2022-2023 Field Season (#22)

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 18-03-2026
Sol: 3
Journalist Report Title: Sol 3

Today’s sol continued with a combination of lectures and field-based exercises. Lectures focused on toxicity and environmental exposures, as well as behavioral health and cognitive performance factors in long-duration spaceflight. These topics highlighted the complex and often subtle risks crews may face, reinforcing the importance of early recognition, sound judgment, and sustained physical and psychological performance in isolated environments.

During EVAs, the crew deployed in three teams to test prototype automated medical decision-making assistants in the field. Each system was tasked with helping identify and guide responses to unexpected medical scenarios. All three tools performed successfully, supporting crews in recognizing emergent conditions, guiding interventions, and stabilizing affected crewmates. The exercise demonstrated the potential for decision-support technologies to enhance safety and responsiveness during exploration missions, underscoring our mission’s focus on integrating medicine, engineering, and operations into a unified system for exploring the complex environment of Mars.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 17-03-2026
Sol: 2
Journalist Report Title: Sol 2

Today’s sol blended focused classroom instruction with field-based operational training, emphasizing both human factors and mission execution in our Mars analog environment. Morning lectures covered teamwork in high-risk settings, women’s health considerations in spaceflight, research in analog environments, and principles of search and rescue operations. Together, these sessions reinforced the importance of communication, adaptability, and inclusive team planning as we prepare for the demands of long-duration exploration.

In the field, the crew conducted an EVA in two teams to establish a communications relay between remote locations and the habitat. One team ascended to the summit of Tim’s Peak, working to transmit messages from multiple positions to a ground team, which then attempted to relay those communications back to the hab. The terrain proved challenging, and during descent, a crewmember suffered a fall resulting in a femur fracture. The situation quickly shifted from routine operations to emergency response, but the crew acted with focus and precision, stabilizing the injured crewmember and coordinating a safe return to the habitat using the medical and evacuation techniques they had practiced. All crewmembers are now safe, in good spirits, and ready to take on the next sol.

Journalist Report
Crew #331
Position: Medical Lead
Report prepared by: Arian Anderson
Date: 16-03-2026
Sol: 1
Journalist Report Title: Sol 1

Today’s sol at the Mars Desert Research Station blended rigorous medical training with high-stakes field operations. The morning began with an in-depth exploration of the challenges of Mars exploration and the physiological effects on the human body of prolonged exposure to spaceflight. Additional briefings included a comprehensive introduction to decompression sickness, which is a critical risk in an environment with operational pressure changes. Crew members engaged with the physiological mechanisms behind the condition, learning how inert gases can form bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues during rapid depressurization. Particular emphasis was placed on recognizing symptoms such as joint pain, dizziness, and neurological deficits, as well as implementing appropriate treatment protocols, including oxygen therapy and recompression strategies. At the time, these lessons were approached as theoretical preparation, but they would later take on immediate practical significance.

The crew then transitioned into a session focused on the vestibular system and its role in maintaining balance and spatial orientation. Through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities, we explored how altered gravity environments disrupt normal sensory processing, leading to space motion sickness and disorientation. These exercises highlighted how even minor impairments in orientation can significantly affect performance during mission-critical tasks.

In the afternoon, the crew embarked on two EVAs designed to advance both engineering and scientific objectives. Teams set out to locate a simulated crashed satellite, attempt repairs on a communications relay, and collect geological samples from the surrounding terrain. The Martian landscape presented both opportunities and challenges, requiring careful navigation and constant situational awareness.

During the EVAs, an unexpected incident tested the crew’s preparedness. While traversing uneven ground, a crew member tripped and sustained a minor knee injury accompanied by an abrasion. More critically, the fall resulted in damage to their spacesuit, leading to a depressurization and the onset of decompression sickness. The situation escalated quickly, transforming a routine EVA into a complex medical emergency.

The crew responded with professionalism and efficiency. Drawing directly on the morning’s training, team members rapidly identified the signs of decompression sickness and initiated appropriate treatment procedures. The injured crew member was stabilized in the field, carefully transported back to the habitat, and treated and monitored closely upon return. The coordinated response demonstrated the crew’s ability to translate theoretical knowledge into effective action under pressure.

Following the EVAs, training continued with instruction on SKED stretcher use, where crew members practiced safely packaging and transporting a simulated patient across uneven terrain. This exercise emphasized coordination, communication, and the physical demands of emergency response in a remote environment.

By the end of the sol, the injured crew member had fully recovered, and all team members were safe and accounted for. The incident served as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable nature of exploration and the importance of comprehensive preparation. It also reinforced the value of interdisciplinary training, where medical knowledge, operational skills, and teamwork converge to ensure mission success.

Despite the challenges encountered, morale remains high. The crew is encouraged by their ability to respond effectively to an emergency and is motivated to continue building on today’s experiences. As we look ahead to the next sol, we carry forward not only new knowledge, but also a renewed sense of confidence in our collective capability to meet the demands of life and work on Mars.