Category: Journalist Report

ChristMARS: The Birth of an Astronaut Crew

“The only way to learn it is to do it.” – Archimedes, "Sword in the Stone"

As humans, day after day, we’re constantly exposed to our limitations. Through mistakes – sometimes many mistakes – we learn how to put our best foot forward and avoid falling into the same pitfalls. But on Mars, we don’t have that privilege. Every mistake can be fatal, so we need to correct them on the spot, with minimal resources available, and under the pressure of life and death… even on Christmas day.
To a lesser extent, going to a challenging environment without the same comforts of everyday life is a feeling we’ve all felt at some point in our lives. It is, arguably, what makes a child an adult – leaving their parents’ wings and conquering the world. The cycle of life we all know too well is also depicted in many stories we tell each other, such as the movie that Crew Montes decided to watch for inspiration last night. In Elf, the protagonist (ironically enough) leaves his home from the remote depths of the North Pole to search for his parents in New York City. In the case of Crew Montes, however, we’re dealing with an even greater quest: conquering a different world, much more remote than New York (or the North Pole, for that matter).
To do so, Montes is diligently working on their scientific experiments that will aid humans in occupying Mars. Preparing for our fourth EVA today, Mr. Fix, Spy and I, Hermit, worked together on ensuring the DRONE – that is, the Digital Reconstruction and Optical Navigation of the Environment – would capture valuable data of Mars’ landscape. First, Spy started working on his innovative concept for remote data capture via DNS, while Hermit and Mr. Fixit integrated the complex assemble of sensors, cables and supporting structures in the DRONE . In the meantime, Messiah was responsible for setting up Spy’s VR cognitive test, and Murph and Genie worked together on a pipeline for carbon dioxide detection in a mushroom chamber. Once it was all set, we were ready to rock and roll.
Of course, Mars had some objections to our plans. Once we left for the EVA, the first flight test of the DRONE faced many unexpected issues. Mars blew its strongest winds against our mascot, which it took like a champ. DRONE’s resilience was truly commendable under such a monstruous attack, but even the fiercest warrior could feel the hit at that point. Its LIDAR 3D-printed mount got seriously damaged, preventing us to safely re-launch it for another flight… or so Mars would think. Montes is prepared for emergencies even in the direst of times. Mr. Fixit, Spy and I quickly responded by repairing our mascot with the DRONE first-aid kit we brought *just in case*. That allowed us to launch it once again in safer conditions, capturing some more preliminary data that will be used for valuable post-processing. Coming back to the hab, we also checked some issues with the external interface of the tunnels, which got damaged due to the strong winds. All of that reminded us that going gentle into that good Martian night could be fatal.
Meanwhile, Messiah would face a major roadblock in setting up the VR device. We all know how us humans can get hangry when we don’t get food for some time. Similarly, electronic devices can be quite moody when they are not fed the proper connection. That was not a critical problem, however, since now we’ve learned how to pre-set our operations even under no service. Take that, Mars.
Finally, Murph and Genie would work on the Green Hab preparing the mushrooms for optimal growth. Unfortunately, minor contamination and leakage have been preventing them to get the most of it so far, and minimal resources would make it even more difficult to improve the growth rate. However, with a spark of creativity, Murph crafted a brand-new CO2 chamber with little to no tools, creating a jaw-dropping pipeline for mushroom growth optimization that any mycologist would envy. Even Mars is starting to think it doesn’t stand a chance against the resourcefulness of this crew.
Now that we have learned our lessons in Sol 3, it is time to celebrate the birth of a legend. I’m talking of course, of Jesus, but you might know him as our Commander, Messiah. Hopefully, this cycle around the Sun provided him with opportunities for optimal growth even in the harshest conditions. Happy birthday, Commander!
Hermit out.

Climb That Mountain

"Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again. But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain?" – JFK

In any circumstance, reaching the top has but one constant: it is exhausting. Hours of climbing – literally or metaphorically – can make anyone question why they are even doing it in the first place. What’s more, for outsiders, it is more often than not interpreted as a glorified form of self-torture, where the reason is never logical, and the individual might have reached some sort of high-altitude confusion even before the hike started.
It might sound funny enough for you, then, when I tell you that Crew Montes’ mission was to reach the tallest peaks (aka Montes) from the very beginning. In Sol 4, three of our finest astronauts – Genie, Murph and Messiah – set out to explore Hab Ridge on a strenuous EVA up the hill. If the steep trail wasn’t fun enough, the hike surely got an extra kick from their 30 lb astronaut backpacks. A successful collection of valuable rock samples, as well as in-situ data log via ElectroMagnetic Frequency instrumentation, could be interpreted as the logical motivation behind this journey. But deep down, I am sure that there were more important things that could be drawn from this experience. And I’m not talking about the sick pictures that they took.
While half the crew was out for the EVA, the remaining astronauts from Montes were also doing their part to successfully explore Mars. Spy and Mr. Fix co-led the CAPCOM role, providing all necessary inputs that would lead our EVA team towards success. In the meantime, I worked on fixing our mascot, DRONE, who had its LIDAR mount sharply damaged during yesterday’s EVA. A backup mount was adapted to our needs and smoothly installed, making the DRONE ready for another set of flights tomorrow, where we will go to the same spot for more data collection and drone reckoning. One might ask me if I’m afraid or excited to go on a task that knocked out some of my crewmates for 2 straight hours after the EVA, but if you’ve been following my reports, you’ll know that the answer is obvious.
Well, no one told us exploring Mars would be easy. In fact, they said quite the opposite. To be more precise, we all heard that is about the hardest thing that humans would ever accomplish (if successful). We don’t even have to hike up the tallest mountain in the solar system, Olympus Mons, to interpret the Mars endeavor as the highest mountain we set out to climb. But this shared purpose goes beyond time and space. JFK’s speech from 1960, or the collective dream from all over the world proves that colonizing Mars is anything but a fluke. That leads us once again to the question we started with: why climb the highest mountain in the first place?
I believe that the quest to something bigger than ourselves, on Mars or on Earth, is a natural human instinct. Without such a purpose, our lives could end up defined by a boring and cumbersome experience. After all, we’re not in this Earth (or Mars!) on probation – our true responsibility is to make the best of the gift of life, exploring all kinds of mountains in the process. That’s how we improve ourselves and, once what was hard becomes less hard, we can eventually achieve greater and greater heights. A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
Let’s climb that mountain.
Hermit out.

“Step by Step, Cable by Cable”
After a late night pushing through MDRS research, wrapping up abstracts, and chipping away at Ph.D. dissertations, Crew 305 rose this morning at around 7:45 AM. Spruha started the day by making eggs for everyone—a simple but welcome breakfast—before returning to the challenge of wiring up the rover for its first EVA test. When we hit a snag with the Raspberry Pi (no proper cables on hand), Monish stepped in to help. He quickly pivoted to installing ROS on Spruha’s desktop, ensuring the Pi’s software configuration could move forward without delay.
Meanwhile, Rashi balanced her COMMS duties with some kitchen creativity, putting together a veggie side dish to accompany leftover spaghetti for lunch. Out on EVA 07, Ian, Hunter, and Peter ventured to Kissing Camel to collect stream measurements and soil samples. They returned around 1:00 PM, and we all shared a midday meal before getting on with the rest of the day’s tasks.
Peter set up his experiment on the lower deck for a round of cognitive tests, and everyone took turns tackling the challenges. Upstairs, Spruha and Monish pressed on with the rover’s wiring until and got it done by 5:00 PM. With that done, Peter introduced two more team puzzles as part of his human factors research. This time, we felt good about our performance and the cooperative energy in the Hab.
As a break from the day’s more serious work, we turned to Peter’s VR headset—a tool for his research that has also become a source of group entertainment. Beat Saber sessions, set to a soundtrack of Britney Spears hits, have been a surprising hit and a way to unwind. Tonight, Hunter, Monish, and Rashi took their turns in VR, taking a moment to laugh and reconnect.
By early evening, Ian had assembled a Tuna Spinach Pasta that provided a comforting, hearty dinner. At 7:00 PM, we gathered together, and dove into writing our reports. The day may have started with a few technical hiccups, but problem-solving and teamwork carried us through—step by step, cable by cable.

Spruha worked late into the night installing the OS on her Raspberry Pi, so most of us didn’t stir until around 8:00 AM. By then, Monish had already made omelettes for everyone, customizing each just a bit—more veggies for some, extra cheese for others. We had three tracks playing quietly in the background, including that song Spruha, Monish, and Hunter all really like, which helped us start the day on a good note.
After breakfast, we reviewed our plans. Mission Support advised that the day would be cloudy, so we agreed to keep the Hab running in low power mode. Spruha’s code, which had reached 85% overnight, still had 15% to go. We were all hoping it would be done by 11:30 PM. Meanwhile, Rashi continued expanding her research document, now at four pages. Monish focused on sensor tests for his experiment. Peter tidied up the Hab and planned to send out exit surveys for the human factors study.
Before the EVA, Ian prepared a simple lunch of rice and chicken. On EVA, Ian and Hunter took stream measurements and collected paleosol samples, while Spruha scouted a site for rover tests and our upcoming media day. The good news came in while they were still outside: Spruha’s code finished uploading around 12:45 PM.
Back inside, Rashi kept working through her notes, and Peter did another round of dishes, occasionally glancing through the windows to check on the team. Monish set up the global dashboard. After the EVA crew returned at about 1:35 PM, they took out the rovers and headed over to Zubrin’s head. The comms team recorded the rover range and battery levels. Once everyone got back, we took a short break.
Later in the afternoon, Spruha returned to the rover, and Hunter slipped over to the GreenHab for his own research tasks. Ian and Rashi spent some time on their schoolwork. Spruha and Monish teamed up to inspect the rover’s wiring and may have pinpointed the source of a persistent issue. By 6:00 PM, it was time for reports and dinner. Rashi prepared black bean burger patties, and we settled in for a quiet evening, looking back on another busy day

We are onto something, guys… Just this one more, and then we are golden!

Sol 9 began with the crew easing into the day between 7 and 9 AM. Rashi, the Crew Journalist, started her morning with some life planning, jotting down things she’d like to accomplish before the year wraps up. Peter, the Health and Safety Officer, was up by 7:30 AM and spent some quiet time reading a book. Spruha, our Crew Engineer, got straight to work at 7:45 AM, debugging the rover. She carefully checked each wiring connection on the circuit board to figure out why the power wasn’t flowing through properly. It turned out to be a loose connection, and Monish joined in to help troubleshoot. Together, they debated whether soldering was the best fix—it would secure the connection but make it harder to repair in the future. They decided to solder, and it worked.

Meanwhile, Hunter cleaned the kitchen before heading to the GreenHab to check on his experiment. Ian, Peter, and Rashi worked on their respective devices and research. As EVA time approached, Ian prepared a quick tuna spinach salad for everyone. Spruha, Ian, and Rashi got suited up while the rest of the crew helped them prep. Since the rover wasn’t ready for the EVA, Spruha removed a wheel to test it manually in the field. This was a walking EVA, so no rovers were used. The team exited from the RAM as planned and focused on testing the wheel, collecting stream measurements, and, as always, keeping an eye out for any interesting observations. Back at the Hab, Hunter and Peter handled comms, maintaining support for the EVA crew.

Once the EVA team returned, everyone settled in for snacks and Peter’s cognitive testing. Each crew member took turns completing the tests while Spruha and Monish continued their work on the rover. Rashi kept up with her documentation, and Ian and Hunter worked on their individual projects. As 6 PM approached, the team moved into the familiar routine of writing reports together before the comms window opened. Dinner was a collaborative effort: Hunter made Okonomiyaki with homemade barbecue sauce, and Monish prepared a hearty chicken soup.

The day was productive and filled with small wins, capped off with a shared meal and some downtime. With each passing sol, the crew continues to problem-solve, adapt, and move forward.

Lights, Camera, Mars: A Day in the Life of Crew 305 at MDRS
Evenings at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) follow a familiar rhythm. We ate dinner, turned in our reports, AND scrubbed the Hab clean for the media day tomorrow. After showers and some final tidying, the crew gathered to discuss the next day’s agenda: Media Day. Once plans were set, Crew 305 switched gears, diving into a couple of games of One-Night Werewolf. It’s a game of strategy, bluffing, and reading people, which made it both entertaining and oddly fitting for a crew navigating simulated Martian life. By the end of the night, some crew members headed to bed, while others continued to work. Meanwhile, I turned back to Life of Pi, which is now getting interesting. Piscine is at the sea, on a raft, alone with a Bengali tiger!

We had an early start to the morning. Hunter cooked some savory oatmeal, with chili oil and some scallions harvested from the Green-Hab. At 8:30 a.m., Dhruv Khullar from The New York Times arrived with his crew: producer Xan Parker, cameraman Alan Jacobsen, and sound engineer Mike Fugal. Dhruv asked each of the crew member questions about what they study at Purdue, what they’re working on, what their research on MDRS is on, experiences of living in the Hab (good, bad, and surprising), and what is their expectation of when we will land on Moon. Most of us pegged the first Martian landing somewhere between 2038 and 2050. The idea of a permanent presence, though, carried broader estimates—ranging from the late 21st century to early mid 22nd century.

After the interviews, Hunter and Rashi led a tour for the filming crew through the Science Dome, the Observatory, and the Green-Hab. Rashi returned to the Hab, and Spruha and Monish joined Hunter and the filming crew to tour the Repair and Maintenance (RAM) module. We all got together to prepare lunch—a collaborative effort by Rashi, Spruha, and Monish—of Black Bean Burger Burritos and Bowls, topped off with iced tea, brewed by Hunter the night before.

In the afternoon, EVAs took center stage. Ian, Hunter, and Spruha headed out with their media counterparts—Dhruv, Alan, and Mike—to explore the terrain. Stream measurements, paleosol samples, and terrain analysis kept everyone busy, while the cameras documented every move. By 3:00 p.m., the EVA team returned, dusty but satisfied. The rest of the crew helped them unstrap and settle back into Hab life.

The remainder of the day unfolded at a quieter pace. Peter answered questions about his cognitive research, while others worked on their projects, tackled coursework, or simply relaxed. As the sun dipped lower, the Hab settled into its usual hum of activity. Some moments were productive, others reflective, but all part of the larger mission—learning what it takes to live, work, and thrive on Mars. Hunter prepped dinner, and we all got to submitting our reports for the day.

Culinary Feats, and Cosmic Camaraderie"
Today started on a high note with Peter’s double feature on morning music. Ian prepared a satisfying breakfast of eggs and potatoes, giving the crew the energy boost needed for a busy schedule. After breakfast, Ian, Spruha, and Rashi began gearing up for our EVA. Ian was focused on gathering more stream measurements, Spruha was timing Ian’s measurements and taking additional tire readings for her research, and Rashi was there to assist them both with their tasks.

Back at the Hab, Peter managed communications and prepped for cognitive testing, Hunter tackled GreenHab tasks and cooked lunch, and Monish worked on organizing his sensor data and evaluating what could still be accomplished during the final stretch of our mission.
Once the EVA team returned, we all sat down to enjoy a lunch of Beef/Veggie Stir Fry with rice and mushrooms. It was a well-earned meal and a nice break in the middle of a productive day. After lunch, we took turns participating in Peter’s cognitive testing, while the rest of the crew worked on their respective projects. The afternoon was filled with writing research reports, sharing stories about life and family, and preparing for upcoming submissions.

As the day wound down, dinner prep began. Monish started making chicken curry, while Spruha prepared a delicious potato curry. With one of our final days in the simulation coming to a close, we decided to spend the evening together. The plan? Finish Pulp Fiction, play a few rounds of Beat Saber, and wrap up with One Night Werewolf.

It was a day full of teamwork, research, and moments of connection. With just a short time left in the mission, we’re making the most of each day together—on Mars and beyond.

Valles Wrap Up
Last night, the crew was busy wrapping up their research documentation and writing the final mission summary and research report. We finished Pulp Fiction and played a lively game of Coup. Some of us kept working or reading into the night, while others eventually made their way to bed.
Sol 12 – the last day of the simulation! We’re finally here. This morning started with six songs—one for each of us in the crew. Hunter, the only one who knew everyone’s favorite song, challenged us to guess each other’s picks. Peter and Monish scored 3/5, while Ian, Spruha, and I managed 1/5. Almost everyone guessed Hunter’s favorite song correctly. Ian made pancakes for breakfast, which we devoured with syrup, Nutella, and freeze-dried strawberries. After breakfast, we jumped back into writing reports—three of them were due today!
Later in the morning, Ian, Hunter, and Monish suited up for their EVA with help from Peter, Spruha, and me. The EVA team headed to Campus Rock to take stream measurements, collect soil samples, and encountered cryptobiotic soil—fragile, living layers of organisms in arid regions that take decades to recover if damaged. Back at the Hab, Peter, Spruha, and I rotated comms duties. Spruha worked on packing the rover into its Pelican suitcase, and I captured a few videos for social media. Before long, the EVA crew returned, and Spruha quickly whipped up some spaghetti for lunch while the EVA team debriefed.
By 1:00 PM, the whole crew was hard at work wrapping up 12 Sols of mission reports, summaries, and research documentation. We also began the task of cleaning the Hab, preparing it for Crew 306.
Reflecting on these 12 Sols, we’ve collected valuable data that we hope will contribute to our PhD research, future conference presentations, or even proposals for upcoming studies. At 5:00 PM MT today, we officially exit the simulation. Crew 305, Valles, hands it over to Crew 306, Montes.

Last report, 9:00 PM, we had no power, and we broke the Sim so that Mission Support could come and work with us. We had connected the Hab, space heater in the GreenHab, and Mission Support trailers to the spare generator in the RAM. Ben, from mission support, made a run to the town to get some more fuel. Eventually, we were able to get the generator to generate power to have the furnace in the Hab running and the space heater in the GreenHab. With no power to the trailers, the Mission Support at 10:00 PM, decided it was best for them to sleep the night at the Hab where the furnace was on to keep everyone warm. After coordinating with the Crew 305, we helped them move two mattresses in the Hab and made sleeping accommodations. We had Jules make a pleasant guest appearance in our Hab. With a non-functioning fridge, we kept all the food in the fridge in one of the airlocks. Everyone went to bed between 11:30 PM to midnight. Morning of Sol 4, the crew and Mission Support woke up between 7:00 – 8:00 AM. Between 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Mission Support with help of the crew cleared the Hab of any extensions. Power was transitioned to solar, and the Habitat returned to full functionality. With power back, the Mission Support had the crew enter back in the Sim between 10:45 AM and 11:00 AM. Sol 4 was no EVA Day! The crew decided it was best to have Sol 4 focus on organizing and documenting the research that’s been made so far and make progress on the research that can be done within the Hab. Spruha and Ian made breakfast. Rashi made lunch, and Hunter made dinner. Spruha made progress on the Rover. Monish was able to get the temperature sensor working and is looking for places to place his sensor in the Hab. Rashi documented research from previous days EVAs, and constructed functionality diagrams for EVA and the power systems in the Hab. Peter got his PC back up and running for the crew’s cognitive tests tomorrow. Hunter made progress in setting up his research in the Green Hab. Ian reported on the previous EVAs and made plans for the next EVA. Everyone got some of their schoolwork and research done as well. After dinner, we opened Day 12 of the Advent calendar, before turning in our reports to the Mission Support.

Last night, we played a game of Coup, worked on our school stuff, and went to bed. This morning, people woke up late, around 8:00 AM. We played Titanium and Three Little Birds for morning music. Hunter, our crew commander, made breakfast which we all ate. Ian, Rashi, and Monish went for EVA 05 on Sol 5. We did EVA 05 at Eos. Ian collected some stream measurements for his research, and Rashi and Monish helped with it. Some content for the social media was also taken during this EVA. Back at the Hab, Peter put computers together for his cognitive testing which would take place from 2 – 5. Spruha worked on the rover, and the Hunter checked off some Green-Hab tasks. Spruha made “Red Lobster” biscuits with garlic butter with some freshly cooked vegetable soup and Apple Cider. The crew came back and enjoyed their meal. We took turns on doing the cognitive testing for Peter. At around 3:45 PM, we lost power again, but it was quickly fixed by Mission Support. Spruha finished her last school assignment and will now be working on setting up Raspberry Pi for her rovers. Ian got done with his Teaching Assistant responsibilities and has planned EVAs for the rest of the stay here. Rashi documented the Science Dome and drew functional mappings of different elements in the Dome and what keeps the Dome going. Monish got done with assembling both his sensor packets, and setting up the website for the two, and will now see how his sensors can communicate with each other. Lastly, before dinner, Hunter and Spruha recorded the Green-Hab for some social media content. Arugula, Basil, Thyme, and Parsley were harvested.