Category: Journalist Report

SOL 10: 10 Sols, 10 Experiments

5:22 PM: It’s another day at the MDRS, our tenth. Sometimes it takes a moment to realize where you are and what you’re doing. To realize that we are on an analog mission in the middle of the magnificent desert of Utah, USA, even though half of us have never ventured much farther than the bordering countries of France. To realize that we are completing the end of a year of preparation, a year of hard work alongside our studies, a year of seeking experiences, sponsors, outreach, projects, and selections. To realize that we are seven excited individuals willing to lock ourselves in a tin can with six teammates we didn’t choose, and no shower for a month. To realize that another Martian day has begun, and during this day, which seems ordinary on the surface, we conduct experiments like Orbital Architecture, Twins2, AMAIA, HUMANISE, LOAC, megaARES, Photogrammetry, Micropouss’, TimePecept, LättaLL, UCF, SUPAEROMOON, CoreData… a dozen experiments for the tenth sol.

This morning, Somaya and I searched for beacons in the Candor Chasma canyon using our map drawn the day before, alongside Meddi who analyzed our performance as part of the photogrammetry experiment. On our way back, we admired the landscape, which was magnificent, reminding us of the extraordinary environment we’ve been immersed in for the past ten days. The crew is very dynamic right now; Robin started the first 3D prints of the SUPAEROMOON (a club from ISAE-SUPAERO) rover this morning, which we will assemble in the coming days. He and I tested AMAIA, our assistant AI, thoroughly this afternoon.

Erin continues to manage our schedules expertly and modeled a small box to store all the necessary materials for retrieving data from atmospheric instruments during EVAs. Indeed, we must handle a USB key and a tiny micro-SD card with bulky ski gloves that we wear during these outings. This operation requires precision, so much so that we perform part of it using tweezers, and meticulous storage is essential.

Today again, we will observe the sun set over the Martian horizon from our portholes. All of us? No, because I believe Quentin has found a way to make superb observations of solar storms, which promise to make the coming days rich in high-quality observations.

Crew 311 Journalist Report 20Feb2025
SOL 4: The wind blows in the sails of Crew 311
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

11:00 AM: The morning routine gets longer, and with it, the number of sensors we wear daily increases dramatically. This morning, for the first time, we put on all the sensors needed for the Orbital Architecture experiment. Its goal is to study the effect of architecture on our behaviors and performances. Until the end of the mission, we will wear a watch, a position and heart rate sensor.

This morning, Meddi and Quentin prepared their first EVA for stratigraphic geological studies in the “Martian” desert. In the long run, they hope to contribute to training an AI that will detect and map different rock layers in the desert using a drone—a revolutionary innovation that would make geologists’ life better! Meddi and Somaya also made videos for public outreach in the GreenHab to keep students from the “Seeds of Mars” project informed, as well as Moroccan students that Somaya visited. This year, we have conducted outreach projects in no less than a dozen schools! Among them are young people in Occitanie, Morocco, and the United States who benefited from our interventions. It is a great pride for us because it is through such interventions that some of our classmates were inspired to join ISAE-Supaero, and we hope to have ignited that spark in the youth we met.

On her part, Erin is doing much better! After working on debugging AMAIA with me during the morning, Robin and her are concurrently working on 3D printing storage for our numerous electronic devices.

4:48 PM: This afternoon, the wind is blowing so strongly that we fear damage to our tunnels between modules. The gusts seem to worsen the condition of the tarps at a hole that formed during previous missions.

The day ultimately lends itself well to working in the HAB, our main module. Crew members take advantage of this to install the last lamps for the LättaLL experiment. Designed to improve our well-being through light, these light sources change intensity according to the time of day, and we will study their impact on our crew compared to previous crews.

Crew 311 Journalist report 21Feb2025
SOL 5: Enjoying the Sweetness of Silence
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

2:10 PM: Today was the calm after the storm. The wind has subsided, and the morning was relatively quiet in the HAB. Célyan, Quentin, and Robin were making card signs in the RAM, which will be placed near the atmospheric instruments to keep “aliens” from getting too close and interfering with the measurements. Meanwhile, Meddi and Somaya launched the HUMANISE experiment in the Science Dome. Eventually, it was just Erin and I left in the HAB, and the calm was refreshing. When Somaya returned, Erin and her started writing a scientific article about our analogue mission. In the meantime, I sketched drawings of the station for an experiment in collaboration with an engineer architect from KTH University in Sweden. Then, as we finished installing the lamps for the LättaLL experiment, Célyan and Somaya measured the light intensity in different parts of the Upper Deck.

For lunch, we enjoyed the freshness of the parsley harvested at the GreenHab! Enjoying a bit of green on your plate isn’t unpleasant when no trees are visible for miles around.

The clouds also left us, and Quentin was able to make new observations of the sun at its zenith.

4:00 PM In the early afternoon, we started a recording session for the Evolsan lab. As I write my report, Meddi is teaching Somaya and Célyan how to use our drone loaned by Parrot to take our first aerial videos. On her side, Erin is assessing the water we have used this week. On Mars, water is a rare and precious resource, but let’s not forget that it is also on Earth. Keeping a very close eye on our water consumption allows us to realize how much we take this resource for granted, which is not the case everywhere on the blue planet. I challenge you to wash dishes for 7 with just 4 liters of water!

Crew 311 Journalist Report 22Feb2025
SOL 6: The Sky Is No Longer the Limit!
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

12:30 PM: This morning was quite athletic for half of the crew. Meddi, Quentin, Célyan, and Somaya conducted an EVA not only to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments but also to take the first drone photos for our stratigraphy experiment. Yes, with a drone! The whole group headed towards HAB Ridge, a high-altitude plateau offering a stunning view of the station and the desert. They were able to observe the station from the sky, whether through the camera in their hands or the drone hovering above them. But such a hike requires a challenging path. To reach this plateau, the small team had to make their way along the side of the mountain, a challenging journey that made their return a relief. Erin and Robin worked on the code for AMAIA and the Core Data experiment for data recovery. Personally, I was transferring audio files to the EvolSan lab while serving as HAB Com for the EVA. This role involves coordinating between the EVA crew, those remaining in the station, and mission support; it is very important for safety reasons.

When the small team returned, we went to greet them and help them carry their equipment and de-gear. Between the first aid kit, the two batteries for the atmospheric instruments, the drone, the water bottle bags, the camera bag, not to mention the heavy suits, there are plenty of kilos in an EVA; a little help upon arrival is always welcome.

2:48 PM: Today is Saturday at the station. Meddi trained the entire crew on maintaining the GreenHab so they can take over when he is unavailable. Currently, everyone is busy completing their last tasks before the afternoon break, which will mark the start of the weekend for the MDRS. On the agenda: crochet, Lego, anecdotes, and tasting the cereal bars I baked this morning.

SOL 7: The Cherry on the Top
4:30 PM: SOL 7 is a rest day at the station. Today is Sunday, and the entire crew is taking advantage of this day to recharge. The wake-up call is later, but that doesn’t mean the crew is any less active. First, many experiments are routine and continue daily, such as Orbital Architecture, LättaLL, Core Data, or Twins2. As we do every day, we had to take measurements, answer questionnaires, adjust the intensity of our lights, put on our daily sensors, etc.

Next, since we have more time, the workout session is longer and more intense than on other days. Cardio, strength training, or core exercises—all eight workouts prepared by Célyan made us sweat this morning! But there’s no time to rest; after breakfast, everyone starts a deep cleaning and organizing session.

The desert sand gets everywhere in the station, and without noticing it, living with seven people in this confined space is messier than it seems. After that, everyone goes about their business. We have more time to cook, and Meddi and I took advantage of it to prepare colorful cupcakes while Erin cooked tortillas for tonight.

We are all very busy and use our free time to work on personal projects. This week was challenging, but it was the first week of our incredible adventure, and this rest day concluded it beautifully—like the cherry on the top or the frosting on our cupcakes!

Crew 311 Journalist Report 20Feb2025
SOL 3 : A break to freshly restart the day
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

13:26PM: At the time I am writing this report, the schedule indicates that I should be on an EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity), installing atmospheric instruments. However, Quentin, Robin, and I have finished our little expedition early! This was our first EVA of this length, and we immediately feel the intensity of these outings. Indeed, the suits are heavy, and the longest EVAs, which are planned for 4 hours, are supposed to be tiring. Once back inside, a pleasant surprise: Célyan had prepared delicious little snacks that were not refused!

In the meantime, Somaya was the first to participate in Humanise, our tele-operation experience. She has worked tirelessly with researchers over the past few days to ensure its smooth operation, and it is a great relief and joy to see it working today, especially since it appears to be very entertaining.

16:42PM: The crew took a short break this early afternoon. Everyone has been working intensely since the start of the mission; it was an opportunity to recharge, especially since Erin has been sick since the beginning of the mission, which must have made these first days even more challenging for her. I personally took advantage of it to build a small cardboard shelf and tidy up some of the equipment that had been lying around in the HAB since SOL 0, with the help of crew members waking up from their nap. Now, Robin is modeling another small storage unit in 3D to organize the batteries and phones necessary for certain experiments.

The GreenHab was also lively today. Yesterday, we discovered that the greenhouse did not contain any potting soil, and even after searching the station from top to bottom, we only found some at the base of already potted plants. Mission Support confirmed during the evening that there wasn’t any more, so Meddi had to dig up the useless plants in the GreenHab to recover their soil—a vigorous task to start the day, but it allowed him to finally plant the microgreens.

Crew 310 Journalist Report 13Feb2025
Author: Jennifer García Carrizo, Crew Journalist

The crew begins the next to last Sol excitedly, hoping to wrap up their research projects and conduct two special EVAs.
In the morning, half of the crew embarked on an EVA along the main road, Cow Dung Road 0110, and stopped at a series of different locations. They enjoyed documenting and collecting the last geological samples along the breathtaking Martian landscape.
Meanwhile, Anna Bach, the crew’s artist, worked on adding color to the children’s book she has been developing. Engineer Helena Arias Casals finished printing her latest designs on the 3D printer, while journalist Jennifer García Carrizo and scientist Estel Blay recorded the greenhouse experiment on tomatoes. Estel confirmed that the tomato seeds that thrived the most were the ones that had been watered with filtered water.
In the afternoon, the other part of the crew headed out to North Ridge, where they took the opportunity to document this stunning Martian-like environment. Meanwhile, Marina Martínez, Mónica Roca i Aparici, and Ariadna Farrés spent the last hours of the evening finalizing their respective research projects.
Tomorrow is the crew’s final Sol, and they are busy finishing their scientific project before the end of the mission.

Crew 310 Journalist Report 14Feb2025
Author: Jennifer García Carrizo, Crew Journalist
The crew of Hypatia II woke up to an astonishing surprise—the words “Ha nevat” ("It has snowed") echoed through the station. Commander Ariadna Farrés was the first to witness the unbelievable: against all odds, snow had fallen overnight in the middle of the desert! Once in a life time experience, as if Mars had gifted them a magical farewell.
With hearts full of wonder, the crew captured and immortalized this extraordinary experience before fueling up with breakfast. There was still one final adventure ahead—their last EVA, the 22nd of this unforgettable mission. They stepped outside one last time, determined to finish documenting their journey and research projects.
Inside the station, the remaining crew members wrapped up their projects and checked off the last items on their to-do lists. Meanwhile, Marina Martínez, the GreenHab Officer, tenderly prepared the plants, ensuring everything was ready to pass the torch to the next crew.
Then came the moment of closure. Over a delicious curry, they shared reflections on this life-changing expedition. As a final, they ended their mission with a powerful song—Quan tot s’enlaira by Txarango. Voices rose together, full of emotion, as the lyrics echoed their journey:
"When everything takes off, I tiptoe to my dreams. Together we can go further. A long journey, illusions in the suitcases. Together we can go further."
With eyes shining, they bid farewell to their Martian home. Till the next stop, Hypatia!

Crew 310 Journalist Report 09Feb2025
Author: Jennifer García Carrizo, Crew Journalist
The crew started the day at the station with a sports session and a good breakfast: pancakes and fruit. Today was the crew engineer’s birthday: Helena Arias Casals. It was worth celebrating!
In the morning, part of the crew performed an EVA near the station. While Monica Roca i Aparici and Helena Arias worked on the corner reflector, Estel Blay dedicated her time to checking her solar panels and recorded 360 videos of the exterior of the station assisted by the crew journalist Jennifer Garcia Carrizo from the inside. Thanks to their joined efforts, the objectives of the EVA were achieved on time!
Back at the base, the crew ate delicious pasta with basil, tuna, and cheese. For dessert, Helena gave the crew a surprise that she had prepared: ice cream for astronauts provided by Super Garden! They were delicious and a nice dessert to celebrate this special day!
After lunch, the other crew members went outside to collect geological samples from Green Mars View. However, this EVA was not as successful as the morning one. They returned to base without completing the full task and they will try to accomplish the goal another day.
But the day is not over yet! Now it’s time to celebrate Helena’s birthday as she deserves. Not every day we get to celebrate a birthday on Mars! And, although candles cannot be blown at the MDRS, the crew has prepared something special for her. Happy Birthday, Helena! Hypatia wishes you to always continue with the positive energy that characterizes you!

Crew 310 Journalist Report 10Feb2025
Author: Jennifer García Carrizo, Crew Journalist
The crew woke up after a great birthday celebration of one of the crew members. They ate space cake, a fantastic pizza, and danced while enjoying a piñata. They started the day with some exercise before breakfast, and were enthusiastic about another exciting day of exploration.
Monica Roca i Aparici and Helena Arias embarked on an early morning EVA to move the antenna of the corner reflector to its final position that Hypatia II hasbeen setting up behind the MDRS station. Now it is finally finished!
Meanwhile, crew geologist Marina Martínez has been working hard all day in the Science Dome, analyzing samples from past EVAs. She is using two instruments that give chemical compositions of the collected samples: the VANTA Max, a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer provided by Evident Scientific, which today was fixed in a workstation in the lab, and the Spectroscout, a portable energy-dispersive XRF spectrometer provided by SPECTRO.
At the same time, Ariadna Farrés, Estel Blay, and Anna Bach took advantage of the station’s solar telescope to observe the Sun, while Jennifer García Carrizo continued her work on sustainability. Today she focused on what astronauts eat and how they dress in space. While clothing might not seem directly related to sustainability, raising awareness is crucial—after all, the textile industry is one of the most polluting on Earth.
To support this mission, Hypatia II has collaborated with the Spanish brand Sepiia, which has provided the crew with innovative clothing—t-shirts and pants that repel dirt, odors, and stains, and best of all, they don’t need ironing! A major advantage on a mission like this, where, of course, there is no washing machine.
Let’s continue the Hypatia II adventure, filled with science, discovery, and forward-thinking solutions for a sustainable future!