Author: jburk

ENGLISH

Sol 04

Planet of the Apes

Yesterday night didn´t end with movies and popcorn. The habitat became a forum for discussion and opinion where the seven crew members tried to describe the observable universe in all its facets. The conversation went from mysticism to modern physics and then to biology and genetics to end up trying to describe the nature of humanity. Apparently one third of the earth’s gravity has caused the crew’s ideas to fly better.

Today our Sun 4 started ten minutes earlier, 7:13 in the morning and the mats were already on the ground floor of our new home so that our XO made us wake up to the rhythm of 128 bpm as soundtrack.

Two of our Mars mission experiments require soil samples so four crew members went out to collect more than ten kilograms of Martian soil at the same time that our crew scientist tested parts of his space suit made on Earth in the best laboratories of the world and by his own hands. EVA successful, the ziplock bags are almost over.

Commander and journalist visited the solar observatory to find sunspots and some small coronal mass ejections. Who would have thought that the orange circle we see in our telescope would give life to our home millions of years ago but at the same time it seem so insignificant in the vast universe among other billions of stars bigger, smaller, hot or cold.

To summarize our feeling with breakfast, lunch and dinner we can say that we had never before enjoyed healthy food and those little details like a hot chocolate with marshmallows or a homemade bread after a full day of work. The Porg seems happy stealing part of our food ration, luckily our rocket contained enough provisions.

The day concludes with many ideas. Everyone knows their situation, their country of origin and their environment, but if there is one thing we are sure is that borders, titles and names often distance the true success of humanity. And as a clear example, we are here today in red lands representing and speaking for Latin America when nobody ever imagined that it would be possible.

Tomorrow in our Sun 5 a full day of research awaits for us to continue work in our projects although we certainly expect Martian cake.

LATAM II will continue to inform.

Tania Robles, MDRS Crew 187 Journalist

[Sol 03]

[The Force Awakens]

07:20 in the morning on the first floor of the habitat. Apparently someone woke up late but it didn´t stop us from doing the first exercise routine in days since we get Mars. Stretches, flexibility and some strength to start Sol 3. Then a breakfast made of orange and dried egg that looked like a yellow paste. The cooker promises to give it some more flavor tomorrow.

The day of the first Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) for all Crew 187 arrived. Armed with our suits, helmets, oxygen tanks, gloves, boots and communication system the seven earthlings traveled to the nearby mountains and valleys with their vehicles to discover red lands and rocky horizons that make anyone sigh. Are we really on Mars? I wish everyone could see what we do.

When we walk outside it is impossible not to see in the sky those lines caused by the meteorites that cross the sky of the red planet that remind us of the stelae of the planes that fly in our home. Still nothing can be compared with the views that gave us the small Spark drone that traveled with us.

Then more than one hour outside for each expedition ended with a few minutes in the pressurization chamber and a pain in the back and shoulders of our XO that guided both EVAs. Objectives met. Success in the first EVA of Crew 187.

Hungry and tired we beg for food to our chefs who prepared rice with cheese and meat that reminded our Mexican crew members of a certain typical dish prepared with tortillas. Everyone asked for double ration but it was impossible because this will be our dinner.

After lunch we received a visit from the Habitat Director to conclude to understand and know the map of the area surrounding the habitat. There are many roads, many areas and many possibilities. We already have some expeditions in mind that will surely give us large amounts of information. Tomorrow four crew members will go to EVA to collect 15 kilograms of samples of analogue ground for their experiments.

With the night over us and about to conclude the activities we plan to have our first movies night with popcorn. It should be noted that get bored is not an option in the habitat with board games, space chess and more than 50 films for all tastes.

Those fans of space films will understand our excitement when we realize that a small Porg has nested in the EVA Officer’s bedroom. From now on, not only Earth life live in the habitat but also from planet Crait.

A sea of stars has arrived and now it covers us in this third night sleeping in our new home for another 13 nights surrounded by Martian red colour everywhere you see. LATAM II will continue to inform.

Tania Robles, MDRS Crew 187 Journalist

Picture of the day:

518800_425700 15Jan2018 Red Planet.jpg