Category: Journalist Report

Journalist Report
Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Sol 04

It’s sol three of being trapped in the Hab. Our first sol without the puzzle to keep us
sane. The snow shows no intention of melting in time for us to be able to EVA tomorrow.
My crewmates have reported seeing a mouse-sized Martian creature in the Hab. It may very
well be a mirage. A fire alarm went off in the RAM (Repair & Assembly Module) and we
rejoiced having something interesting happen. Luckily, it was a false alarm.

Sanctuary has been found in the digital realm. The six of us rotated around playing
Super Smash Bros., abusing our four controllers with incessant button mashing. It’s
strange how much release can be derived from those random AABB button combos – but hey, I’d rather we take it all out on Jigglypuff than on each other.

However, contrary to the picture I’ve just painted, we aren’t completely aimless.
Shefali and LuzMa both have research projects that can be performed from the confines of the Hab. The rest of us have been helping out as much as we can, but one requires taking readings over long spans of time and the other is a psychological study, so they are both slow boils.

Jonathan also has big ambitions for us to reorganize the GreenHab tomorrow if we are
inhibited from EVAing. It appears the current agricultural arrangement is inefficient
and even detrimental to the growth of a few of the young plants. I’m excited because
the Save the Sprouts Initiative offers the rest of us something to occupy our hands and
minds.

The sun has decided it’s had enough of tag-teaming our retinas with the snow and has
begun to hibernate behind the Martian hills. We are winding down with our reports as the
aroma of dinner being assembled fills the air. I think we can rest easy tonight knowing
we have been the most productive we possibly can in spite of the red planet’s attempts
to keep us constricted. You can stop us from stretching our legs, but you can’t stop
science! If nothing else, we have survived another day on this alien world, once thought
unfit for human life.

Journalist Report

Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Sol 03

White Christmars

The dulcet tones of a yuletide choir slipped under my door and roused me from my sleep at exactly 8:30 AM Mars Standard Time. White sunlight radiating off the powdered terrain outside permeated through the fog outside and met my eyes. The smell of cinnamon and

peppermint swirled ’round the Hab and lifted sleepy spirits. I can’t think of a better way to wake up on Christmars day.

We assembled our own breakfasts and dove back into the puzzle to get our cognitive gears

in motion again. During our half-focused small talk, we learned that our fearless leader, Cesare, was a member of the very choir that woke us up. We learn something incredible about one another every sol. Once we had finished eating and had puzzled the sleep from our eyes, we began our holiday festivities. Cesare, our operatic Martian Santa Claus, had gotten all of us Xmas candy and individual gifts that revealed themselves to be adorable snowman fridge magnets.

As if that wasn’t charming enough, he went into his quarters and came back out with a handful of Christmas cards for us that he had stealthily collected back on Earth. There were so many lovely greetings from writers all around the world, including a card from the entire Class 9EW of the Queen’s School in Chester, UK. It seemed that for a moment the mist from outside had somehow gotten in my eyes.

Once our first round of festivities concluded, it was time for some Habitat maintenance. It appeared that the snow had found a few leaks in the tunnels between our buildings and collected on the floor. Myself, Cesare, and Pat held our breaths and set off to sweep the tunnels clean and locate the leaks. We had the tunnels spick and span (and safe to traverse) in no time.

Or so we thought. In reality, by the time we were done it was time to begin preparing Christmars lunch! While we were working in the tunnels, Jonathan, Shefali, and LuzMa

were collecting a very plentiful harvest in the GreenHab. While they took the mass of the greens, we prepared some spaghetti, mashed potatoes, and assorted feast necessities. The GreenHabbers returned with their bounty and turned it into a delicious fresh salad that tasted like summer. A nice culinary reminder of home!

We invited some friendly Martian visitors (the Assistant Program Directors) for our Christmars banquet. If there’s anyone who deserves to join in our festivities, it’s the folks who make all of this possible! It was an incredible meal that had all of us on the border of going comatose; for the first time, the worries of the hostile Martian landscape melted away.

We saw our guests out the airlock, and returned to the puzzle whilst tagging each other in and out for Hab chores. By sunset, we were all gathered around the table as Jonathan theatrically placed the final piece. We were awash with relief as we had finally vanquished our collective nemesis… until we realized we had to delicately flip the whole thing over to sign our crew number on the back. We bounced a lot of (frankly ridiculous) ideas off of one another until Pat took charge and finessed the entire cardboard mass over without unseating a single piece. I may be on Mars experiencing a one-in-a-million interplanetary adventure, but that takes the cake for the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.

Signing our crew as the 5th of 218 crews to complete the puzzle felt like a monumental accomplishment. Watching Cesare draw the Purdue “Block P” was akin to how I imagine it felt to watch Julius Caesar lead his army across the Rubicon River. Satisfied and exhausted from our arduous accomplishment, we began drafting our reports to CAPCOM.

So here I sit now, buoyant from a perfect White Christmars on the red planet, documenting this day so I may never forget it. Thank you to everyone who wrote us a card and Happy Holidays to all reading this from Earth!

Journalist Report

Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Sol 02

The meteorological crystal ball predicted some nasty weather for today, so we were unauthorized to have any EVA’s to avoid being caught in it. On the bright side, this meant we were able to sleep in a bit today.

We metamorphosed from our sleeping bag cocoons toasty and well-rested this morning. Since we were to be cooped up in the Hab all day, we began our morning with some yoga and breathing exercises to stay in shape. After following our rigid Excel spreadsheet of lethargic calisthenics, we tackled our day in a meditative state.

This zen didn’t last long, though, as the heavens promptly opened and proved the forecast right. Apparently, when it rains on Mars, it pours (in a solid-state). Albeit destructive to our scientific progress, we couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of a Martian snowfall.

Since we had already warmed up our bodies, it was time to sharpen our minds. We whipped out a puzzle to pass the time and may have bitten off more than we could chew. This Mars-themed jigsaw has proven very difficult, what with it being 60% non-descript black space. After a while we all started getting lost in the void of ebony puzzle pieces.

We only have two personal research projects that can be performed without EVA, so LuzMa and Shefali peeled off to work on those as we decided we needed a break from the puzzle. I’m genuinely unsure and impressed at how they had the mental fortitude to be productive after all that – at that point the puzzle had sapped me of all my (admittedly scarce) brain power. Unfortunately Shefali’s research met an untimely roadblock due to computer issues, but I gather that LuzMa’s work is going well!

As I write this, we are finishing dinner and preparing to dive back into the mind-bending cardboard abyss. The snow is slowing, but it has accumulated more than enough to keep us in here for another Sol at a minimum. Though we are confined to the Hab tomorrow, we can only embrace the variables out of our control and enjoy a lovely White Christmars on the red planet.

I’m sure the audience on Earth are waiting with bated breath to hear how the puzzle saga continues, so I will be sure to keep you posted. Consider it a Christmars gift from me to you.

Happy holidays!

Journalist Report
Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Sol 01

Martians like dehydrated sweet potato!

We awoke this morning to find our trap had worked spectacularly and we had captured the

strawberry bandit. I expected to find something resembling the R.O.U.S.’s (Rodents of

Unusual Size) from the Princess Bride, but the creature was more closely reminiscent of

an Earth field mouse. We attempted to communicate, but the language barrier was too

high to surmount. Alas, maybe we will have more luck in the future with a better

understanding of these creatures (or more sweet potatoes).

Our EVA’s (Extra-Vehicular Activities) today were a hybrid of training and tradition.

We split into a team of three for the first expedition (myself, Cesare and Shefali) and

then Pat and LuzMa paired up for the second. Our task: take the rovers about half a mile

out to Marble Ritual for each crew member to place a pebble in the customary pebble

baskets, as 200 crews have done before us.

5 minutes feels like an eternity in the airlock. Given our lack of internet

connectivity, we can’t really discuss current events. And rock-paper-scissors only

gets you so far. Once we had fully depressurized, we emerged from the Hab and retrieved

our rovers. Shefali and Cesare led the way in Curiosity, and I brought up the rear with

Spirit.

After completing the ceremonial goal of our EVA, we began exploring the surrounding

terrain to build familiarity with the EVA suits. We climbed 60 feet up a nearby hill,

and the view upon cresting it was breathtaking. I only mean that figuratively, thank

goodness. The suits may be a bulky, back-breaking burden, but they do a great job of

maintaining our life support (so I have no place to complain).

I led the charge back to the Hab, after which began the 5 minutes of fun. Once we had

re-pressurized and shed our airtight skin, Pat and LuzMa suited up and set off to follow

in our footsteps. I monitored their journey from the Hab via radio, and we all found

consolation in listening to them struggle with the same things we struggled with.

The dynamic duo returned and we all remained confined to the Hab for the remainder of

the day. After separating to do our individual tasks, some daylight still endured. While

most of the crew relaxed and napped, Pat and I set up Super Smash Brothers for some

future team bonding. Nothing provides more catharsis than digitally beating the stuffing

out of each other.

There seems to be an inclement Martian front on the way that will prohibit us from EVA,

so we are very glad we got to stretch our legs today. We may be exclusively breathing

Hab air for the next few days…

Journalist Report

Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Waking up on Mars for the first time is a starkly humbling experience. You emerge from

your personal oven labeled "Crew Quarters" for some fresh (synthesized) air. After

taking a few breaths you realize that that very air is a privilege afforded to you by

the tin can that surrounds you. The tin can that is now your home for the foreseeable

future.

Once we had all shaken the sleep from our eyes, we began haphazardly assembling

breakfast for ourselves. Jonathan demonstrated his prowess in the kitchen right off

the bat. His potion was an assembly of dehydrated eggs - the most foul abomination

I have ever seen and smelled - and dehydrated milk and butter - tied for second

place. Yet against all odds, he whipped up some mighty fine scrambled eggs in a

process I can only describe as culinary sorcery. I look forward to seeing (and

tasting) more of such magic in the coming weeks!

After breakfast, Shefali and I got drafted to dispose of some heavy stones outside of

the Hab (which I'm still convinced was a form of clandestine physical training). After

our rugged rock repositioning, we were given a full tour of the Hab. It was on this tour

that we discovered the presence of an uninvited GreenHab guest. We suspect there is

some kind of Martian rodent that has been chomping on our precious strawberry sprouts!

We've laid a trap in the GreenHab, and will hopefully meet the extraterrestrial

culprit very soon...

In the shadow of the trapping excitement, we began our actual training. This featured a

rotation of Rover and ATV training, followed by training on the EVA suits. There's a

unique comedic value to the notion that it took equally long to teach us how to put a

suit on as it did to teach us how to operate two separate motor vehicles. We are

professionals, we swear.

As the sun retires behind the Martian landscape, we too begin to wind down our

activities. A big day tomorrow calls for some good rest tonight. Generously, the

rotation of Mars offers us an extra 37 minutes to work with every day. I

believe tonight that implies 37 more minutes of well-deserved sleep. Tomorrow, we face

our first true Martian day equipped with the know-how and acuity to kick this planet's

butt!

 Journalist Report

Ben Durkee, Crew 218 Journalist

Waking up on Mars for the first time is a starkly humbling experience. You emerge from

your personal oven labeled "Crew Quarters" for some fresh (synthesized) air. After

taking a few breaths you realize that that very air is a privilege afforded to you by

the tin can that surrounds you. The tin can that is now your home for the foreseeable

future.

Once we had all shaken the sleep from our eyes, we began haphazardly assembling

breakfast for ourselves. Jonathan demonstrated his prowess in the kitchen right off

the bat. His potion was an assembly of dehydrated eggs - the most foul abomination

I have ever seen and smelled - and dehydrated milk and butter - tied for second

place. Yet against all odds, he whipped up some mighty fine scrambled eggs in a

process I can only describe as culinary sorcery. I look forward to seeing (and

tasting) more of such magic in the coming weeks!

After breakfast, Shefali and I got drafted to dispose of some heavy stones outside of

the Hab (which I'm still convinced was a form of clandestine physical training). After

our rugged rock repositioning, we were given a full tour of the Hab. It was on this tour

that we discovered the presence of an uninvited GreenHab guest. We suspect there is

some kind of Martian rodent that has been chomping on our precious strawberry sprouts!

We've laid a trap in the GreenHab, and will hopefully meet the extraterrestrial

culprit very soon...

In the shadow of the trapping excitement, we began our actual training. This featured a

rotation of Rover and ATV training, followed by training on the EVA suits. There's a

unique comedic value to the notion that it took equally long to teach us how to put a

suit on as it did to teach us how to operate two separate motor vehicles. We are

professionals, we swear.

The post-training briefing was punctuated by some energetic (and welcome) pounces from

the crew trainer's puppy. Maybe it's the isolation speaking, but I think dogs are even

cuter on Mars. After all the hard work and excitement, we finally got a moment to

stop and breathe, and then we splintered off to fulfill our personal duties.

As the sun retires behind the Martian landscape, we too begin to wind down our

activities. A big day tomorrow calls for some good rest tonight. Generously, the

rotation of Mars offers us an extra 37 minutes to work with every day. I

believe tonight that implies 37 more minutes of well-deserved sleep. Tomorrow, we face

our first true Martian day equipped with the know-how and acuity to kick this planet's

butt!

Crew 217 Journalist Report
12 Dec 2019

Teresa Hislop

Rockets, river beds, and rodents….

Our final day of sim started with a raucous rocket assembling party.
The four rocket experts (Ann, Cynthia, Kevin, Hope) tutored the four
rocket novices (Shannon, Atila, Teresa, Jen) and, in the end, four
rockets were assembled, painted, and ready for an afternoon launch.

The morning EVA took the six teacher explorers along a dry river bed,
up a winding road, past Badlands-esque geologic vistas, and onto a
plateau of literally littered with 150 million year old Devil’s
Toenail (Gryphaea) fossils. The teachers took many fossils and more
photos.

After dusting the hike’s soil from their boots, the crew got their
hands dirty when they planted succulents in pint jars. Each of the
eight crew members made a mini-terrarium using a small cactus, 5-10 ml
white gravel, and about 200 ml Mars simulant soil.

From mini-terrarium to full size greenhouse, from Martian simulant
soil to Earth-origined planting soil, the crew moved from the Hab to
the greenhouse to plant, re-plant, and repair. During the night
something ate all the zucchini, most of the peas, and several
tomatoes. The once healthy plants disappeared at ground level. We
suspect a rodent with a green tooth. Cynthia and Teresa replanted the
munched plants, transplanted herbs, acorn pumpkin and peppers, thinned
basil and cilantro, and planted lettuce and more cilantro. Atila
hung planter pots out of reach of the rascally rodent, Atila and Kevin
hung a shade screen, and Shannon crashed through an old bed.

The day’s adventures ended with a BANG. Every missile was
successfully launched and every missile was successfully recovered.
Shannon’s happy dance reflected everyone’s happy mood. Life is good
on Mars!!

Crew 217 Journalist Report
11 Dec 2019
Author: Teresa Hislop

“Failure is not an option” was today’s theme.

There were no petri dishes in the science dome. Our research plans
call for plating samples from two separate collections: gypsum
samples collected at Moon Overlook and green sediment samples from the
Morrison strata in Lith Canyon. Not be be deterred, we made “petri
bags” by mixing agar and pouring it into zip log bags. Success!

EVA One (Ann, Cynthia, Kevin, Teresa) journeyed to Lith Canyon. One
of MDRS’s absolute rules is that one stops when the Rovers’ battery
reaches 60%. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Do not take the
Rover further afield when the battery reads 60%. About two-thirds
the way to Lith Canyon, Spirit’s battery read 60%. Not to be deterred,
the astronauts continued with their mission, one Rover down. Failure
was not an option.

They successfully collected water samples from three separate
potholes. They also took measured pH and temperature and took
salinity readings They also scaped rock samples from four samples from
the green sediment in the Morrison strata: one from above the green
layer, one from the green layer, one from under the green layer, and
one from a group of crystalline structures in the layer above the
green layer. Finding themselves with over 60 minutes left in their
EVA allotment of time, the group also collected gypsum samples at the
Cow Dung Road/Moon Overlook Road junction.

While waiting for the radios and Rovers to recharge the group ground
and plated the Morrison strata and gypsum samples. The gypsum
samples were plated on 20% saline agar; the Morrison strata samples
were plated on nutrient agar and incubated.

EVA Two drove to Moon Overlook, stopping at three different locations
to collect gypsum. They went out and back without incident but not
without adventure. It was the first time in over 10 years Shannon had
been in a space suit and the first time ever that she has ridden in a
Rover in a space suit.

Lesson and idea sharing continues. Today’s highlight is Jen’s
Flipgrid app. She posts videos that her students view and respond to.
She can see and respond to their responses. It is a fabulous way for
asynchronous communication from “Mars” to Earth and back again. 

Crew 217 Journalist Report
10-Dec-2019

Teresa Hislop

Sol Two

First day of full simulation. SUCCESS! No deaths, infinite
enthusiasm. One could say our experiences were out of this world.

We spent the morning sharing ideas, lesson plans, and educational philosophies. Everyone’s approach to Mars education differed but none were alien. Kevin’s students create to scale Mars habitats, Jen uses Mars to hook ELA readers, and Hope takes students on a Mission to Mars for an entire semester. Ann’s Space Colonization curriculum is on her website and Cynthia shared NASA and Teacher-Pay-Teacher resources. Unquestionably, one of the most valuable NSBU outcomes will be the networking and sharing of resources and ideas that occurred this morning.

The afternoon took us outside for our first EVA (extra vehicular activity). In two sets of four, we suited up, drove the Rovers, and explored the Martian landscape. Except for a minor delay when the first crew had to return from airlock to correct a communications glitch, the EVAs were without incident.

The Internet continues to be the most non-stellar aspect of the experience. Yesterday it took 15 attempts to send the journalist report. None of the other officers were able to submit reports. Today connectivity continues to be spotty and bandwidth thin.

Kevin and Jen created an amazing mission patch. Jen, as Health and Safety Officer, has checked every fire alarm and carbon monoxide monitor in the complex. Ann completed tomorrow’s EVA requests. Kevin created and completed a science report. Yesterday Cynthia watered plants and planted lettuce. Teresa thinned the radishes and Ann used the radish greens in the evening’s stir fry. Tomorrow’s EVA adventures will take us gypsum hunting, pot hole sampling, and green stone collecting.

NASA Spaceward Bound UT
9-13 December
Submitted by: Teresa Hislop, Crew Journalist

Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)
Sol One

We learned how to be Martians. It’s simple really. Stay inside. Suit
up when going outside. Or die. And we don’t want anyone to die.

Sol One and MDRS Crew 217 is already a well-functioning team. “I
know you all will exceed expectations,” our Commander confidently
predicted.

Team members:

Crew Commander: Shannon
Executive Officer: Atila
Health and Safety Officer: Jen
Crew Engineer: Hope
Greenhouse Officer: Cynthia
Crew Journalist: Teresa
Crew Scientists: Kevin and Ann

We are the 217th crew to occupy MDRS and the first cadre of NASA
Spaceward Bound UT (NSBU) teachers. NSBU is the result of a NASA grant, written to give UT teachers (and vicariously their students) a Mars-like experience. We are NSBU pioneers.

Welcome to Mars!

MDRS is one of only two permanent Mars simulation stations in the
world; the other one is in the Arctic. It is the only station that
allows analog astronauts to do independent research. While we are
here, we will research halophiles, pothole ecosystems, and green
sediment formations.

Today, Sol One, was our last day on Earth; Tuesday through Thursday we will engage in a full simulation experience. While in sim, water is limited–550 gallons per 2-week mission– but energy is not.

After discussing regulations–like no TP in the toilets and separate
burnable trash from non-burnable– and responsibilities–like
submitting nightly reports and getting COM approval for all excursions, we explored Lith Canyon, licked fossil bones, and collected a few gypsum samples.

Dinner, writing bios, and to bed. The sun will come up tomorrow…ON MARS!!!