Category: Journalist Report

Journalist Report

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 23APR2026

Sol: 3

Third Day on Mars: Entering New Worlds

Today we woke up to the wind. The wind always carries something with it, and there is a subtle unease in the air. Today was a day of questions. We did not go out on EVA, since the wind would not have allowed us to move easily with suits and equipment, so we devoted ourselves to activities inside the station.

The day began with pancakes and a long discussion about Mars. We found ourselves debating which kinds of people would be necessary in order to develop a colony on the Red Planet. Some of us think that the first people to colonize Mars should be engineers, since the first thing needed would be infrastructure. Others think there should also be artists and cultural mediators, because it is important to have people capable of mediating between individuals and establishing ethical relationships, while art is a fundamental element for the spirit, and also for producing content that keeps us entertained.

After that, Charlotte spent time filtering the clay she found in the desert yesterday. It is a long and intricate process, and it is very interesting to see how objects can slowly emerge from a territory. Meanwhile, Kat assembled her rover, which she will soon test in the desert. Elisa and Matteo continued filming, asking questions and trying to capture the spirit of the experience. We are all still easily tired, adapting to Mars requires physical effort. The dry air and the light are very intense on our bodies.

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 23APR2026

Sol: 4

THIRD DAY ON MARS: Candor Chasm

Today some of us woke up feeling a bit nervous. Nighttime is always somewhat difficult: many of us continue to have interrupted sleep or very strange and vivid dreams, which lead to slow and heavy awakenings. The hub never sleeps, and the machines that regulate temperature and air circulation switch on from time to time, interrupting the sleep cycle and bringing us back to the planet.

The morning began slowly, and the filmmakers were busy solving a technical problem while the rest of the crew worked on their own projects. Then we set out on EVA. It felt good to go outside, since yesterday we stayed in the station all day because of the wind. We felt protected, watching from the hub’s windows the dust devils animating the desert floor, moving it from one stretch to another and reshaping the martian landscape.

Today we went to Candor Chasm to collect clay. It was a particularly evocative outing: we crossed a valley in bloom. Mars in bloom is striking, there is an interesting contrast with the expanse of rocks, and it almost feels like a miracle that life can grow in such an arid terrain. Then we reached the gorge of a river that almost no longer exists, and we began descending through its inlets. Each gorge revealed a different landscape, always leaving us surprised. The red color, the stones carved by water, and a few remaining pools created a particularly evocative environment, which we could observe through the helmets of our suits.

The search for clay was demanding, but it was a success. Back at the station we were all exhausted, and now we are preparing for a quiet evening.

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report Prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 24Apr2026

Sol: 5

Summary Title: Expansive Silence

This morning, most of us woke up later than usual. The night had been restless, and many crew members slept poorly. Our windowless sleeping cells make it difficult for some to breathe deeply, resulting in uneasy sleep and dense, vivid dreams.

In the morning, each of us took time to focus on our individual projects, while some crew members cleaned the Hab. Coordinating shared domestic tasks is not always easy—these are the ordinary negotiations of cohabitation. At times, some find themselves taking on more responsibilities than others.

In the afternoon, part of the crew went out for an EVA. Kat wanted to test the drone, and the film crew followed her to document the moment. The landscapes we encounter remain breathtaking: vast stretches of pink terrain in shifting tones, rocks shaped by time and wind, and silence extending for kilometers across these expanses. Here, the realm of rocks feels sovereign.

We returned to the Hab, and everyone resumed their respective tasks. In the evening, we prepared pizza. We harvested some cabbage from the greenhouse, which Charlotte has been consistently tending. The plants appear somewhat strained, but they remain alive and resilient.

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report prepared by: MatteoCalore

Date: 25APR2026

Sol: 6

Report Title: Returning to Form

This morning, a few of us woke to a rather unusual kind of alarm. A strange little creature slipped into our sleeping quarters, calling us back to the land of the awake. A surreal and slightly disorienting way to begin the day.

Later, three of us set out on a long morning EVA to Somerville Overlook. As always, the landscape was breathtaking. Dave focused on capturing a panoramic sequence, while the filmmakers worked on documenting the terrain, training their gaze and cameras to hold the vastness of these endless red valleys. It became another productive and rewarding day of filming.

We spent the rest of the day in the science dome, working to activate the microwave kiln for Charlotte’s clay project. It required patience, along with several trials and adjustments, but eventually everything came together. We finally witnessed the first clay experiment take form—our “sixth crewmate,” the small desert mouse we encountered yesterday. After about twelve minutes of firing in the microwave and nearly an hour of cooling, the mouse was preserved in the earth collected from the canyons. A small but meaningful transformation—matter shifting state, holding memory.

Our crew engineer also had a very full day. She dedicated significant time to processing Messier 16 astronomy data and continued her rover research.

We ended the day sharing a warm meal and looking at photographs of Fremont culture clay artifacts taken by our commander. A day marked by cycles of observation, transformation, and quiet reconnection.

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 26APR2026

Sol: 7

Report Title: A Slow Sunday

Today was Sunday. We woke up a bit later than usual, around 7:30, starting the day slowly while making pancakes. The morning unfolded through light conversations that gradually deepened into a more reflective discussion about artificial intelligence—how many people, especially in situations of loneliness, find comfort in chatbots, but also how these can become problematic if not used with awareness.

Later, we moved to the Science Dome to take part in an activity proposed by the Crew Artist. For about ten minutes, the crew members were guided through a visualization on Mars. Sound and voice led participants on an interplanetary journey, followed by a moment of sharing the sensations and emotions that emerged.

From there, unexpected conversations opened up: starting from Mars, we moved across times and places, generations and worlds, eventually arriving at reflections on the sense of community and belonging. It was a slow morning, yet surprisingly dense.

In the afternoon, each of us immersed ourselves in our own projects while waiting for the arrival of the Burning Productions crew, who are interested in creating a program about MDRS.

Upon their arrival, the Commander welcomed them, showing the base and its ongoing activities, before taking them on an EVA to explore the landscapes of the Martian desert. The weather was unstable: wind and rain alternated with sudden bursts of sunlight, which toward the evening revealed intense contrasts of light and shadow, leaving us breathless.

Crew #: 335
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Matteo Calore
Date: 27APR2026
Sol: Day 8

Report Title: Windy Focus

Today was a long day. We woke up, as usual, between six and seven, and had a quick breakfast before moving into our regular morning meeting, pleased to see that we are managing our resources well. The challenge of living in a space with limited resources is always interesting, but for some of us it is not new, so it comes quite naturally.

As the days go by, each of us is increasingly focused on completing our own projects, so interactions have become fewer. From the initial desire to get to know one another, we now feel the pressure of time and the need to bring to completion what we started. Overall, we are all making good progress, and aside from a few interruptions, we remain well organized.

The desert and the isolation help us stay more focused, even though some of us are finding it more difficult, especially due to trouble sleeping at night. Some are particularly affected by the dry desert air. Still, we are gradually adapting to this way of life, and being surrounded by the beauty of these hills—where red and white dominate, touched by the intense sunlight—helps us stay concentrated.

Journalist Report

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report Prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 28APR2026

Sol: 9

Report Title: Finding Our Rhythm

Today was a dynamic and demanding day. Some crew members went out for a long EVA to Green Mars View. The extended rover drive offered particularly striking and varied landscapes, ranging from clay-dense hills to stretches of desert sand punctuated by flowers of extraordinary beauty—vivid in color and twisted in form.

These flowers have an almost animal-like presence, and it feels remarkable that they can emerge with such strength from a terrain where water seems absent. It is astonishing how nature adapts to such different environments, continuously transforming and re-emerging in forms that are both diverse and somehow familiar.

The canyon at Green Mars View opens onto the valley where the Devil River flows. We found ourselves wondering how this river came to be given such a name. Despite its harsh surroundings, it carries life through the aridity, and in that sense, it seems to have little that is truly demonic.

While part of the crew was on EVA, the others continued working on their projects at the station. Charlotte transformed collected soil into clay and is now creating unique objects to be fired in the Science Dome’s microwave kiln. Kat continues her observations of the stars.

The day continued with interviews and various activities, and concluded with a generous meal, eagerly consumed by the crew of this small spaceship.

Crew #: 335
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Matteo Calore
Date: 29APR2026
Sol: 10

Report title: Driven by Mystery

Today we woke up as usual between 7 and 8. The day began in a dynamic way, with many discussions about the development of our projects. Afterwards, the film crew continued conducting interviews with the other crew members.
The interviews went very well, offering many interesting insights into personal lives and the motivations that brought us here, as well as what draws people toward space science and the mystery that surrounds the universe.
We often hear that one of the main motivations behind the study of the cosmos is the desire to understand how things work. The mystery of existence—why we are here, what makes everything what it is, and what keeps us moving and alive—remains largely unsolved. Yet it is precisely this mystery that drives many of us to search, to travel, to study, and to go to places we have never been before.

In the afternoon, we continued working on our projects. As we are approaching the end of our simulation, we are mostly wrapping things up, trying to understand what might still be missing and what can still be done.
The evening light was particularly beautiful, as was the view of the desert from our habitat. The gradual transitions of color across the clay hills—from red to white, to violet, to beige—and the scattered rocks that populate them make this experience truly unique.

Journalist Report

Crew #: 335

Position: Matteo Calore (Crew Journalist)

Date: 30APR2026

Sol: 11

Today is our last day on Mars. We woke up around 7:00 a.m. and started the day with pancakes. We were all a bit tired, but excited for our final EVA. We were finally heading to the Sea of Shells, and we were all curious to see this new territory. We have to say that reality exceeded our expectations.

When we arrived at the Mars Overlook, we were all amazed by the beauty and diversity of the landscape. The red gradients of Mars slowly faded from a light beige-brown into a dark grey and black, transporting us into a lunar landscape. We were no longer on Mars, but on the Moon, or perhaps on one of Mars’ moons.

We paused to take in this extraordinary view before slowly descending toward the Sea of Shells. There, we found ourselves walking on a carpet of shells of indeterminate age, mysterious fossils from a time unknown to us. We wondered what kind of shells they were and how they could have ended up there in such vast quantities. These questions remained unanswered. In the distance, we could see a black obelisk, almost like a spacecraft ready to launch into space.

We then made our way back slowly, taking in the Martian landscape one last time through our suits. As our Commander says, it is difficult to stop being amazed by the beauty, diversity, and sense of wonder that these places evoke.

Back at the Hub, we shared our final meal as astronauts. This afternoon, we ended the simulation and returned to Earth. It is a strange feeling to shift from one planet to another. To know that now you are surrounded by a civilization, by shops, by restaurants, and that you can simply get into a car and go wherever you want.

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.