2022-2023 Field Season (#22)

Report title: Journalist Report
Crew #: 333
Position: Crew Journalist
Report prepared by: Joanna Galloway
Date: 08-04-2026
Sol: 10

Journalist Report Title (if applicable): Experiments and adventures

Today was a busy day, after some nice chocolate chip pancakes. Matias, Antoine and Joanna went out to Green Mars view to do Antoine’s experience. The name describes the place well, not only is it green but the views were magnificent. The crew then headed to Special Region to try out Matias’s resonating loop which allows to amplify the radio calls. They were hopeful to maybe find a fossil where there are plenty, but there was nothing to be found except a canyon which they were able to observe from a view point. Back at the hab, Marie sorted through our pictures and did her sport, Matthias who tended to the Greenhab also helped Zahraa make samosa for the Crew’s lunch. It was delicious! We had a long wait between both EVA’s to allow time for the rovers to charge, so we had a slow lunch then filmed the presentation of all our experiments here on Mars. By 3.30pm the second EVA was gearing up: Antoine, Joanna, Matthias and Marie went out to see another terrain for Antoine’s experience: Candor Chasma while Zahraa and Matias stayed back at the station to work and read more literature on their experiments. The EVA was beautiful but very hot, the Crew was happy to come back to some nice cool water. As our time here at the MDRS is slowly coming to an end, we are having burgers tonight to the joy of the whole Crew. Luckily, Zahraa is an expert bread maker so she can whip up some delicious burger buns! The Crew is very happy but we are feeling tired so we will have an early night tonight, so that we’re ready for our last few EVA’s tomorrow.

Crew #: 335

Position: Crew Journalist

Report prepared by: Matteo Calore

Date: 21-04-2026

Sol: 1

First Day on Mars: Entering New Worlds

Today was our first day on Mars. We woke up around 6:30, and Charlotte made pancakes, which we happily devoured. Then we prepared for the EVA. Kat wasn’t feeling very well, so Elisa took her place for the first EVA to Marble Ritual between 10 and 11. Afterwards, Dave and Charlotte carried out the second EVA to Marble Ritual.

After a quick lunch of mashed potatoes and mushrooms prepared by Matteo, Dave, Elisa, and Matteo went out to film and work on photographic projects, while Kat and Charlotte stayed at the Hab to work and write. This evening Charlotte prepared a lentil and potato stew for dinner, which was very good, and everyone is now busy writing reports and planning the next days.

Arriving on Mars is an interesting experience. Despite months of online calls, we are only now beginning to really get to know one another, and to learn how to communicate our different needs. While some have known each other for a long time, others have only just met and come from very different worlds. We are slowly learning how to enter one another’s worlds.

Everyone is a bit tired and some feel sick. We are still adjusting from our different journeys, still partly carrying the baggage we brought from Earth, and trying to understand how this world works. It is a completely new reality. The desert around us is astonishing, although it also feels as if we are never really going outside, since we bring the Hab with us even when we go out, in our suits.