Category: Journalist Report

Crew 280 Journalist Report 24-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

The crew of Hypatia I woke up with a smile as they were thinking about the breathtaking experience of last night. They were lucky to see the Northern Lights from the Musk Observatory on Mars. They seemed like clouds on the horizon because it had rained the evening before, but they quickly realized that they were admiring a wonder of nature in the sky. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event that they will surely remember for a long time.

The day began with a successful extravehicular activity (EVA) in the morning. The Hypatia I crew members are improving their communication skills on Mars and are becoming more proficient in executing outdoor activities. Progress and growth are taking place with a new orbit around Mars for the crew of Hypatia I.

The crew members at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) are working diligently to carry out their experiments as time seems to be passing by quickly. If any of the crew members check their Fitbits, they would notice how many kilometers they have walked while in confinement at the MDRS. With only four SOLs left, they are already planning their last steps of research. Otherwise, new projects are blooming each day. Here is one very interesting thing about tomatoes.

The Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés-Basiana, is collaborating with St. Peter’s School in Barcelona to conduct an interesting experiment involving tomato seeds. The experiment involves planting tomato seeds in two separate small containers, which are tagged differently. One set of seeds was previously aboard the International Space Station for five weeks, while the other set was not. The goal is to observe and compare how the seeds grow in each container and study the potential effects of space travel on the seeds.

The crew of Hypatia I is starting to miss the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables, but they are also becoming more adept at preparing meals with dehydrated food in the kitchen. Last night, they prepared a Spanish omelet using dehydrated potatoes and eggs, topped with cheddar cheese. Despite the ingredients being dehydrated, the omelet tasted like a snack from Earth and brought a feeling of nostalgia to the crew.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 23-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

The crew members of Hypatia I were feeling homesick on April 23rd. This is a special day in Catalonia, also known as Sant Jordi’s day. It is a celebration of literature and love, where people exchange roses and books with their loved ones. Although they missed the festive atmosphere and the traditions of their home country, they found a way to celebrate this special day, probably the first ever Sant Jordi’s on Mars.

The Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés, taught their colleagues how to make origami roses to celebrate the day on Mars. She is a master of origami, while others tried to do their best. The crew members enjoyed the activity, relaxed themselves for a while, and felt a sense of connection to their home country and culture, even though they were miles away from Earth. They made a dragon bookmark and a decorative rose, both made of paper.

In relation to books, the Hypatia I crew members brought many about Mars and space exploration to the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS). The Red Planet has inspired mythology, literature and scientific research for centuries, as these books show. The crew members have been enjoying reading and discussing these books during their free time.

One of these books was “Una ciutat a Mart” (“A city on Mars”), written by astrophysicist Guillem Anglada-Escudé and other scientists for the general public, particularly kids. In this recent book, they develop the idea of how a human settlement on Mars would be. The Greenhab Officer, Laia Ribas, was a contributor to the study SONet (The Sustainable Offworld Network), which inspired this book.

Another interesting book was “Mart. El mirall vermell” (“Mars. The red mirror”). It collects different articles from people related to an exhibition, which took place in Barcelona in 2021. The Crew Commander, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, wrote a chapter with her experience at the MDRS last 2019 with LATAM-III.

It was a creative and fun way to celebrate Sant Jordi’s day. Definitely a heartwarming Sunday moment at the station.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 22-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

Saturday’s sun came without warning. Hypatia I crew members woke up lazily and they slowly sat around the table to have a coffee and weekend homemade pancakes. It was a peaceful and relaxing start for the Martian day SOL 6. Some were eager to continue with their experiments, while others were looking forward to exploring the outside. But all had one duty in mind: clean the station and its surroundings to maintain the habitability of Mars.

Three of the crew members conducted an extravehicular activity (EVA) around the MDRS to collect some bridles which were left on the ground. Hypatia I is very conscious about the importance of maintaining the integrity of the environment, especially to reduce the impact of human presence. The preservation of Mars and space is important for many reasons if we want to transform society into an interplanetary species.

Within the station, after a few hours of hard work, the Hab was looking pristine, ready for another week of experiments and exploration. The cleaning was reflected in the water consumption. From 11 liters per person on average, last day the consumption increased to 16 liters per person. Anyway, Hypatia I is proud of their water consumption during the first half of the simulation. They are learning to manage their daily routine with less water, which is crucial for long-duration space missions.

Another crucial routine for the crew is doing exercise in the morning. The Hab’s lower deck was transformed into a gym, where crew members can maintain their physical health. The back-up Crew Engineer, Helena Arias, developed personalized exercises tables for all crew members that can be done in a small space in a situation of confinement. Exercise is crucial for preventing muscle and bone loss, maintaining cardiovascular health, and improving overall well-being.

Finally, the crew flew a small drone around the base and took amazing pictures, such as one of the Crew Commander, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, from the window, where she said “Loud and clean.”

Crew 280 Journalist Report 21-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

Hypatia I is excited about the experiments all crew members are conducting. Collaboration and sharing ideas are essential for the success of their mission, especially in an isolated and confined environment, such as in the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS).

Last days crew members were working together and sharing their first findings, challenges and solutions to ensure the success of their experiments. In this sense, the Hab table is an important location for the crew to come together and exchange these ideas, as it serves as a central hub for discussions, brainstorming and laughing out loud.

Recently, crew members became thrilled about the experiments conducted by the Mission Specialist, Neus Sabaté. Her research is focused on technologies that will enable life on Mars, particularly those related to energy. She is conducting an experiment to develop an iron-based battery using the compounds readily available in the surroundings of the MDRS. This was one of the purposes of the last extravehicular activity (EVA): to collect some rock samples, containing iron, to evaluate its use for Martian batteries.

Meanwhile, Sabaté is testing her system with commercial iron compounds to light up an LED system to germinate and grow edible greens at the Science Dome all night long. The rest of the crew members couldn’t wait to see the system. So, they put on headlamps to walk through the base corridors and make their way to the Science Dome to check out her system. As they gathered around the tiny lights, they felt together in isolation.

Also at the Science Dome, the Crew Engineer, Cesca Cufí-Prat, is building the Blob House, a single cell amoeba-like organism with learning capabilities. She wants to study the behavior and sporulation triggering of a single-cell organism under the influence of UV and infrared radiation, which is similar to the conditions found on the surface of Mars.

Next to her, the Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés Basiana, is developing a Martian GPS. During the EVA she collected some data to design navigation strategies for other Hypatia crew members. She spent much time taking notes.

In the kitchen, the Crew Commander, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, used some creative cooking methods to cook some delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies with dehydrated butter and eggs. They were a fantastic afternoon snack.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 20-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

The day began with no wind at the MDRS, but it was very cold outside with a temperature of only 0 Celsius degree (32ºF). The Hypatia crew members woke up warm and rested because they slept well last night. This is good news for the Crew Biologist, Carla Conejo, who is studying the impact of the simulation on the circadian rhythms of the crew. The data will show how they are already recovering and feeling rested after a stressful start of the mission. This research is essential as maintaining a healthy sleep-wake cycle for the well-being of astronauts during space missions is crucial.

Other experiments are going on their way and making good progress. The crew members are conducting the first experiments and calibrating them. One of these tests was to evaluate the feasibility of navigation strategies, which Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés Basiana, developed in the only extravehicular activity (EVA) of the day.

This EVA was quite long, so some crew members found themselves needing to pee during the exploration. Fortunately, this was not a problem thanks to Hypatia’s jumpsuit, which are tailored by women and can handle natural bodily functions during long EVAs like this one. The Hypatia jumpsuit has a flap in the back to make it easier to pee for women, because it is not necessary to take off the entire jumpsuit. This example highlights the importance of designing equipment and tools that take into account the specific needs and considerations of women in space.

The Hypatia I crew feels proud of being composed only by women, so it often takes advantage of any opportunity to voice its message. The crew members are proud to be an all-female crew, and they hope to inspire and encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM fields and space exploration. The four members who did the EVA took a photo with Hypatia’s flag of the mission. This is one of the moments to commemorate them later, back on Earth.

At the end of the day, Hypatia crew members are excited about the EVA request they have just submitted, pending to be approved. The purpose of this new EVA is to extract iron from rocks in order to generate batteries and demonstrate that Martian resources are sufficient to generate power and sustain a space mission. Experiments like this, led by the Crew Engineer, Neus Sabaté, are crucial towards long-term space exploration and could have implications both for future space missions and even for sustainable energy on Earth.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 19-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

The Hypatia crew members are getting into the swing of things on Mars. They have a structured daily schedule, divided into 30-minute slots. It is crucial in maintaining productivity and morale in such a challenging environment. Today was the first day all astronauts were on time, which suggests that they are adapting well to the new Martian routine.

The first group activity of the day is breakfast at 9AM. Prior to this, half of the crew is allowed to do some exercise and take a very quick shower. They have been successfully managing their water consumption, with an average of 11 liters per person, which equals 2,9 gallons. Interestingly, the plants in the base consume more water, at 48 liters per day, which is around 12,6 gallons.

The GreenHab Officer, Laia Ribas, has already planted the first seeds in order to get sprouts of bean mix and salad mix, which includes alfalfa, radish, broccoli and clover. The crew members have already eaten some delicious vegetables from the GreenHab, such as one cucumber, little tomatoes, and some lettuce and mint.

Fresh vegetables help provide a sense of normalcy in an otherwise isolated and challenging environment. The same applies for other Earthly pleasures, such as freshly baked bread. The Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés Basiana, spent around three hours baking bread for all crew members to lift the spirits of the team.

The third day on Mars was an indoors day, as there was no extravehicular activity (EVA) due to high winds. The crew focused on their experiments and brainstormed their outreach projects. Discussing science popularization strategies can be just as important as conducting experiments, especially in a simulated mission where sharing the results with the public can help inspire future scientists. It’s especially crucial to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields and break down gender barriers in science.

Overall, it was a productive and cold day despite the weather conditions. It is quite concerning that tomorrow’s temperature is expected to be around -3 Celsius in the morning, but regardless of the cold weather on Mars, Hypatia is choosing to stay warm indoors.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 18-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

While food, sleep, and extravehicular activity (EVA) protocols are now becoming the new routine for the Hypatia I crew members, they are still adjusting to the new living conditions. This morning, some crew members took a quick shower, a privilege on Mars, where water is a scarce resource on the Red Planet.

As the Hypatia I team is settling into its new home, some crew members have already started to set up their experiments to conduct high-quality space research in the Martian simulation environment. Their discoveries will contribute to the understanding of what it would be like to live and work on Mars.

The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the Hypatia I crew can allow them to approach research from multiple angles, which is important in making progress in different areas related to space exploration. By focusing on a diverse range of research fields such as astronomy, space biology, engineering, and outreach, they can gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in exploring new planets.

The strong wind had a significant impact on the daily activities of the Hypatia I crew, requiring readjustments. Despite the wind speed being above the threshold of 20 miles per hour, four crew members still conducted an EVA, but they had to do so closer to the base than initially planned.

The decision to embark on an exploration was made because the documentary crew B23 arrived to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to film the crew’s activities and document their mission to Mars. The independent film company was on shooting while the Hypatia I crew continued with their simulation in the Martian environment. Two members of the crew are scientists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), which has provided support for the documentary project.

Although it may sound strange from Earth, it is crucial for the crew of Hypatia I to respect the simulation they are in, in order to avoid any disruptions or damages to the experiment. This is especially important as they have already spent three days on their mission, and any deviation from the simulation could compromise the integrity of their research.

Crew members are indeed feeling exhausted, but they recognize the importance of prioritizing self-care and rest in order to ensure they can continue to conduct their mission safely and effectively. Despite the challenges, they find the experience of pushing the frontiers of science together stimulating and rewarding, and they remain committed to achieving their goals on this mission.

Crew 280 Journalist Report 17-04-2023

Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist

The thrilling journey to reach Mars spans between six and nine months from Earth. The trip seems to be quite lengthy at first glance, but it pales in comparison to the Hypatia’s trip to the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS), which required more than two years of dedicated effort to become a reality.

Hypatia is the first Catalan female-led mission composed of seven primary and two back-up members, from different ages and scientific disciplines. They garnered much attention during their mission presentation in Barcelona some days before heading to the Utah desert, in the United States.

On Monday 17th April, the crew members officially entered simulation around 2PM, before their first lunch as astronauts. Despite arriving 24 hours prior, adjusting to the new planet-like environment far from home took some time. Sergii Iakymov, the MDRS Assistant Director, conducted an exhaustive training session to familiarize the crew with the main facilities and restrictions that would be in place for the next two weeks.

Finally, with a sense of excitement the Crew Commander and Astronomer Hypatia I, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, exclaimed: “Welcome to Mars, girls!”. The crew then wasted no time and proceeded to plan its first two extravehicular activities (EVA) around the base. They put on their spacesuits, designed by the NASA rocket scientist and atmospheric physicist Sabrina Thompson, the woman behind Girl in Space Club.

The crew never put fun aside. For instance, during the three-minute time spent in the airlock, crew members inside the base played some music through the radios for the astronauts waiting to go outside for an EVA, turning it into a joyful moment. American and Catalan women artists were played, adding a touch of empowerment and celebration to the feminine crew’s experience.

One of the main goals of Hypatia is to inspire the next generations, particularly young girls interested in pursuing STEAM-related careers. The crew consists of one astrophysicist, two engineers, one mathematician, and two biologists, who serve as role models for aspiring women in these fields. Additionally, there is a science journalist on board who documents all the scientific missions and the exciting adventure on Mars.

CREW279 – Journalist Report – 14APR2023

Journalist Report : Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL12: the last day

This morning the team woke up with a heavy heart. The night was short and this morning we had to say goodbye to one of the crew members.
Goodbyes are difficult but the ARES team is known for its good mood, and we started the day with the very last EVA of the mission.

The day was punctuated by the total tidying up of the station, time for us to look back on all the moments spent in each room of this place.
It was also time to write our last reports, they often gave us a little stress at the end of the day but today we are already nostalgic to fill them in.

We wanted to take the time to thank you, for having followed us during these two weeks; thank you to our sponsors for allowing us to live this incredible project.

BUT the adventure doesn’t stop here, we will enjoy a few days of travel before returning to Belgium and be ready because we will not stop there. We have some great conferences, moments of sharing planned but most of all… the recruitment of the next team!

See you soon!

CREW279 – Journalist Report – 13 APR2023

Journalist Report, Aglaé Sacré, Crew journalist
SOL11: Happy birthday Agnès

Today is Agnes’ birthday!
This morning part of the crew left for 2 missions; the first one is to go and look for the bacteria of Agnes which stayed in the Martian environment for several days to be able to analyze them later. The second mission was to finalize the data of Thomas to have identified the radiation rate of all his maps.
We then had a call with the Mars Society Belgium to discuss our project and our experiences.
After a good meal, the team prepared a surprise for Agnes, while Thomas occupied Agnes elsewhere, we put the cakes on the table to wish her a happy birthday and enjoy a delicious dessert.
In the afternoon a second part of the team went to EVA, we came back to Candor Chasma to find the cavities that Augustin had found while doing his mapping. A superb outing in an incredible setting.
We finished our last evening of simulation all together, very tired but very happy of this incredible project. Stay tuned, tomorrow will be our last report for our last day in the station.