Category: Journalist Report

Stepping Stones

“A hero is one who knows how to hang on for one minute longer.” – Norwegian proverb

It is no secret that colonizing Mars is hard, but despite that, the idea of a Martian settlement has been discussed for a little while now. Mars One was perhaps the first organization to seriously propose a permanent human colony in the Red Planet. From its announcement in 2012 to its bankruptcy in early 2019, it is estimated to have received tens of millions of dollars. But maybe even more impressive is the number of people that applied for a one-way ticket in a journey that would last several months: 165,000 candidates. What, then, draws so many hopeful dreamers towards this collective vision?
For us from Crew Montes, Mars is a more than a dream. It is a testament of the best of our abilities, and Sol 7 was an illustration of why that is the case. Today, Mr. Fix It, Genie and I set out on an EVA to the same spot that others from the crew explored yesterday: Eos Chasm. This 4h30 EVA tested our mental and physical capabilities to their fullest, where we conducted five flight tests with the drone, sampled plenty of geodes and analyzed the subsurface soil for magnetic activity. Such an abundant and stunning region convinced us that we were in the right place, but we had already been warned by our crewmates that Mars wouldn’t be kind in this journey.
As we hiked further in the Chasm looking for more precious data, the path got progressively more appealing, making us not want to turn back until we got to the very end. Unlike yesterday’s EVA, the three of us could see the sight of magnificent pyramid-like structures on the horizon, and much like a mirage, for an entire hour we were hypnotized by the idea of reaching them. Meanwhile, the sun on our faces, the weight on our back, and the poor radio comms on our chest were all slowly draining our energy. The way back would not be easy, but Montes has no quitters.
After reaching the pyramids, we got an unexpected gift: an active flowing river would welcome us offering an unexpected break to the desertic dryness that surrounded us for hours. Our stop there would be short, though. After collecting our samples, we would have a mere 1h30 to get back to the hab. A time window that could be used for an entire Disney movie suddenly fell into our laps like a humongous challenge. No time for breaks anymore.
The arduous experience of hiking back was something that we all from Crew Montes shared. More specifically, one question seemed to have independently haunted each and every one of us: Why do it? Why keep going? After each step, we all asked ourselves the question of why we even bother with this laborious task, and why becoming an astronaut would appeal to anyone in the first place – let alone dozens of thousands of people.
One could argue that the many perks of becoming an astronaut – exploring the unknown, experiencing otherworldly moments like the overview effect, seeing what no one else saw before, or even being the first person to kick a soccer ball in a different planet – would be enough reasons to make it all worthwhile. These expectations, though, can quickly fall short in an environment where nothing works your way. The process is always a lot slower than it seems when you don’t have the equipment, internet, dexterity, human support, food, and many other catalysts to your success. Add that to the fact that messing up once might not have an escape route, and you might well be left with no motivation in a tough situation. There must be another reason to keep going.
I think the answer is actually hidden in plain sight. In other words, the experience IS the motivation. All it takes to beat the hardest, most demanding challenges a person can ever undertake is to take one more step. A step after another, little by little – but no stopping. One cannot stop moving forward. On Mars, refusing to stop can not only be the difference between life and death, but is also a representation that you are rising to the occasion, and preparing to what is coming next. In my own personal view, that is the secret recipe to becoming the Martian Ubermensch – the ultimate superhuman concept idealized by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in the 19th century. If such an idea truly exists, taking the next step is the only way to achieve our wildest dreams.
We made it back just in time to the comfort of our hab – or, more precisely, with a 2-minute delay. Next time, we need to be better prepared so those minutes are not a concern. Lucky for us, this entire experience is already the preparation we needed. If one thing should be remembered from today, is to stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You’ve got two good legs, so use them. In the words of Paul Carus, "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."
Hermit out.

To Build a Home

“I would say that failure to terraform Mars constitutes failure to live up to our human nature and a betrayal of our responsibility as members of the community of life itself.” – Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.

In 2016, SpaceX’s took the spotlight of the International Astronautical Congress by delivering an ambitious speech. Their promise was nothing less than making humanity a multi-planet species by stepping up the space game and colonizing Mars. This prospect inspired generations of space enthusiast to come, but for the average person watching from the outside, one might think that colonizing Mars can be done just by mastering the technology to get there. That has in fact been SpaceX’s focus for the past decades through their launch vehicles, however occupying Mars will take much more than engineering acumen. What we really need to do long-term is to terraform Mars.
In Sol 8, Crew Montes started doing its due diligence of learning more about the complexities of this long-term vision. Here is a succinct and non-exhaustive list of steps on Terraforming Mars according to its homonym board game:
1) Create an ocean covering around 15% of its surface;
2) Raise the oxygen levels towards 14% (compare to Earth’s at 21%);
3) Increase he global temperature of the equator from -30°C to ~8°C;
4) Do all the rest.
However much Steps 1,2 and 3 might seem intimidating, Step 4 is definitely the trickiest. The "rest" here includes, but is not limited to: farming, decomposing organisms, electricity generation, magnetic shields for radiation, autonomous landers, mining operations, photosynthesizing bacteria, fuel production, greenhouse gas production, and, well… doing everything else we already do on Earth. Sounds like a long way to go.
We do, however, need to start from somewhere. Today, our crew went back to Eos Chasm in a search-and-rescue EVA to retrieve a missed piece of equipment. After two sols there, the crew is familiarized with the place, so we successfully found our target and collected some more electromagnetic data. One aspect, however, stood out to our EVA team today: the Chasm seems to transform as you walk down the path towards its depths. The arid desert is slowly rejoiced with life as the presence of water approaches, slowly painting the closest tone of green that we could find on Mars. Maybe there is a solution if we push towards Step 1.
Step 2 doesn’t fall behind in the hierarchy of needs, though. Our Green Hab Officer, Murph, is working diligently into cracking the art of growing plants like a pro, which would allow us to progressively fill the Martian atmosphere with oxygen. But her goals here are even more ambitious. If the Mycoponics technology is successfully demonstrated, decomposing organisms will be our way to recycle any waste using mushrooms. Unfortunately, Step 3 is still an obstacle, since the mushrooms were found to be very sensitive to temperature changes outside their chamber. Step by step, though, she is slowly getting there, by learning how to better manipulate the environment’s condition according to her will. That is, after all, the secret to colonizing a planet.
The dream of terraforming Mars used to be impossible, but now it is slowly becoming progressively more feasible. The research that we are doing here on Mars also envisions many of the incremental tasks from Step 4 that will make us achieve the other goals faster. For example, automating the generation of electricity through Messiah’s in-situ solar panel construction can also ultimately contribute to increasing the temperature of Mars (Step 3). Another example is Genie’s research on Martian magnetism, which could eventually be used by a next generation of explorers for creating a magnetic field that helps shielding the atmosphere from solar wind, resulting in an increase in oxygen levels (Step 2).
More than anything, I believe that creating the impossible is what humans were made to do. We managed to defy all odds, by manipulating electricity, sending probes to space, colliding particles, and even observing black holes. These testaments of human ingenuity make me optimistic that, one day, the vision of building a new home away from home is not as far as it seems. I hope that our crew can carry the legacy of Robert Zubrin and show how the human nature can move mountains. Or, in our case, move Montes.
Hermit out.

Perseverance

“"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” – Stephen McCranie

If asked what encompasses the job of an astronaut, a suitable definition could be pushing the boundaries of what has yet been explored, defying all odds towards the understanding of the unknown. However, this description (and similar ones in the same fashion) also applies to the role of a scientist, who, perhaps a bit differently, goes beyond the surface in the comfort of a lab with a coffee in their hands. Naturally enough, all of us from Crew Montes are scientists conducting our own experiments – breaching the limits of human knowledge both from the comfort of our workspace and from the dangers of Martian atmosphere.
In Sol 9, however, our crew focused our day wearing our scientist hats, improving our research inside the hab (even though I must point out that these hats were also a celebration of New Year’s Eve). After three exhausting EVA days in a row, this much needed break could well be interpreted as a voluntary choice of prudence and wisdom as we approach the end of our mission – but that is not fully true. In fact, the crew was still (ever so slightly) craving another EVA for more data collection, but science doesn’t really work that way. In reality, our planned EVA was cancelled at the last minute due to technical difficulties with the LIDAR software for our drone project, reflecting an essential part of the scientific process: frustration.
It is a natural step in the research process to reach a point where the scientist feels stuck, unmotivated or straight-up blocked in their entirety. When expanding the domain of their knowledge (and, as a consequence, human knowledge), the scientist must face their own limitations face-to-face, all the while keeping a humble mindset towards their own preconceived assumptions about the area they are exploring. At that point, admitting their ignorance is not only an act of noble sacrifice, but a necessary step in advancing the questions that lead to novel, meaningful contributions to their peers and community in general. The alternative to self-criticism in such circumstances is, instead, an investigation of a problem that is considered too trite rather than intriguing enough, innovative enough, or worth addressing altogether. It is through this procedure, thus, that the scientist can experience the infamous eureka moment, where a "stroke of inspiration" seems to be responsible for an idea that would be considered "brilliant", or ultimately a "revelation" or "breakthrough".
As my research progressed through a deeper level of complexity, integrating more sensors (like a GPS and gyroscope) into the drone data collection software was the obvious choice to obtain quality mappings of Mars. However, I soon realized that this software frenzy would not be an easy task to manage, and what had been an incremental improvement in my research quickly manifested into pure chaos. This chaos usually comes for us scientists in a form that we are all way too familiar with and completely adore: a computer bug. In face of adversity, it is the mission of a scientist to stay resilient and adapt to circumstances, but on Mars, being an astronaut requires a quick turnaround. No time to waste.
Concurrently, Messiah would continue his work on crafting an in-situ solar panel using materials from the Martian soil. Timely enough, though, he faced a major challenge today that could potentially dictate the future steps of energy generation on the Red Planet: the richest soil samples in iron content were found to fall short in a ratio of around 50x less than what was required. That means that, to avoid carrying tons of sand in the EVA, there needs to be a more efficient way to collect the iron present in those samples on-site. By envisioning new methods of collecting these rich samples more efficiently, he plans to contribute to the successful creation of solar panels using in-situ resources that could revolutionize energy generation in the long term.
Similarly, the time in the hab today was valuable to debug the robotics integration software for my research experiment, and a clear path forward was forged. In the next days, my focus will be to demonstrate data collection in the form of GPS, barometric altitude, gyroscopic orientation and LIDAR scans, which can ultimately be blended together for the creation of 2D maps of the terrain. If successful, such method can be used in the future for autonomous landers that will pave the path to future manned missions to Mars.
An astronaut’s job is to keep persevering no matter the circumstances. No matter how dark the space ahead of us might be, our steps must lead to an untapped territory, progressively expanding the map known to man. The scientist and the explorer are tasked with the same goal: shedding light into the chasm of ignorance, starting with their own. And perhaps even more importantly, it is the responsibility of the Martian astronauts, scientists and explorers to bring light into our paths and the paths of all the ones coming behind us.
Hermit out.

From Analysis to Catalysis

““Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.” – René Descartes

We all have experienced moments in our lives where a problem makes us feel trapped, confused, or lost altogether. In fact, more likely than not, this might have happened to you today, yesterday, or the day before, and the feeling of discontentment is commensurate to the difficulty of the issue at hand. The most straightforward path to circumvent the situation is illustrated by an acronym present both in aviation, safety and mindfulness literature: STOP. In aviation and safety, STOP stands for Stop, Think, Observe, Plan, while the mindfulness technique indicates, very similarly, Stop, Take a breath, Observe, and Proceed. One word, however, is a suitable representation for these steps in both cases: analysis.
The word itself comes from the Latin ana- ‘up’ + luein ‘loosen’, literally meaning "loosen up" (or, in today’s generation slang, "take a chill pill"). The analytical process, much valued in the world of STEM (not to be confused with STOP!), is associated with breaking down and deeply understanding the constituent elements of the subject at hand. This usually requires the student or the scientist to take a step back, give themselves a moment’s worth of peace, watch the problem from an unattached, bird’s eye perspective, and finally come up with a game plan for a solution. Conversely, the catalysis takes place in the final implementation, which regularly is found to be a smoother and less stressful counterpart to the analysis stage. This is a process that can take up to months or even years, but Mars is not fond of waiting patiently. We need to move fast.
In Sol 10, Crew Montes reassessed our strategies with respect to multiple of our research projects. First, the DRONE team (Spy, Mr. Fix It and I) went out on an EVA to Barranca Butte to collect more data and samples for the electromagnetic frequency detector, the iron-rich energy generation project, and, of course, the DRONE. Even though we faced more technical challenges with the software for the DRONE, we were able to collect plenty of data for the other two experiments.
Once back to the hab, we started by fixing the remote hotspot connection to the DRONE, which is now running as smoothly as the finest rock on Mars. Moreover, having two electrical and computer engineers in the team felt like a gift from the heavens as Spy and Mr. Fix It assisted me with analyzing how the GPS and IMU sensors could be better integrated with the on-board Raspberry Pi computer. Instead of writing the script from scratch without internet connection – which at times felt like a blindfolded astronaut in the middle of a sandstorm -, the two of them patiently instructed me about the beauty of tech datasheets, which we are now using to reconfigure the code. With this, we hope to get the necessary data for all sensors to successfully create the mappings of the terrain accordingly later on.
In the meantime, Messiah worked on improving the methodology behind gathering iron-rich samples for crafting solar panels. As he worked on the samples, however, the process of analysis kicked in: Messiah realized that his approach was successful in generating an amazing 0.5 V of electrical voltage, but the sensitivity to light was lower than expected. This suggested, however, an interesting pivot in the research: instead of crafting a solar-panel like structure, Messiah’s idea is now to use the Martian soil as a source of energy for a chemical battery, which is yet another promising avenue for improving in-situ operations on Mars. And hopefully, with this power we could also increase the temperature downstairs up a notch – it’s starting to get chilly in the bathroom.
Finally, Murph kept working on her mycoponics research, discovering unexpected pitfalls and planning accordingly. She found that, exposed to low gravity and the environmental conditions at the hab, water sticks to the mycelial tube, and this stagnant liquid is a breeding ground for bacteria that slows down mushroom growth. This means that the mushroom chambers need to be under pressure to mitigate contamination and allow the liquid to fall more smoothly. With this discovery, she quickly devised a strategy to use a valve that will allow for the easy removal of the tubes from air inlets. This new chamber design will be conducted back at Purdue, but the last few sols will be valuable for testing out ideas and troubleshooting on-site. Don’t worry though, Murph – these test subjects are not going to be cooked after we’re done.
Overall, our experiences today demonstrate not only an essential step in the scientific process, but also a fundamental part of problem-solving. Developing new solutions for complex problems more often than not involves reiterating on the most basic level, requiring us to re-examine what we either took for granted or used as a baseline for all subsequent steps of our project. Maybe even more important is the representation of how this analytical process can be valuable in our own lives, to solve everyday problems that frequently mess up our mood and distance us from feeling like a "chill guy".
Next time you find yourself troubled by an impossible situation, taking a step back and looking for the threads you ignored can be the solution you needed all along. In the words of Carl Jung, that which we need the most will be found where we least want to look.
Hermit out.

Rise and Shine, Montes.

"Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst."
Radiation. Freezing cold. Suffocation. Starvation. Thirst. Disease.
Mars, the Roman God of War, is a ruthless enemy to face. In a world where everything is trying to kill you, being prepared is no longer an option. It’s necessary.
As my Crew, Montes, begins their journey in the Red Planet, each of us takes an unprecedented role towards our survival. Starting the mission just two days before his birthday, we have the privilege of being led by Jesus, our own personal Messiah. From this experience and leadership, we’ve been able to know what to do, where to go, and how to exercise our functions. We conducted our first Extravehicular Activity( EVA) under Messiah’s detailed set of instructions, where we drove the Opportunity, Spirit and Perseverance to Marble Ritual. If anything can be said about the opportunity of going as on EVA, it is that it’s no walk in the park – it can take a toll on your spirit if you want to persevere.
In the field, every step can be our last. On our side, though, the Crew Geologist, Elizabeth, is no short of a genius. Genie knows every spot, every route, and – you guessed it – every rock. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be out on Martian soil with a different person… except, maybe, a person who could save my life is an emergency, watching over me as I explore the new world.
Lucky for us, in our EVA, the Health & Safety Officer, Ryan, had our back. In fact, during our entire mission, he’ll be watching over all of us. Some would say that he is our own personal Spy, tracking our vitals at all times through our watches. And what’s more – he cooks delicious burgers that are very much essential to our survival.
A tasty meal in the end of a long, tiresome day can also really make a difference in our morale, which is why fresh produce is another key piece to surviving Mars. Our Green Hab Officer, Adriana, makes sure all our plants survive, but one food in particular fascinates her: mushrooms. Ironically enough, even though her research is tracking their growth, she does not enjoy their taste… at all. Not all of us are this lucky, right, Murph?
Well, of course thriving on Mars also requires tracking all of our life support systems, which is the job of our Crew Engineer, Keegan. Beyond that, he has the skills and training to repair broken pieces, inspect tunnels, and put together sensors, making him the ultimate Mr. Fix It. One machine in particular that he will definitely check, use and give his life to repair is also fundamental to our survival: the coffee maker.
As for me? I’m just a humble Crew Journalist, working in the background on documenting the efforts of our Crew’s survival so maybe when you come after us, you’ll be prepared. Hopefully, my drone will be able to scout the best landing sites for your mission, which I’ve been diligently working in the shadows to accomplish. I’m Rod, but my crew knows me as Hermit.
To you, who is coming after us, prepare yourself the best you can. Mars can be dangerous, but I promise you a humble sunrise here is worth the journey.
And to us, from crew Montes: Rise and shine. Our stay on Mars has only just begun. After all, we’ll need more Sols if we’re going to climb the tallest mountains. Word has it that they have the best views.
Hermit out.

The Art of War Against a God

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

In a war, every chance counts. One slip and, if your enemy is experienced enough, they will do everything in their power to crush you permanently if you let them. As a warrior, anticipating these moments can represent the difference between life and death.
You can probably imagine, then, how terrifying it would be to go up against the Roman God of War. But we have something that he doesn’t: just like ants, humans thrive from collaboration. I’ll do what you can’t, and you’ll do what I can’t. And together, carrying the collective purpose inherited through generations, it is our responsibility to do what only astronauts can: prepare for a war against Mars on behalf of all mankind.
What do we need, however, to clash against such a veteran, who can counteract our every move with strategic acumen? First, just like any adversary, we need to understand them. One of the most powerful weapons that Mars has in its disposal is radiation, for which we can prepare by studying its magnetic properties. Today, Genie collected mineral samples to understand how much protection humans can get from the Martian magnetic field. By analyzing their electromagnetic frequencies in real time, she could also get readings that will eventually be useful to protect the power grid necessary for human protection against solar radiation.
Moreover, in order to enhance our preparedness with respect to power, today Messiah collected samples in the same EVA in the search for iron content. If enough iron is found, he’ll be able to use in-situ resources to build solar panels, protecting us against Mars ‘second deadly weapon: the cold.
Running a solar grid, however, is not enough. Putting together all life support sensors that can monitor our hab’s health should be a priority to track how much we’re withstanding Mars’ blows. And when things aren’t running smoothly, like today, Mr. Fix can detect damages in our tunnels and take us back to a spot where the Red Planet can’t do anything to hurt us. Mr. Fix also acted as a diligent CAPCOM, taking care of a defective radio that could really put us in a pickle if unattended.
Perhaps the biggest protection that we need, though, is against ourselves. If humans are not at 100%, all else will most certainly fail. Spy ensured that the crew is sharp at all times by implementing Virtual Reality cognitive tasks, which shall measure how astronauts are performing in a pinch. He also assisted the EVA together with Murph by implementing a bounding box in real time to make sure the crew was exploring within limits.
Despite that being an important idea, I really think it would be a shame to go to another planet and not be able to fully explore it. That’s why I, Hermit, started collecting terrain data using the DRONE: Digital Reconstruction and Optical Navigation of the Environment. Today was a solid start, running four test flights that progressively improved its complex hardware integration with the LIDAR and Raspberry Pi. The data collection also improved with the help of Spy, so hopefully we’ll be ready to get some mappings during the next EVAs to aid the next humans on landing and fully exploring this planet.
Of course, the next crews can’t really bring everything with them beforehand. To properly protect against starvation – one of Mars’ sneakiest tricks -, we’ll need effective food growth and recycling systems, which Murph is developing. Lucky for us, today she implemented a water-enrichment method on the floor that has improved the growth of plants. What’s more, she collected some more valuable data on mushrooms that will one day be used to recycle our waste into food, pharmaceuticals, and leather.
Together, Montes is preparing humanity to survive its hardest enemy so far. I’m biased, but if you ask me, after seeing this crew in action, we might have a chance against the God of War himself. And perhaps, even set foot beyond Mars in the near future.
Hermit out.

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