Category: Journalist Report

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.

CREW 279 – Journalist report – 12APR2023

Journalist report, Aglaé Sacré, Crew Journalist

SOL 10: A busy day and a birthday

This morning, the four boys of the team left for EVA all together to discover new places so that Augustin can make a new mapping! They went to the Tharsis Montes (a little wink to the 2022 team of MARS UCLouvain who had named their team the Tharsis crew).

During this time, the girls took the opportunity to rest, work on their experiments and prepare some delicious hummus and tapenade to enjoy a good meal after 4 hours of EVA.

After this good meal, part of the team went back to EVA to discover some cavities that Augustin had observed on one of his mappings.

Tonight is a special evening, we stayed up until midnight to wish a happy birthday to our executive officer Agnès! A great time spent all together!

CREW279 – Journalist Report – 11APR2023

Journalist Report, Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist

SOL9: A starry sky

This morning three members of the team did an EVA to make a new mapping for Augustin’s experiment!
During this time, the rest of the team took the opportunity to spend a quiet morning and work on the beginning of the results analysis of their respective experiments.

The 3D printer has finished printing the first part of Augustin’s experiment with LunariaOne! The result is great, we can’t wait to show you! The purpose of this object would be to collect lunar soil (regolith).

This afternoon, we organized the rest of the mission’s EVA’s so that all the experiments would be finished on time!

In the evening, Ttele organized a series of games to relax all together, a great moment of cohesion in order to bring us even closer together!
The sky was incredible yesterday, our astronomer took the opportunity to capture the moment.

CREW 279 – Journalist Report – 10APR2023

Journalist Report : Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL 8: A sunny day

Today the day starts early. Considering the high temperatures, the EVA starts one hour in advance, at 8 am. For two hours, our three explorers continued to measure the radioactivity around the station for Thomas’ experiment.
The result of the addition of his data to Augustin’s mapping is impressive!
The other members of the team took the opportunity to sleep one hour more than usual!
During the night, we had a visit from little rodents.

As a little treat of the day, cinnamon rolls were made by our executive officer Agnès! A good way to rest with the heat today… and it’s not over yet.
This afternoon, we launched a 3D print for our GreenHab Officer experiment in collaboration with the company LunariaOne.

We also finalized our mid-mission video which is coming very soon!
Our astronomer could once again observe the sun which was very present today. And in the evening, he was able to observe the stars which were magnificent!

A great day again!