Category: Journalist Report

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 330
Position: Journalist
Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac
Date: 12-03-2026
Sol: 25

Journalist Report Title: SOL-1

This morning, Adèle organized a yoga session for us upon waking up. After that, we were ready to begin our last full day of simulation. Tomorrow in the late afternoon, our mission will come to an end, and we will be able to go out without a suit.

Julien, Lou, and Gaspard worked on the SupaeroMoon rover because we had planned to retest it this afternoon. Yesterday, Julien, Lou, and I did an EVA to try to launch its functionalities, but we did not succeed in connecting it with the computer. This morning, we finally succeeded in making it work in the station and decided to take it in the afternoon on an EVA. It was Célia, Adèle, Félix, and Julien who participated in the last extravehicular outing of our mission. The first step of the EVA was to go get the atmospheric instruments that we had installed at SOL 4. After that, they were able to connect the rover and, for its functionalities, we succeeded in making it move, move its robotic arm, and weigh rocks. It is therefore a real success and we thank the SupaeroMoon team for entrusting us for two years with their entirely 3D-printable rover project.

Lou prepared a 3D printer which will be useful for next year’s MDRS crew.

Adèle and Gaspard continued to do the assessment of the mission. It is an important report to present what we have done during these 26 sols of simulation. It reviews our mission objectives and what we succeeded in accomplishing.

All day long, we continued to film our activities in the station. We did the interview with Lou, presented our management of water and resources. Félix made a vlog of the use of the greenhouse by presenting what he grows there and his botanist project. In the late afternoon, Célia presented how a solar observation takes place.

In the late afternoon, we were able to play chess with the set that the students of the high school of Prades in the specialization of 3D modeling and prototyping designed for us. We were also able to use a sound amplifier that they also modeled. We thank them for their investment in our mission!

Tomorrow will already ring the end of our mission, and we have a busy schedule of tidying and cleaning of the whole station where many emotions will mix.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 330
Position: Journalist
Report prepared by: Adrien Saugnac
Date: 13-03-2026
Sol: 26

Journalist Report Title: Landing on Earth

This sol 26 is the final day of the MDRS Crew 330 mission. A mix of many emotions is swirling as we prepare to end the simulation in just a few minutes.

Today, we packed away all our experiments and cleaned the station. Next week, MDRS Crew 331 will take over, and we are leaving the station for them in the same condition we received it.

This day marks the end of an extremely rewarding year of preparation and 26 highly intense mission sols. We have shared many moments and emotions that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

We have been simulating a Martian mission for a month now. We haven’t stepped outside without a spacesuit; we eat freeze-dried (dehydrated) food; we have no access to communication with our loved ones; we regulate our water usage. Tonight, we will put an end to all of that and resume our lives back on Earth.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who was involved in our mission.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 16-03-2026
Sol: 1
Journalist Report Title: Sol 1

Today’s sol at the Mars Desert Research Station blended rigorous medical training with high-stakes field operations. The morning began with an in-depth exploration of the challenges of Mars exploration and the physiological effects on the human body of prolonged exposure to spaceflight. Additional briefings included a comprehensive introduction to decompression sickness, which is a critical risk in an environment with operational pressure changes. Crew members engaged with the physiological mechanisms behind the condition, learning how inert gases can form bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues during rapid depressurization. Particular emphasis was placed on recognizing symptoms such as joint pain, dizziness, and neurological deficits, as well as implementing appropriate treatment protocols, including oxygen therapy and recompression strategies. At the time, these lessons were approached as theoretical preparation, but they would later take on immediate practical significance.

The crew then transitioned into a session focused on the vestibular system and its role in maintaining balance and spatial orientation. Through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities, we explored how altered gravity environments disrupt normal sensory processing, leading to space motion sickness and disorientation. These exercises highlighted how even minor impairments in orientation can significantly affect performance during mission-critical tasks.

In the afternoon, the crew embarked on two EVAs designed to advance both engineering and scientific objectives. Teams set out to locate a simulated crashed satellite, attempt repairs on a communications relay, and collect geological samples from the surrounding terrain. The Martian landscape presented both opportunities and challenges, requiring careful navigation and constant situational awareness.

During the EVAs, an unexpected incident tested the crew’s preparedness. While traversing uneven ground, a crew member tripped and sustained a minor knee injury accompanied by an abrasion. More critically, the fall resulted in damage to their spacesuit, leading to a depressurization and the onset of decompression sickness. The situation escalated quickly, transforming a routine EVA into a complex medical emergency.

The crew responded with professionalism and efficiency. Drawing directly on the morning’s training, team members rapidly identified the signs of decompression sickness and initiated appropriate treatment procedures. The injured crew member was stabilized in the field, carefully transported back to the habitat, and treated and monitored closely upon return. The coordinated response demonstrated the crew’s ability to translate theoretical knowledge into effective action under pressure.

Following the EVAs, training continued with instruction on SKED stretcher use, where crew members practiced safely packaging and transporting a simulated patient across uneven terrain. This exercise emphasized coordination, communication, and the physical demands of emergency response in a remote environment.

By the end of the sol, the injured crew member had fully recovered, and all team members were safe and accounted for. The incident served as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable nature of exploration and the importance of comprehensive preparation. It also reinforced the value of interdisciplinary training, where medical knowledge, operational skills, and teamwork converge to ensure mission success.

Despite the challenges encountered, morale remains high. The crew is encouraged by their ability to respond effectively to an emergency and is motivated to continue building on today’s experiences. As we look ahead to the next sol, we carry forward not only new knowledge, but also a renewed sense of confidence in our collective capability to meet the demands of life and work on Mars.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 17-03-2026
Sol: 2
Journalist Report Title: Sol 2

Today’s sol blended focused classroom instruction with field-based operational training, emphasizing both human factors and mission execution in our Mars analog environment. Morning lectures covered teamwork in high-risk settings, women’s health considerations in spaceflight, research in analog environments, and principles of search and rescue operations. Together, these sessions reinforced the importance of communication, adaptability, and inclusive team planning as we prepare for the demands of long-duration exploration.

In the field, the crew conducted an EVA in two teams to establish a communications relay between remote locations and the habitat. One team ascended to the summit of Tim’s Peak, working to transmit messages from multiple positions to a ground team, which then attempted to relay those communications back to the hab. The terrain proved challenging, and during descent, a crewmember suffered a fall resulting in a femur fracture. The situation quickly shifted from routine operations to emergency response, but the crew acted with focus and precision, stabilizing the injured crewmember and coordinating a safe return to the habitat using the medical and evacuation techniques they had practiced. All crewmembers are now safe, in good spirits, and ready to take on the next sol.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 18-03-2026
Sol: 3
Journalist Report Title: Sol 3

Today’s sol continued with a combination of lectures and field-based exercises. Lectures focused on toxicity and environmental exposures, as well as behavioral health and cognitive performance factors in long-duration spaceflight. These topics highlighted the complex and often subtle risks crews may face, reinforcing the importance of early recognition, sound judgment, and sustained physical and psychological performance in isolated environments.

During EVAs, the crew deployed in three teams to test prototype automated medical decision-making assistants in the field. Each system was tasked with helping identify and guide responses to unexpected medical scenarios. All three tools performed successfully, supporting crews in recognizing emergent conditions, guiding interventions, and stabilizing affected crewmates. The exercise demonstrated the potential for decision-support technologies to enhance safety and responsiveness during exploration missions, underscoring our mission’s focus on integrating medicine, engineering, and operations into a unified system for exploring the complex environment of Mars.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 19-03-2026
Sol: 4
Journalist Report Title: Sol 4

Today’s sol began with an unexpected EVA, as the entire crew jumped into action upon receiving a distress call from a crashed spacecraft. Training quickly gave way to execution, and the team transitioned into search and rescue mode, coordinating efforts to locate and recover three injured astronauts. All were successfully retrieved and treated for their medical conditions, demonstrating the crew’s growing ability to employ all the skills they have been learning and practicing to respond decisively and effectively to the complex, highly dynamic scenarios that occur in the challenging Martian environment.

Following the morning’s operations, the crew returned to skill development with focused training in ultrasound techniques, expanding our diagnostic capabilities for use in remote and resource-limited environments. As the sun set over the Martian landscape we have called home this past week, the crew took time to reflect together during a group walk outside the habitat. With one sol remaining, we look ahead to the conclusion of our mission with confidence, a strong sense of camaraderie, and a deepened appreciation for the integration of medicine, engineering, and operations in enabling exploration.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 333
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Joanna Galloway
Date: 30-03-2026
Sol: 1

Journalist Report Title: A small step for Crew 333

We woke up today for our first day of simulation. After having porridge for breakfast, it was soon time for our first EVA. During the suit-up, we realized there was an issue with the headset in Com’s kit #2, so we switched to the one in Com’s kit #4. Joanna, Antoine, and Marie headed out to explore the surroundings, while Matias stayed back as Com’s officer with help from Zahraa. Meanwhile, Matthias started potting plants for his experiments. The EVA went mostly smoothly. We briefly lost contact with the drone, which meant returning to Pooh’s Corner to retrieve it before continuing on to Cowboy Corner. After taking in the Martian-like landscape and testing the drone, we returned to the Hab for lunch: fried rice prepared by Matias and Zahraa. Matthias also fixed a technical issue he had with the GreenHab data on the Mac.

After eating, we debriefed and shared our thoughts on the first EVA, then finished our EVA report. As the clock approached 2pm, the second group began preparing for their EVA. This time, Matthias, Matias, and Zahraa went out to explore and better understand the subtleties of an EVA. They came back in awe of what they had seen. Their EVA went smoothly and they had no issue finding their way around the martian terrain. During their EVA, Antoine served as Com’s officer, while Marie and Joanna took some time to exercise on the bike. Once everyone was back, we had a small get-together and worked on our reports. Antoine and Matthias later did some exercise together. Tonight’s dinner is shepherd’s pie, and we’re planning to end the day with a movie night.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 333
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Joanna Galloway
Date: 31-03-2026
Sol: 2
Journalist Report Title (if applicable): Gone with the wind

Pancake Day today! We woke up to the sweet smell of Marie making breakfast. Before eating, we cleaned up the upper hab and put away the mattresses we had laid out on the floor for yesterday’s movie night. The first EVA crew Joanna, Antoine, and Matthias began their decompression while Zahraa deep-cleaned the hab. This outing was at Compass Rock and allowed Antoine to start his research on the differences between astronauts’ perception of the terrain and drone perception. Marie was CapCom this time and made sure the team stayed safe during the EVA. Matthias also checked the headset from Comms Kit #2. The EVA team made it back by 11 a.m., debriefed, and then enjoyed lunch all together.

Later, Antoine went out again with Matías and Marie to Campus Rock, as he needed to continue gathering data from the crew’s perception of the terrain. They left at 2 p.m. During this time, Joanna ensured communication between the station and the EVA team. Matthias took care of the GreenHab and even managed to harvest some tomatoes and fennel. During the EVA, we had an issue with the front door, which blew open due to strong winds. The EVA crew had to return to secure it and ensure everyone’s safety before heading back out to continue their mission through the wind and the dust. Once they returned, we held a crew meeting to check in on everyone’s experiments and progress.

Matthias was in charge of dinner: chicken curry with rice while Joanna taught Antoine some dance moves. Tonight’s plan is to finish the film we started last night: Night at the Museum.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 333
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Joanna Galloway
Date: 01-04-2026
Sol: 3

Journalist Report Title (if applicable): A Quiet Place

Unfortunately, we woke to powerful winds sweeping across our little corner of Mars, forcing us to postpone the morning EVA until late afternoon. With plans shifted, the crew embraced the unexpected pause and settled into a slower, more relaxed start to the day. Breakfast was a comforting spread of granola and fresh smoothies, enjoyed over an easy conversation about the upcoming Artemis II launch and what it represents for the future of exploration. Joanna spent the late morning guiding each crew member through the Science Dome, carefully beginning her experiment. Everyone performed admirably and took time to thoughtfully complete her questionnaire afterward. They played board games and entertained themselves until lunch, which was a simple but satisfying meal of tuna and rice, prepared by Zahraa.

By mid-afternoon, we received the green light to proceed with our EVA at 5 p.m., leaving us a bit of time to unwind with a movie. As 4 p.m. approached, however, we gathered together for something far more significant: watching the launch of Artemis II. It was a remarkable moment witnessing history unfold back on Earth while we continued our own simulation here on Mars. At last, it was time for the EVA. Antoine, Zahraa, and Matias ventured out to complete the mission, while Marie remained inside as CapCom, guiding them throughout. They returned safely to the habitat, greeted by the comforting aroma of a warm chili sin carne prepared by Joanna and Matthias. The evening promises to carry the same calm, cozy energy as the rest of the day, we’re going to wind down together on the couch, sharing another film as the Martian winds continue to whisper outside.

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 333
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Joanna Galloway
Date: 02-04-2026
Sol: 4

Journalist Report Title: Between heaven and earth

Early this morning, the EVA crew Marie, Matthias and Antoine got up at 6.30 to prepare for an 8am outing. Matias woke up as well to prepare for CapCom and left Joanna and Zahraa to catch up on their sleep. The Crew visited Gateway to Lilith, an unforgettable view which has given everyone a lot to talk about. Before they made their way back to the station, Matias worked on repairing the second com, Joanna spent some time on the static bike to make sure she still got a small workout in. Zahraa had a chill morning editing pictures and resting. Since the EVA was completed early in the morning, we were able to have a nice morning discussing the views. On the menu for lunch it was omelette with a side of bread and some leftover chili.

The wind was howling by early afternoon, this allowed for the Crew to do a video of their experiments in the station. Zahraa had time for everyone to pass her experiment which is related to speech patterns. The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. It was quite a quiet day because of the weather. The Crew is planning to have a cosy early dinner and a board games night.