Month: March 2023

Sol 25 – Let’s (pretend to) save the station!

“Behind the door, the stove was making pancakes which filled the house with a rich baked odor and the scent of maple syrup.”

– Chapter 25 of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Only two more Sols! Trying to make the most of them is the crew’s ambition. Each crewmember is working hard to wrap up their experiments, gathering and organizing the last bits of data. Despite our starting to feel quite tired, the inexorable approach of the end of the mission has not affected our enthusiasm. Nevertheless, a few signs that we’re nearing the end are showing through: we talk of what comes next, of our next adventures back on Earth, of our families and friends that we’re anxious to see again.

This morning, we prepared Alice, Adrien, and Jérémy for their last EVA in the Martian desert. Although we have gotten “used” to performing extravehicular activities, and are now more efficient than ever in preparing our crewmates to exit the station, Quentin, Alexandre, and I reminded each other of the importance of taking these EVAs extremely seriously. As we saw the two rovers disappear behind a hill, and as I gradually lost radio contact due to the growing distance, we realized once again how isolated and vulnerable we could feel, especially with half the crew missing from the Hab, and even if only two Sols remain. The Martian environment outside the Hab remains hostile, no matter how efficient and accustomed we have become.

After our explorers returned, we had a relaxing lunch, listening to and talking about the music Jérémy was playing on the speaker. What we had forgotten was that it would not be playing music very much longer… Just as Corentin and Quentin were wrapping up an EchoFinder session, and Adrien was returning from the GreenHab, the depressurization alarm resounded. Immediately, we gathered in the Lower Deck to begin simulating an emergency procedure, designed to identify how AI4U could help future astronauts follow a complex procedure. Two crewmembers toured the station to check “sensors” to find the source of the leak. The emergency EVA crew could then proceed to “repair” the station from the outside. Thanks to them, the Science Dome has been saved!

After the 30-minute operation, everyone returned to their tasks. Pancakes and bread were baked by Alice and Quentin, while I sorted and edited the many beautiful shots taken during this morning’s EVA. Quite foolishly, I was taking my time to write this report, more than usual, when Jérémy reminded all of us that tonight was our last evening on Mars… officially. I felt a rush of adrenaline: let us make the most of it!

Sol 24 – Panic at the Aquaponics

“A toast to all of you; it’s good to be with friends again.”

– Chapter 24 of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

The shuttle landed in the night, not far from the Mars Desert Research Station. Alice, Corentin and I stepped out, treading lightly as the gentle Martian gravity welcomed us back. Light burst from the main airlock window; our crew was waiting for us! Waving hands and smiling faces were gathered behind the second airlock door, waiting for the pressure to equalize. When Jérémy let us in, I felt like I was home. I would have hugged them all, if I had had two functioning arms! The crew was reunited once and for all, ready to finish our mission together.

This morning, like every morning, at the beginning of the daily workout, the song Cheerleader came on, and though I desperately wanted to join in, I simply tapped my feet, and smiled at the thought that for the rest of the mission, I could be my team’s very own cheerleader!

Almost everything feels like it is going back to normal: after a few strange and chaotic Sols, we are all managing to ease back into our routine: taking our tests, handling data for our experiments, writing our reports. This makes me think that I have not yet mentioned what has been taking up most of Alice’s time these past few Sols. As crew Scientist, she is responsible for centralizing all the data our experiments produce, from images captured during EchoFinder sessions, to the many daily surveys each crewmember takes. To put it her way: “I don’t do data handling. I do big data handling!”
Throughout the day, we continued testing AI4U, prompting it with an emergency protocol written by Alexandre and Quentin which we aim to start simulating tomorrow: at a random time during the day, an alarm will go off, indicating the depressurization of one of the station’s modules. We will then test whether the AI is useful in getting us organized and helping us execute the emergency procedure!

Yesterday, Jérémy wrote that despite the circumstances, routine operations that keep the station up and running have never ceased taking place. Most notably, Adrien has continuously taken good care of the GreenHab. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, a second fish has ascended to fish-heaven today. Out of the eight fishes originally brought to the MDRS by Adrien, we have lost both Mercury and Jupiter. Our botanist’s hypotheses range from a sudden increase in pH, to the possible emergence of bacteria, to the increasing temperatures in the GreenHab. The investigation is ongoing…

Although accumulated stress, our lack of sleep, and general state of fatigue are starting to take their toll on the crew after more than three weeks on Mars, surprisingly, one thing comes up more and more often in conversations: not wanting to leave…