lou who was leading the race, managed to find 6 out of 8 beacons.

A busy morning for the rest of the crew. Adèle had a session of Orbital Architecture and prepared a HSO briefing for the afternoon.

Since she couldn’t open the observatory since the beginning of the mission, Célia was happy to observe solar activity. When the sun becomes active, solar flares appear. One of her goals is the automatic identification of these flares because there is a hypothesis that they would be correlated with solar eruptions. Astronauts heading to Mars, having left the Earth’s magnetic field, would no longer be protected from radiation, so it is important to predict solar activity to ensure their safety.

Knowing that the mission is approaching its halfway point, we have been filming all day for the mid-mission video.

This afternoon, Félix continued working on the botanical project. He was able to prepare different substrates in which he will compare the growth of cress shoots. The objective is to identify what would be the most interesting to use in a context where resources are limited.

Tomorrow is a rest day for the Crew 330, and we will be able to rest tonight to be prepare for the other half of the mission.

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (28-02-2026)

Sol: 13

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : At the dawn of the second half of the mission

SOL 13 was a rest day for us. Every week, Saturday is free, and we can rest before starting a new week. Everyone did activities to relax. Some read or wrote, and others did sports.
Today was the deadline for the abstracts of the IAC, and we submitted two abstracts: one on the Lab’Ex that Célia renamed the Géol’Ex, and one on a documentary that we are preparing and will be broadcast at the Cité de l’Espace in June. Julien also submitted his article for the SSEA conference in Munich in April about all the scientific mediation we did. After that, Gaspard prepared some bread for burgers that we will eat tonight. Gaspard, Lou, Célia, and Félix played a board game with several enigmas accessible after completing a puzzle.
In the afternoon, we watched a movie in the mezzanine of the HAB while some did crocheting, Brazilian bracelets, or necklaces.
Tonight, it’s burger on the menu! We will also play board games to wrap up this rest day nicely.
Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the second half of the mission!

Report title: Journalist Report

Crew #: 330

Position: Journalist

Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac

Date: (01-03-2026)

Sol: 14

Journalist Report Title (if applicable) : midway of the mission

Today, Célia, Gaspard, and Julien went on an EVA to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments. This is a task we have to do every two days. This is the fastest record, they returned in 38 minutes and brought back food rations that will allow us to last until the end of the mission. Meanwhile, Lou solved some plumbing problems, and Adèle and I did some editing for the mid-mission video.

In the early afternoon, we built necklaces with wire, rope, and rocks that we collected during the EVA. Adèle and Lou then did a session of pilates to strengthen their lower body and abdominal muscles. Felix went to the GreenHab to continue installing his botanical project and was joined by Adèle and Gaspard. He was able to launch his Raspberry Pi, which will automatically monitor different measurements to track the growth of his micro-lettuce sprouts in different environments.
Julien wrote the scientific mid-mission report that summarizes the progress of the fifteen experiments we are bringing this year. He also had sessions on Orbital Architecture and Neuro Ergonomics.

With Célia and Lou, we did video editing all afternoon. And we will do more tomorrow.
Lou also printed the beginning of a chess game that high school students from Prades in the modeling and 3D prototyping stream modeled. During a scientific mediation intervention, Lou and Julien had proposed to them to create game designs that we print in the station.

We have reached SOL 14 and we are ready to start tomorrow the second part of our mission! See you tomorrow for the continuation of the adventure of crew 330!

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.