Category: Journalist Report

Crew 297 Journalist – David Laude

Our third EVA, taken this Sol 2 afternoon by three of the crew, was our first research project EVA. The purpose of the EVA was to perform the first EVA for the nuclear power project (no nuclear materials present). Nuclear electric power is vital for a human presence on Mars where there is little wind and solar energy to harvest. Mission support provided a simulated landing site for the mock garbage can sized nuclear power system. Matthew L., the EVA Crew Commander, Matt S. and Sean were given an approximate landing site via GPS coordinates, which was within 1000 feet from the actual location. However, due to a GPS unit malfunction, for a currently unknown (to our crew) reason, a few hours were spent in the wrong area. After the error was detected, and correct GPS coordinates were realized, the EVA crew quickly found it.

After being found, it was collected and a new simulated landing site was secretly selected and recorded for the next EVA crew to recover. Tomorrow, crew members Pawel, Dave and Sarah will have their chance to find the mock reactor.

EVA Crew Commander Matt is a 4th year PhD candidate at the University of Michigan, where he studies nuclear engineering. His academic research focuses on developing novel materials for advanced nuclear reactors and extreme conditions, as well as utilizing new methods to use machine learning in assisting electron microscopy material analysis. His PhD is supported by a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO), this is his first experience as an analog astronaut.

At the Hab Dave conducted the first test on his ultrasonic range finder device. It is to be used to measure distance from the top of a fluid tank to the liquid surface with the purpose of determining the amount of fluid left within the tank. It was used on the static tank and GreenHab tank where it successfully determined the distance. However, the tanks are nearly full and thus the test was very limited. Continued testing as water is being depleted will be required to calibrate and completely test it.

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo
SOL 10 started calmly since there was no EVA planned. Everyone could sleep enough to recover their energy and face the last sols to come. During the morning, the last crew members recorded their videos about their experiments at the MDRS for our social media and our collaborations. Again, our non-acting skills shone brighter than us, but we managed to have decent videos.
Loriane cooked meatballs with mashed potatoes for lunch, joining Imane in doing magic when cooking with lyophilized food. Right after, Maxime and Romain went on an EVA to explore and look for fossils. Under the hot sun, they climbed West Ridge and discovered that the ‘rocks’ they were walking on were actually fossilized shells! They collected some and then they could also find some fossilized wood. After that, they returned to the station and shared their discoveries with the rest of the team.
To conclude the sol, the team worked on the daily reports and prepared dinner before playing their new addiction: ‘undercover’. We will go to bed soon since tomorrow will be a busy sol!

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo

SOL 11 started with an EVA for the biomedical team performing Romain’s experiment manipulating the drone. Everything went well until the drone unexpectedly started to convulse in the middle of one of the maneuvers, but our team reacted fast and could save its life. Back at the station, we spent some time together, and again, we tried to convince Louis to allow us to have a fast body-shower since the simulation is almost done and our water consumption is sustainable. After lunch, the biomedical team concluded their sampling plan at the station, collecting the last blood and saliva and performing the last inflammatory cell count in blood. In the afternoon, there was a second EVA for Louis’ experiment and a little bit of exploration, in which the crew members loved the breathtaking views. The team is really happy about our simulation, we are not ready to leave Mars.

Crew 296 Crew Executive officer – Loriane Baes

A final morning EVA kicked off the simulation day. This EVA was dedicated to carrying out Romain’s drone experiment one last time. Directly following the EVA, there was a live broadcast with a major Spanish television channel where Alba could explain all the experiments and Mars living conditions. The team then crossed the main door together as a sign of the simulation’s end. It was a deeply emotional moment, with everyone feeling grateful to have experienced this unique journey. The team then split up, with the biomedical team heading to Grand Junction to send scientific samples. Meanwhile, the remaining crew members conducted a second live broadcast with the Mars Society Belgium before attending to various reports and final clean-up tasks. Upon the biomedical team’s return, the team gathered for a grand aperitif to celebrate the end of this journey.

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo

The sol started with an EVA by the biomedical team (Alba, Arnaud, Imane and Loriane) where the main goal was to explore and to make a reconnaissance of the Candor Chasma area for future EVAs. We took beautiful pictures and we had a little accident in which Arnaud got attacked by a space cactus. Our crew health and safety officer took good care of him and it was solved and disinfected successfully. Despite the inconvenience, everyone had a great time. Meanwhile, Louis spent some time in the RAM preparing some beacons for his experiment with his drone. Maxime took incredible pictures of the sun and made a beautiful composit image of it (we swear the sun looks exactly like that!). We are all very excited because there will be an eclipse tomorrow and Maxime will take care of everyone being able to see it and understand what is going on. It was a sampling sol for the biomedical team so, as previously done, blood and saliva collection, inflammatory cell count in blood and sample processing were performed in the science dome. We thank again our collaborator Dentognostics for providing us with the incredible ORALyzer and YourBio Health for the device used for blood collection. Also, we would like to thank the IREC, specially the LUNS department, for providing us with some of the material needed for the sample collection. On top of that, Centro Sur, and all the sponsors who joined us, for making this project possible. In the evening, we made some bread and enjoyed some time together. In the evening, we made some bread and enjoyed some time together. The rappers are back tonight, the show must go on on Mars.

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo

The sol started very early since it was scheduled to be a busy one. Two EVAs were planned for in the morning to continue with Romain’s experiment to do different maneuvers with the drone, followed by the TapStrap test to assess whether this device facilitates communication between crew members. Maxime has become addicted to making bread (and the rest of the crew to devour it). Around 12h, the crew went to the observatory to observe a beautiful solar eclipse which was taking place this sol, which makes it unique for us! After lunch, it was time to record some more videos for our social media and collaborators. There was time for half of the crew and we talked about the goal, methodology and importance of our experiments. We also made some videos to thank all our sponsors for their support on this mission, it would not have been possible without them! Then, some crew members practiced some sports while others were preparing dinner: it’s pizza night! Time flies, we are now more than halfway through the experience. We don’t want to leave Mars (except Louis, who counts the hours waiting to go for ribs and beers), we have made it our new home!

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo

The Sol started with a morning EVA with some of the crew members (Arnaud, Alba, Hippolyte and Louis) covering the Candor Chasma area for exploration. Louis performed a couple of automatic flights with his drone to make a reconnaissance of the zone for his experiment. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew worked on their own projects in the station. After lunch, there was a second EVA (Maxime and Loriane) to check on Maxime’s weather station and to explore different areas around North Ridge. In the station, the rest of the team played card games and rested a little bit, recovering some energy as the red planet is demanding a lot lately. Imane made some cakes, we cannot understand how this girl makes that magic with lyophilized resources. When the second expedition returned to the station, they shared some of the incredible pictures they took. Some people practiced sports and later, everyone worked on the daily reports together. A little team building activity is planned for the evening before having dinner and concluding the sol 9.

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo
Weather forecast was looking horrible today. During the morning, through the window, we could see a huge dust storm on the horizon! Maxime’s weather station survived (we still wonder how). The girls managed to wash their hair with less than 5L of water for the 3 of them. Washing hair never felt so good! Since the conditions were not ideal, we did not plan any EVAs for today. During the morning, we cleaned every module and worked on the mid-mission summary, to report how our experiments are advancing.

We had lunch together and after that, some crew members had some Spanish lessons, learning the basics of the language. They are already planning their future trip to Granada and cannot wait to practice their Spanish in the warm south of the country.

Early in the afternoon, we spent some time making different videos for our social media, our collaborations and for promoting space exploration and science. We laughed a lot behind the scenes, discovering our non-acting skills after needing 23 takes to get a ten seconds video. We are definitely not made for the camera but for drones, microscopes and research.

To finish the day, as usual, we worked on our daily reports and appreciated having more time to be relaxed and together as a team. We discussed our next steps for the weekend and had dinner together, looking forward to one more sol on Mars!

Crew 296 Journalist – Alba Sánchez Montalvo

This sol was expected to be windy in the afternoon, so half of the team (Maxime, Romain, Hippolyte and Loriane) went on an EVA early in the morning. The main goal was to repair Maxime’s weather station because of the strong wind we had in SOL 5 and to explore and discover some fossils. Meanwhile, the rest of the team worked on their projects at the station. The expedition returned to the station with some interesting stones and minerals to have a look at them under the microscope. Maxime could spot some water trapped in some of the minerals, looking cool! Imane cooked a delicious ‘chilli con carne’ and later, some crew members took a nap and some others played board games. We are getting better (not Alba) and more competitive at Shadow hunters. Arnaud, Loriane herself and Alba had their psychological consultations today, so only Hippolyte is missing and will attend to it tomorrow. The rest of the evening was chill, it was very windy and we stayed in the main hab and different modules working on our project.

Crew 296 Journalist report
By Alba Sanchez Montalvo

First day on Mars! This morning, the crew ATLAS had breakfast together after taking their probiotic/placebo treatment and prepared for their morning EVA which was mainly about drones. Half of the crew performed the baseline register for Romain’s experiment and learned how to do different manipulations with his drone. On the other hand, Louis started evaluating the surroundings for his experiment with his drone.
After lunch, Alba, Arnaud and Imane performed blood cell count in a few drops of blood and collected saliva from the crew members for their biomedical research. Right after that, in the afternoon, the other half of the team went on an EVA to do the baseline of Romain’s experiment. Once they were back to the station, Alba collected some blood from the crew members to extract serum and all crew members performed a salivary test for their studies. Maxime went into the Musk Observatory to learn more about how to use the instruments. The crew enjoyed a good time together at the science dome during the analysis.
Later, the crew came back to the main hab and they filled some forms for Loriane and Arnaud’s experiment on the psychological part of the simulation. To finish the day, the crew discussed their next steps and worked together on the daily reports.