Crew 297 – Janus 1 Journalist – David Laude
"Mars has been flown by, orbited, smacked into, radar examined, and rocketed onto, as well as bounced upon, rolled over, shoveled, drilled into, baked and even blasted." – Ray Bradbury
This Sol 9 has delivered mixed results as the NPS recovery team failed to recover it from an uncertain landing site, while progress with Case was made.
Dave and Matt S. went clockwise around the search area searching for the NPS, while Matt L. moved counter-clockwise. Some of this terrain was very hilly and made movement quite slow. Late into the search we had still not located the NPS and asked for a hint from HABCOM, however due to the high amount of interference it was challenging to make out the exact hint. To expedite the return and maximize search time, we used the extended range of Opportunity to do a short shuttle mission. The NPS was not found, but we have now been given its exact coordinates and an EVA to recover it is planned tomorrow.
Case the robot was driven by crew members Sarah and Sean as Pawel watched on for the final set of trial runs needed to get Case’s confidence up. Sarah explored the area and took gamma-ray spectrometer measurements. She noted that the uranium content here was more than areas further south from the Hab (around Robert’s rocks), but in line with what is expected. Case was also able to maneuver around an obstacle course to gather imagery of a point of interest, but needed some manual input.
This journalist had planned to use AI to help write a report and now is the time and so here it is.
In ChatGPT own words [journalist's edits in brackets]:
"In the vast expanse of the desert, three figures clad in space suits embarked on a seemingly futile mission to locate an air-dropped [NPS]. With each step, their visors fogged with frustration as the relentless sun beat down upon them. The arid landscape stretched endlessly, offering no clues to the elusive container’s whereabouts. Each passing moment heightened their sense of urgency, yet the [NPS] remained tantalizingly out of reach. As the [clock ticked relentlessly onward,] the trio reluctantly conceded defeat, their mission ending in disappointment amidst the vastness of the unforgiving desert."
This journalist (not a professional, nor a good word smith) admits to Chat’s greater than his own ability to compose a compelling story, and with only one sentence of information provided (Create a short paragraph regarding the failed attempt to find an air dropped can in the desert with 3 people in space suits.). It’s as if it were a professional journalist and with the EVA team!
There is no doubt AI will be of use in a multitude of ways for any manned Mars mission. In 1968 this journalist saw the HAL-9000 AGI system in the sci-fi movie "2001:A Space Odyssey", then a marvel for the future. The year 2001 came and passed with no HAL like AI. That future is nearly here though, hopefully without AGI having its own mysterious ways with us.