Category: Sol Summary

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Commander
Report prepared by: Cesare Guariniello
Date: 23Dec2025
Sol: 8

Summary Title: A tale of two speeds
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The crew today slowly woke up at the sound of Floyd Maroon, then got ready for a day where, as usual during this mission, half the crew had a very intense EVA, and the other half had some relaxed and productive time at the habitat. Today’s EVA was entirely on foot, with the three participants walking a total of 5 miles to the cliffs of Skyline Rim (where they collected samples for the Commander) and back. The afternoon saw the crew resting and we are getting ready for the incoming end of the mission. We are now writing our reports while preparing fried rice for dinner.
Look Ahead Plan: Weather might still give us a chance for an early EVA tomorrow. And then we will begin Christmas eve celebrations
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Getting more cloudy, slight chance of rain tomorrow
Crew Physical Status: Everybody is doing great
EVA: walking EVA to Skyline Rim
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Photos (6-8 images), Operations Report, Astronomy Report, EVA 9 Report, EVA 10 Request.
Support Requested: A request will be put in for a 4-participants EVA.

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Scientist
Report prepared by: Ellenah del Rio
Date: 24Dec2025
Sol: 9

Summary Title: Fossils, FLIR, and Festive Feasting
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Another rich and memorable sol, with strong science output, a successful EVA, and a well-earned dose of comfort back at the Hab. Before sunrise, Saranya quietly conducted thermal imaging of the habitat, science dome, and GreenHab to avoid solar loading, capturing all sides, including areas with visible wear, to support later structural assessment. The crew began the morning around 0800 with a special wake-up song: Endaro Mahanubhavulu, which set a warm tone for an early start. With an earlier EVA on the schedule, the crew moved efficiently through breakfast and the comms window, making the most of the time for planning and coordination. Ellenah, Adrianna, and Saranya suited up for the EVA and began with additional thermal imaging before departing in the rovers toward the “Sea of Shells” (the Moon). Isabella navigated while Saranya drove, following guidance from crew who had previously visited. Saranya also documented the site with her DSLR, capturing standout landscape imagery. The team returned to the Hab and under cloudier conditions Saranya completed more thermal imaging and identified heat signatures consistent with structural cracks for follow-up analysis, while Isabella and Adrianna collected substantial Garmin biometric data for their project. Back at the Hab, the crew prepared lunch. Cesare continued the culinary streak with baked ziti and an Italian Motta Il Panettone cake. Ellenah spent time biking while Morgan cleaned the lower Hab and checked suit status; later, Ellenah, Isabella, and Adrianna relaxed together on the bean bags and watched the new season of Percy Jackson, followed by naps and personal time. The day ended on a high note: the crew received the opportunity to make brief phone calls, an especially meaningful connection after nearly ten days of isolation beyond Mission Control.

Look Ahead Plan: One more EVA tomorrow (hopefully), and more work on our research projects.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Partly Cloudy.

Crew Physical Status: Everybody is doing great.

EVA: Today we had a long and successful EVA to the Sea of Shells.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Photos (6-8 images), Operations Report, EVA 10 Report, EVA 10 Request.

Support Requested: None.

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Scientist
Report prepared by: Ellenah del Rio
Date: 25Dec2025
Sol: 10

Summary Title: Christmas!
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The morning started off bright and festive. The crew wished family and friends a very Merry Christmas, and the tradition, White Elephant, shortly followed. Isabella, Saranya and Morgan prepped for today’s mission with delays due to tourist trespassers. The EVA team were sent off on their mission with "hero" hits such as "Eye of the Tiger." At the Hab, Adrianna went to the GreenHab while Ellenah and Cesare conversed at the upper deck. Soon, Adrianna began to cook lunch while Ellenah and Cesare cleaned. Meanwhile, the EVA team went to Candor Chasma, walked down into the canyon and collected Garmin data. They walked 2.7 miles into the canyon, rested for 10 mins, then proceeded to head back to the Hab. When they arrived, the Crew ate lunch together, then spent the rest of the afternoon with personal time and watching, "9 Kittens." Dinner was then prepared, and the crew plans to watch another Christmas movie tonight to end the Christmas celebration appropriately.

Look Ahead Plan: One more EVA tomorrow, and then back to Earth.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Partly Cloudy and windy.

Crew Physical Status: Everybody is doing great.

EVA: Today we had a long and successful EVA to Candor Chasma.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Photos (6-8 images), Operations Report, EVA 11 Report, EVA 12 Request.

Support Requested: None.

Report title: Sol Summary Report

Crew #: 325
Position: Crew Scientist
Report prepared by: Ellenah del Rio
Date: 26Dec2025
Sol: 11

Summary Title: Hello Earth!
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The morning started off slow and quiet. Some of the crew packed and did a little bit of cleaning while also eating breakfast. Ellenah, Adrianna, Isabella and Cesare ventured off with the final EVA mission of the rotation. They walked to the Hab rim, collected seashell fossils to bring back as souvenirs to family and friends. Then, they walked to a location where they could see the Hab. Here, they took in the view, took in the moment and took some photos. It was a great way to end this journey as they walked back to the Hab and appreciated Mars’ landscapes and beauty. At the same time, back in the Hab, Saranya and Morgan spent some time cleaning and preparing the campus for the next crew. The crew then ate leftover Mac and Cheese and had their own downtime. At 1 pm, the Crew returned to Earth and was warmly welcomed by Sergii (Mission Support). Final reports were written, and showers commenced. A beautiful way to end the mission.
Look Ahead Plan: Dinner with Earth food.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Partly Cloudy and windy.
Crew Physical Status: Everybody is doing great.
EVA: Today we had a successful EVA to Hab rim.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Photos (6-8 images), Operations Report, EVA Report, Mission summary, End-of-the mission research report

Support Requested: None.

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Commander
Report prepared by: Keegan Chavez
Date: 29-12-2026
Sol: 1
Summary Title: A New Beginning
Mission Status: All things nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Crew was up and having breakfast around 0800. First EVA with Ben, Daria, Armand, and Idris was performed at 1000-1130, after lunch the second EVA with Keegan, Vindhya, and Katharina was performed from 1330-1500. The purpose of both of these EVA was to practice the preparatory stages of an EVA and get accustomed to operating the rovers and EVA suits. All crew members performed admirably and feel prepared to handle more intense EVAs going forward. After EVA 2, many crew members required a nap, while Ben planned locations for his sample collections and Daria and Vindhya began to prepare the rover for EVAs. In the evening all crew members had reports to complete after dinner and the 2nd loaf of bread was prepared, looking forward to many more.
Look Ahead Plan: The crew is planning to be up late celebrating the New Year, and therefore will plan to not have an EVA on the 1st. This will give the rover team time to complete prep and the crew time to plan the remaining EVAs. Ben and Idris’s projects are further along than others, so EVAs are planned for Sol 2 and Sol 3 that will support their goals.
Anomalies in work: A few brown outs throughout the day, complications with mission ops were mitigated
Weather: Chilly, but clear skies
Crew Physical Status: Crew is staying healthy and fit
EVA: A short drive out to Marble Ritual site followed by some time wandering around gave all crew members time to be familiarized with rover, EVA suit, and handheld radio operation.
Reports to be filed:

Mission Plan

Sol Summary

GreenHab Report

Operations Report

Journalist Report

Daily Photos

EVA Report x2

EVA Request

Support Requested: None

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Commander
Report prepared by: Keegan Chavez
Date: 30-12-2025
Sol: 2
Summary Title: Big Steps
Mission Status: All things nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Crew had delicious blueberry pancakes and "spacon" for breakfast today. Ben, Daria, and Armand got their first test of a real EVA, including pathfinding, endurance hiking, and identifying samples for Ben’s construction project. The Crew Commander made a ridiculous amount of rice that was used for lunch and dinner. The afternoon was filled with multiple games of Clue that allowed the crew to relax while keeping their deductive reasoning skills sharp. The evening was just as tame as the crew continued to rest and prepare their projects for future EVAs.
Look Ahead Plan: With one project successfully started, the crew readies Idris’s sensor suite to bring on EVA 4. The rover basic functionality has been proven in the Hab and minor tweaks are being prepared for EVA. Katharina’s antennas have arrived at the Rock Shop, once they have been delivered to the Hab final prep for her research project can be completed. The crew is looking forward to celebrating the new year on Mars.
Anomalies in work: a few brown outs around noon but less severe than on Sol 1 and had no major impact on crew operations
Weather: Sunny and warm
Crew Physical Status: Crew is staying healthy and fit
EVA: Ben, Daria, and Armand headed North from the Hab on foot. Finding the trail head up to the top of Hab Ridge took some time, but was expedited by help from the crew at the Hab. Once at the top of Hab Ridge, the EVA team headed South to find a region identified by Ben that contains the right samples for his research. After sample collection the crew followed their train back to the Hab.
Reports to be filed:

Mission Plan

Sol Summary

GreenHab Report

Operations Report

Journalist Report

Daily Photos

EVA Report

EVA Request

Support Requested: A package has been delivered to the Rock Shop for HSO Katharina Guth, we request that the packaged be picked up from the Rock Shop and delivered to the Hab

Report title: Sol Summary Report
Crew #: 326
Position: Crew Commander
Report prepared by: Keegan Chavez
Date: 31-12-2025
Sol: 3
Summary Title: Minor setbacks, Major Progress
Mission Status: all things nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Earlier rise this morning to prepare for an earlier EVA. EVA team was prepped and in the airlock by 0900, this time Idris’s project was started by placing the first environmental sensor. The afternoon was filled with a 500 piece puzzle and a staggered lunch of leftovers. The longest game of BS ever was played and then crew members separated to handle individual research tasks and role responsibilities. While Ben’s first attempt at baking bricks took more time and power than expected, it was a strong first step in refining procedures for sample collection and brick production. A cake was baked and decorated for New Years Eve that the whole crew is looking forward too, along with bringing in the new year.
Look Ahead Plan: Some time will be taken in the evening to coordinate the rest of the mission’s EVAs to allow for all research projects to be finished.
Anomalies in work: Rolling brown outs that started around 1200, believed to be due to extra power draw from crew members research project in conjunction with an increased cloud cover
Weather: Cloudy throughout the day
Crew Physical Status: staying healthy and fit
EVA: Idris, Vindhya, and Katharina took the rovers south to Kissing Camel Ridge. Idris placed 1 sensor for his project and Vindhya took some images to be used to train the autonomous rover navigation. The EVA team spent some time hiking the ridges and taking more images before returning via rover to the Hab.
Reports to be filed:

Mission Plan

Sol Summary

GreenHab Report

Operations Report

Journalist Report

Daily Photos

EVA Report

EVA Request

Support Requested: none

Report title: Sol Summary Report

Crew #: 319

Position: Mission Commander

Report prepared by: Rym Y. Chaid

Date: 13-10-2025

Sol: 1

Summary Title: From the Red Planet

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems operational.

Sol Activity Summary:

SOL 1 began with the crimson sunrise of a new world.
The desert outside our habitat glowed like an ocean of red dust, a reminder that though we stand on Earth’s soil, today we live and breathe as if we were on Mars.

The habitat, though still unfamiliar, has already begun to feel like home.

First night on Mars was special for our crew, as we explored the terrain deep into the Martian night! The MICO-VIE WBA Global Mission’s Opening Ceremony connected us to habitats across the world, voices from around the globe converging into one mission, one purpose: the World’s Biggest Analog ever attempted in history! Despite ending our night at 0330 am local time and the pull of fatigue, at 0900 local time, we officially crossed the threshold and began life on Mars.

I watched my crew each step through the airlock with that unmistakable spark in their eyes: awe, focus, and pride. This is what we have trained for. This is the dream we now live.

Throughout the day, we settled into our duties of habitat operations, reporting protocols, and the first round of mission deliverables. The crew demonstrated adaptability and professionalism, despite very limited rest. Systems remained nominal. Communications established and verified. Crew Morale: High!

Between tasks, we found moments of quiet reflection, a shared meal, a contagious laugh, the simple joy of realizing: we are explorers, even here, under the hum of recycled air and life support systems.

The desert winds outside remind us that isolation can be both humbling and empowering. In every grain of dust around us, we see the echoes of Mars, a place that feels both distant and familiar, a mirror of human curiosity and resilience that we are determined to explore.

As Commander, I could not be prouder of our Crew. Today, we proved together what it means to begin and to adapt together.

Tomorrow, the work continues. But tonight, we rest beneath a Martian sky, tired, inspired, and united by a shared purpose: to dream beyond Earth.

Anomalies in work: None at this time.

Weather:

Crew Physical Status: All Crew in Good Health + Spirit.

EVA: N/A – EVA activities for Crew 319 are scheduled to commence SOL 3, pending weather clearance and approval of EVA requests on SOL 2 COMS Window.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, HSO Pre-Mission Checklist

Support Requested: None at this time.

Report title: Sol 2 Summary Report

Crew #: 319

Position: Mission Commander

Report prepared by: Rym Y. Chaid

Date: 14-10-2025

Sol: 2

Summary Title: Canadian Turkey spotted on Mars!

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems operational.

Sol Activity Summary:

This is Commander Rym Y. Chaid reporting from Mars Station.

SOL 2 reminded us that life on Mars, even an analog Mars, is never predictable. Early in the day, one of our GreenHab experiments ran into technical difficulties during setup. What was expected to be a simple procedure quickly became a full-crew operation, and all engineers on deck responded to action. Ricardo, Shriya and myself, all came in to troubleshoot and support our GreenHab Officer Mackenzie in this difficult task.

In moments like these, you see the strength of a crew, not in how perfectly things go, but in how quickly everyone steps in when they don’t. There’s no “someone else’s task” here on Mars. Every system depends on every person, and today, we proved just that.

On a happy note, the habitat was filled with anticipation all day as we’re preparing for our first EVA tomorrow. The suits are ready, checklists complete, and spirits high. You can feel the excitement in every conversation, every glance toward the airlock.

And since I am proudly Canadian, we’re closing SOL 2 by celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving on Mars, proof that even 225 million kilometers from home, you can still find something to be grateful for… especially if someone remembered the instant mashed potatoes!

As we wrap up SOL 2, there’s a sense of calm pride in the air. We adapted, we worked together, and we grew stronger as a team. Each Sol brings its own story, and today it was about teamwork, flexibility, and trust.

Tomorrow, we take our first steps outside, on the surface of Mars, a moment every astronaut dreams of.

End Transmission.

Look Ahead Plan: First Crew EVA tomorrow, pending approval and weather conditions.

Anomalies in work: One GreenHab experiment had technical difficulties during setup. All engineers on deck had to step up: Commander, Scientist and Engineers came in as support for GreenHab Officer.

Weather: Temperature around 57 F, No rain, 67% Humidity. Overall Sunny day with slight overcast

Crew Physical Status: All Crew in Good Health + Spirit.

EVA: No EVA activity today. Request sent it for tomorrow – SOL 3.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Mission Plan

Support Requested: None at this time.

Report title: Sol 3 Summary Report
Crew #: 319
Position: Mission Commander
Report prepared by: Rym Y. Chaid
Date: 15-10-2025
Sol: 3

Summary Title: Perseverance & Curiosity

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems operational.

Sol Activity Summary:

This is Commander Rym Y. Chaid reporting from Mars Station.

Today, SOL 3 tested our patience and resolve. Our crew began the day with high spirits as the long-awaited first EVAs were finally on the schedule. Helmets were ready, suits prepped, checklists reviewed. But as every explorer learns, plans rarely survive contact with the unknown.

Mission Support issued a partial abort for EVA 1, followed by a directive to reduce crew participation in EVA 2. Though necessary for safety and coordination, the news struck hard. The energy inside the habitat shifted, quieter, more subdued than usual. We could all feel the collective weight of disappointment upon us.

Still, this is the nature of missions in extreme environments. Mars doesn’t bend to human desires, and success often means knowing when to pause, reassess, and adapt. The crew did exactly that. Each member turned focus back to daily operations, reports, maintenance, GreenHab monitoring, and planning for the next opportunity to step outside.

Even on difficult days, there’s value in persistence. Today was not only the day for first steps on the Martian surface, but it was another day of discipline, patience, and teamwork, because at the end of the day, those are the skills that carry explorers forward when conditions turn against them.

Out here, resilience is as vital as oxygen.

We’ll regroup, recalibrate, and continue forward. Mars demands nothing less.

End Transmission.

Anomalies in work: EVA 1 and 2 had to readjust their plan and procedures on the spot. Team adapted well despite all.

Weather: Very windy!

Crew Physical Status: All Crew in Good Health – Spirits are low today, but that’s to be expected at times. Our crew is adapting nonetheless in good strength.

EVA: Our crew’s first 2 EVAs took place today – No EVA planned for tomorrow

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Mission Plan, EVA Report 1 & 2

Support Requested: None at this time.