Category: Journalist Report

Hello Mission Control,

Today we had a relatively successful first day. Though it involved some problems, we overcame them and found solutions. I started the day by holding a team debrief where we went over today’s tasks and crew goals. I joined the crew engineer, Rishabh, to do maintenance. We replaced a few zip ties, measured the water, and checked voltage on the suits. Then, we split into our subgroups for the day. Me, Noah (Crew Biologist), Aravind (Crew Chemist) worked on the science dome samples. Kristina (HSO), Avery (XO/Astronomer), and Rishabh worked on rebooting the astro laptop. We later met to get our suits adjusted and tested for our EVAs tomorrow! We got some pictures and are very excited! Additionally, the three of us went back to the science dome to continue after lunch and the astronomers continued their work and persisted despite issues faced closing the dome. Overall, we worked great as a team today and it was enjoyable!

See you tomorrow 🙂

Best,
Pari Raghunarayan (Crew Commander & Journalist)

Hello Mission Control,

First off, thank you Ben for saving us from bad hygiene with a kind soap refill–we really appreciate it :D! Today we had a day with our main theme being teamwork. We were awake early and Avery, Rishabh and Kristina were ready to suit up the three of us up for our EVA. The materials trio drove out around 8:30AM and had a great time! We were able to test out the rovers that mission control requested as well as get some sample (which was not on the plan but we carried supplies in case we found something interesting!). We then got back and I dropped off the sample to the Science Dome. Me, Aravind, and Noah then helped the other three suit up for their EVA. I stayed on comms and they had a successful round as well! We later had a meeting to plan out two more EVAs and created a schedule for the day Spencer Joseph from FOX is here. We are planning in advance to time the content with the research we will be doing. The astronomers are hard at work right now analyzing some content from the recent solar flares tonight since the weather was unfortunately not permitting observing and we will have dinner soon.

Bevonauts out!

Best,
Prakruti "Pari" Raghunarayan (Crew Commander & Journalist)

Hello Mission Control,

We had an early start and a late end today. And albeit, a long day but at the end of the day it was satisfying to have done what we did today. We started the morning by gearing up. Me, Rishabh, and Noah left for our EVA at 9AM sharp and went all the way to Galileo Road, which was shorter than what we expected to drive since we wanted to reach the chasm. However, the rover battery was dying so we had to make an earlier stop and walk extra. We walked all the way to Candor Chasma and stopped at Compass Rock on the way. We got some great pictures! And when we reached the Candor Chasma we tested out the drone, mapped and filmed the area, and even took some other pictures. We then reached the hab before noon and had lunch. I then debriefed the crew for the rest of the day and some important progress points for the rest of the week. Then we broke for an hour and re-grouped to help the second EVA suit up. Noah stayed on comms while Aravind, Avery, and Kristina were out. The second EVA tested out some other equipment Throughout the day, we checked up on the science dome and the astronomy data. Now we will have dinner and do the psych evaluation.

We saw cow prints by the chasma today, it seemed almost fitting for us Longhorns. Bevonauts out!

Best,
Prakruti "Pari" Raghunarayan (Crew Commander & Journalist)

Hello Mission Control,

We started the morning by holding a team debrief. I went over the daily activities that our crew had to complete. Astronomy observatory hours, science dome research, water usage, and other tasks were discussed in todays meeting. Me, Noah, and Aravind spent the day analyzing samples we collected throughout our EVAs the last few days. We have found some patterns and are going to formally summarize it as soon as we are able to confirm our findings with already published papers. We had many productive hours. We came back for lunch and began reading papers related to the topics. Everyone spent the afternoon either analyzing and adjusting code or reading papers. We now await the stabilization of our XO’s health. Enjoy the overwhelming amount of science dome pictures!

Best,
Prakruti "Pari" Raghunarayan (Crew Commander, Journalist, & Bevonaut)

Hello Mission Control,

We started off the day bright and early with two EVAs back to back. We had one walking and one driving down to Zubrin’s Head to map the area for the topographical map and test out different rocks for the Geiger counter. While the crew members rotated the EVA other members prepared samples at the science dome and RAM, and tried working on the observatory. After the EVAs, we spent the day trying to make the map, working on code, and reading papers for the respective sub projects we are in. We also haven’t showered in a while, but hope to take showers tomorrow to celebrate a crew member’s birthday!

Best Regards,
Pari & the Bevonauts

Hello Mission Control,

First off I would like to wish our HSO, Kristina Mannix, a very happy birthday! We baked a brownie in celebration! Today our day consisted of a morning EVA where I was on comms for Rishabh and Noah who drove up Cow Dung Road and made a few stops along the way for drone footage for the mapping project. After the EVA, Aravind, Noah and I went back to the science dome and prepared and tested the samples retrieved on yesterday and today’s EVA. The astronomers were able to process some data and continued working on processing images from the Robotic Observatory. Avery also downloaded the programs needed for Musk Observatory imaging on her personal laptop. Now we will wrap up the day with some planning for tomorrow and celebrating one week here and Kristina!

Best Regards,
Pari & the Bevonauts

Hello Mission Control,

Today we were able to do two EVAs, both with Spencer Joseph. The first one, me, Avery, and Rishabh took him to Camel Ridge. We collected some samples there and showed him how the drone works. We also got more footage for the map. Since we had the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers, they had better batteries and we took him to Marble Ritual as well. Marble Ritual provides the "Martian" look and so we were able to get him some better footage for that.

Then, we took him to the RAM and Rishabh explained how the engineering software and drone works. He also gave insight into how this could be used to perform search and rescue missions. Next, we took him to the Science dome where myself, Noah, and Aravind explained our research. We did a live exfoliation and microscope test for him with the white mound sample. Noah and Aravind were also interviewed here. I took him to the greenhab to get some shots there and the next stop was the observatory. There, Avery and Kristina were interviewed and they showed him how to work the telescope. We got back to the hab and my interview was conducted.

After we had lunch with him, we took him on an EVA where he was suited up. Rishabh and I adjusted the suit for him and Noah, Aravind and Kristina took him around for a walking EVA. They tested out the Geiger counter. Now we are working on reports and resting up.

Have a great day!

Hello Mission Control,

Today we had a relatively research focused day. It wasn’t very active since the winds were quite intense and we couldn’t do much with the drone due to the heavy rains. We did get group pictures to promote MDRS and our project on LinkedIn. Me, Kristina, and Avery worked on the astronomy project, got the Musk observatory up and working again. However, it wasn’t able to focus on the sun right away due to the winds. Avery and I prepped the samples that we retrieved yesterday and Noah and Aravind analyzed them. Noah, Aravind and I are working on EVA requests since we are yet unsure of what samples give us better data about how to work around Martian terrain. We are going to visit spots that we find would give us better day throughout the next few days. Rishabh is still working on processing his videos and the astronomers are hard at work with the code. We are yet again stuck with another rainy Monday :))

Best,
Pari & the Bevonauts

Hello Mission Control,

Today we had an early start. Kristina and I helped set up Avery, Noah and Aravind for their morning EVA. Kristina was on comms while they went to Marble Ritual, Pooh’s Corner, and drove up to Galileo road to test the battery of the rovers. They were back promptly and we started to then disperse for our individual projects.

Kristina and Avery went to the observatory and got it working again. After they took two sets of images and are almost done processing them. During that time, Aravind, Noah and I finished retesting the interesting samples we wanted to retake data for. I also deduced the age, cause, volcanic activity and interest to applying this technique on Mars and created a document. Noah also worked with his radishes and prepared a soil sample to look at. We also are now determining the final composition of some potting soil.

Rishabh has been working hard processing his videos and working on the map.

We have honestly had a very productive and long day as the Bevonauts! Happy to see this.

And Avery and Kristina prepared some incredible dinner. All in a day’s work!

Best,
Pari & the Bevonauts

Hello Mission Control,

Today we had a day where we mainly split into and worked amongst our subgroups. We planned EVAs and ate our meals (butter noodles we are kind of in the trenches as we speak) as a group. Luckily, Noah and Kristina are quite creative and we are having a taco night for dinner.

Other than that, me and Noah have started taking care of the disaster of a biohazard that was left in the science dome and we thought we deserved to feel clean after (we took showers!). We worked on the science dome samples and categorized them. After the success of the first overnight sample experiment, we decided to do some more.

Avery and Kristina processed some images in the observatory and have been occupied the entire day with it. Rishabh has also been working hard at finishing the last few steps with this map.

Proud of the efforts and progress made!

Best,
Pari & the Bevonauts