Category: Journalist Report

Journalist Report
By Arian Anderson

Our students had a Mission Day 2 today, encountering a series of technical challenges that tested their problem-solving abilities in a simulated Martian environment. The day’s objective centered around launching a rocket, a crucial task for future missions, but their efforts were thwarted by a cascade of complications. Loss of GPS signal of the rocket, malfunctioning ignition switches, and adverse weather conditions, characterized by excessive wind, created a challenging set of obstacles to overcome.

Despite meticulous planning and preparation, the students faced the reality of unpredictable conditions inherent to Martian exploration. Loss of GPS signal not only compromised the rocket’s trajectory but also underscored the vulnerability of technological systems to environmental factors in extraterrestrial environments. Technical glitches, such as malfunctioning ignition switches, emphasized the importance of robust equipment and redundancy in critical systems, lessons essential for real-life Martian missions.

The challenge posed by excessive wind highlighted the significance of environmental factors in mission planning and execution. On Mars, where weather patterns can be extreme and unpredictable, understanding and adapting to environmental conditions are vital for mission success. The students grappled with the complexities of balancing scientific objectives with the practical realities of operating in an inhospitable environment, gaining valuable insights into the intricacies of future Martian exploration.

As they navigated through the setbacks of mission day two, the students demonstrated resilience and adaptability, essential qualities for aspiring Martian explorers. Their experiences underscored the need for interdisciplinary training that encompasses not only medical expertise but also technical proficiency and strategic problem-solving skills. Through perseverance and collaboration, they will continue to push the boundaries of their simulated Martian mission, and attempt to launch again tomorrow morning at 9AM.

Journalist Report
By Arian Anderson

Today marked a pivotal moment in our Mars medical simulation course at the Mars Desert Research Station, as we successfully launched a rocket carrying life-saving medical supplies, a critical step in our mission to simulate emergency medical responses on the Martian surface. The launch represented the culmination of weeks of preparation and training, underscoring the importance of precision and teamwork in executing complex tasks in an extraterrestrial environment. As the rocket soared into the Martian sky, carrying with it the hopes of future explorers, we were filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the challenges that lay ahead.

Following the successful launch, we divided into two teams and ventured onto the Martian surface to test our communications systems and gather essential data for our medical research. Despite meticulous planning, unforeseen circumstances arose when one of our crew members suffered a leg injury, highlighting the inherent risks of exploration in harsh and unfamiliar environments. Swiftly activating our emergency protocols, we mobilized to rescue and transport the injured crew member to the medical bay at the habitat, demonstrating the importance of preparedness and quick response in mitigating emergencies on Mars.

The incident served as a sobering reminder of the realities of Martian exploration and the need for comprehensive medical training to address potential emergencies. While our primary mission is centered around medical research, today’s events underscored the interconnectedness of various disciplines in achieving our objectives. As we reflect on the day’s challenges and successes, we are reminded of the resilience and adaptability required of future Martian explorers, traits that we continue to cultivate through our experiences at the Mars Desert Research Station.

In the aftermath of the rescue operation, we regrouped to debrief and assess lessons learned, identifying areas for improvement in our emergency response protocols and communication systems. Despite the unexpected setback, our determination to push the boundaries of medical exploration on Mars remains unwavering. With each challenge we encounter, we grow stronger and more prepared to confront the unknowns that await us on the red planet, united in our pursuit of advancing human knowledge and capabilities in space exploration.

Journalist report
By Katya Sofia Arquilla

In the morning students participated in a dynamic discussion with our physician instructors focusing on medical decision-making in remote settings. The students analyzed the simulated medical scenarios they have experienced during EVAs so far to sharpen their diagnostic and treatment skills under challenging conditions and to learn from their mistakes. The session underscored the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in delivering effective healthcare beyond traditional clinical settings.

After that, students gathered for an insightful lecture on toxicology in space. Led by one of our physician instructors, the session delved into the unique challenges posed by space environments, exploring the effects of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lack of oxygen on human physiological systems. Discussions encompassed strategies for identifying and mitigating potential hazards, equipping students with vital knowledge to ensure crew safety during prolonged space missions. During a second set of lectures, the students received a signal from a crashed spaceship with injured crewmembers the students needed to search for and rescue. Students divided themselves into teams and navigated through the simulated Martian landscape to rescue two crew members who had crashed from a spaceship. One of the fallen crewmembers had a simulated traumatic brain injury and the other was hypoxic. The students successfully returned their patients to the habitat and treated their injuries in medical simulation. The activity was challenging and tested their problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and capacity to manage unforeseen challenges, laying the groundwork for effective teamwork.

After the simulated search and rescue EVA, the students and instructors debriefed the simulated EVA and talked about the challenges of communicating with such a large team in the field. The day concluded with a shared dinner between students and instructors, providing an opportunity for informal exchange of reflections on the day. We all looked at the night sky together and shared stories about our career paths and interests. The relaxed atmosphere fostered bonds of friendship and mutual respect, reinforcing the sense of community within the group.

Thanks so much for participating in our simulation today, Sergii! We would love to debrief with you on your experience tomorrow.

Crew 295 Journalist Report

Arian Anderson

It is day 1 of our Mars mission analog. Our group of students engaged in an educational program geared towards simulating the challenges of Martian exploration after traveling millions of miles across the solar system. Equipped with spacesuits and scientific tools, they embarked on an extravehicular activity (EVA) to conduct field research today that will set them up for the rest of the week of simulation. Their first task involved gathering rock samples to analyze Martian geology, aiming to unravel the planet’s geological history and composition.

During one EVA, the students stumbled upon a crashed satellite, providing an unexpected opportunity to study the effects of cosmic radiation on technology. They documented the site and salvaged usable components for further analysis, contributing valuable data to future missions. This encounter highlighted the unpredictable nature of exploration and the importance of adaptability in extraterrestrial environments.

In addition to their scientific objectives, the students were able to clean a dust-coated communications relay to ensure uninterrupted communication with mission control. Through teamwork and problem-solving, they restored the relay to optimal functioning, demonstrating their technical competence in managing mission-critical equipment.

One unexpected medical occurred with a crew member falling and suffering a DCS injury which required them to apply their training in space medicine. They demonstrated proficiency in first aid and emergency protocols and patched the suit then applied hyperbaric therapy. These experiences underscored the significance of medical preparedness and teamwork in mitigating risks associated with space exploration, fostering a sense of camaraderie among the students as they pursued their mission objectives and we look forward to the next several days of EVAs.

What a great day at MDRS! We wrapped up our simulation last night when our colleagues from University of Colorado arrived. We spent the morning in the Science Dome telling the rest of the team about our time in Sim and what we learned in our pilot studies with our neurophysiological sensors. We took time this afternoon to scout several locations on the rovers, and it was amazing to see the dinosaur fossils with the rest of the team. We ran our final study of the trip this afternoon: We had two team members head out on an EVA and they were wearing fNIRS brain measurement devices and eye tracking glasses. We collected their brain and eye tracking data while they navigated to a waypoint near Kissing Camel rock. We collected what is called ‘hyperscanning’ brain data, which is where you look at the brain synchronization between teammembers; in general team members who are working well together (high in team cohesion) will have more synchronization patterns. We wrapped up our day with a delicious pasta dinner and brownies in the Hab. The Sim team heads home tomorrow. Next up is the Univ Colorado field course at MDRS. Thanks for a wonderful sim experience, MDRS! We learned a ton and are already talking about our next trip back!

Leanne Hirshfield, Emily Doherty, James Crum, and Marta Čeko

EVA # 3
Author: Leanne Hirshfield
Purpose of EVA: 1) A short EVA to Marble Ritual with Commander equipped with neurophysiological and behavioral sensors to assess range of sensors and data quality during EVA-related movement (e.g.,walking, riding in rover, standing still on Mars). The Health and Safety Officer supported the Commander throughout the EVA. The task included travel to Marble Ritual and then walking to find one waypoint within 300 meters of Marble Ritual. Commander reported observations from waypoint and collected one biological sample to bring back to the Hab.
Start time: 10:30
End time: 11:45
Narrative: Suits (2 and 7) and Radios (1-2) fully charged before leaving and plugged in upon return. Arrived to Marble Ritual around 10:40 AM, and ran sensor testing study outlined below. Arrived back on site around 11:45 AM. Both depressurized before entering the Hab. Perseverance Hours (before EVA): 169. Beginning charge: 100%Perseverance ending charge: 82%. Perseverance plugged in upon return. EVA #3 was a huge success! We learned a lot about the process of collecting eyetracking and fNIRS data out on EVA. We brought the data acquisition laptops with us and ran through our study protocols pretty seamlessly. Things we learned: everything is harder to do on EVA: from sensor troubleshooting to simple breath holding studies (breath holding results in a lovely hemodynamic response in the brain that we can measure with fNIRS). Very little room for experimenter error if we want to collect actual field data in the future. Emily was able to quickly convert our walkie talkie communications into transcripts with WhisperAI, and our review of the discourse suggests that this would be a rich source of team cohesion and team processes data that we could apply NLP techniques to in future collections. Good stuff and very much a learning experience!
Destination: One location: between the HAB and Marble Ritual.
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518250,4251000
Participants: Leanne Hirshfield (Commander) and James Crum (Health & Safety)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road, North direction, and then walking within a 300 meter radius around Marble Ritual.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

EVA # 4
Author: Emily Doherty
Purpose of EVA: 1) A farther EVA to Pooh’s Corner with Crew Engineer equipped with neurophysiological and behavioral sensors to assess range of sensors and data quality data quality during EVA-related movement (e.g.,walking, riding in rover, standing still on Mars).. The Journalist will support the Crew Engineer throughout the EVA. The task will include travel to Pooh’s Corner and then walking to find one waypoint within 300 meters of Pooh’s Corner. Flight Engineer will report observations from waypoint and collect one biological sample to bring back to the Hab.
Start time: 14:15
End time: 15:45
Narrative: Decided to venture to Marble Ritual instead of the original planned Pooh’s Corner due to a delayed start. Upon arrival to Marble Ritual, we spent about 30 minutes troubleshooting our sensor equipment. We then spent about an hour testing the range and feasibility of the sensors in high sunlight conditions. We arrived back at the Hab around 15:45 and depressurized before entering.
Destination: One location: between the HAB and Marble Ritual.
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518250,4251000
Participants: Marta Čeko (Engineer) and Emily Doherty (Journalist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road, North direction, and then walking within a 300 meter radius around Marble Ritual.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

On Mars, crew 294 embarked on a day filled with scientific exploration and collaboration. Venturing into the rugged Martian terrain, we diligently tested a range of sensors designed for noninvasive neuroimaging and peripheral physiological monitoring, braving the heat of the sun. Our efforts aimed to enhance understanding of human physiology in extraterrestrial environments, crucial for long-duration space missions. After a productive day of fieldwork, the crew rendezvoused with visiting colleagues for a communal dinner, sharing insights and camaraderie beneath the Martian sky, fostering a spirit of cooperation in their shared quest for knowledge and exploration.

Emily Doherty

SOL 25: Happy Birthday Commander!

“He had only one explanation for this fact: things have to be transmitted this way because they were made up from the Pure Life, and this kind of life cannot be captured in pictures or words.” – The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

On this 25th Sol’s morning, our penultimate day of mission, we performed our penultimate EVA! Marie and Léa went to reach checkpoints placed at Kissing Camel Ridge, with Mathurin who counted their steps between each checkpoint. With the 2D map they had yesterday to prepare the EVA, they had more difficulties than Leo and I with the 3D map, because the topography of the area is complex. However, they managed to find 11 out of the 12 checkpoints, but they took almost one additional hour! During this EVA, the EVA Crew was helped by high schoolers from the CNES’s project PROXIMARS. They helped prepare protocols for both before and during the EVA. They even defined the roads to use with the rovers to reach Kissing Camel Ridge! They analyzed maps to report where the 12 checkpoints were and find the optimal path between them. This last photogrammetry’s EVA marks the end of the experiment inside the station. But Yves still has to handle data in order to analyze results.

During the EVA, there was a huge effervescence inside the Hab! Indeed, a surprise was set up: it was the birthday of Marie, our Commander! Leo, Yves, Lise and I stayed at the station, preparing everything for her return! We decorated the Upper Deck with balloons and confetti, and cooked a cake to surprise her. When the EVA Crew came back to the station, we blindfolded Marie to guide her to her surprise. We sang “Happy Birthday” and offered a bouquet of sunflowers from the GreenHab! Balloons and flowers stayed at the Upper Deck, for the great pleasure of the whole Crew! Marie was very moved and happy to celebrate her birthday with the Crew, in the station, in this unique context! For the rest of the Crew, we were delighted to surprise her and to please our Commander!

During the afternoon, we had to get back to work! We don’t have much time left in the station, we want to use it to contribute to science the best we can, by leading to the end of all our experiments. So we had cognitive tests for the Orbital Architecture experiment and session of the TILT experiment, given by the Neuroergonomic department of our school ISAE-SUPAERO. Marie and I performed a session of the EchoFinder experiment, it was the last one of the mission! Ending experiments one by one made us realize that we are leaving tomorrow … but we still have a lot of work to do!

SOL 26: A New Chapter

“At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives.” – The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

We started the day knowing very well that it would be our last morning in simulation… We took full advantage of our last workout session, during which Lise compiled all of the Crew’s favorite exercises! All Crew members loved the workout. As it had rained all night, and continued throughout the day, the weather conditions didn’t allow us to perform the scheduled EVA. During this EVA, we wanted to dismantle atmospheric instruments and bring them back to the station, but we couldn’t: the conditions were too muddy. In addition, because of the lack of sunlight, the solar panel providing energy to the station was not efficient enough, so we had to spend the day in the dark, to save electricity! The mood was very different than usual: EVA cancelled, lights off, the end of the simulation getting closer and closer… However, we had a lot of things to do to keep our minds occupied! We took advantage of being all together at the station to start and organize our luggage, to store and clean all the modules. We have a lot of equipment, we have to be careful in not forgetting anything!

Despite all of this, the last sessions of the neuroergonomics experiment and the last cognitive tests took place this morning. It is the end of studies and experiments for Crew 293! We are proud of all the experiments we led and all of the data we managed to generate.

We had fixed 4 P.M as the end of simulation time, to retrieve atmospheric instruments. We opened the airlock: we were officially back on Earth! Wearing our black flight suits to be protected from the mud, we could breathe Earth’s air as much as we wanted. We under-estimated the happiness this recovered sensation would create! But we had no time to lose: the atmospheric instruments were waiting to be dismantled! Kneeling in the wet dirt, we dismantled and brought everything back to the station. In the Lower Deck, we cleaned everything (included ourselves!) and continued putting all of equipment safely away.

Even though the simulation is over, atmosphere is joyful in the station between Crewmembers! It is the end of the mission in the station, but we still have a lot of work to do. Ending the simulation doesn’t mean that the research stops! We still have to handle data, give feedback about results and procedures to researchers, and much, much more… In the end, the end of the simulation is just the beginning of a new chapter for Crew 293!

Crew 294 had an incredibly productive day on Mars. We began our day setting up several physiological sensors and planning our sample experiments (performed on the crew). This included measures like non-invasive brain imaging (i.e., Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Electroencephalogram (EEG)), galvanic skin response, heart rate, eye gaze, respiration, and body temperature. We tested the bluetooth and WiFi ranges of all our wireless devices. We also did some testing to see if our sensors would be feasible to use within the spacesuits. The afternoon allowed us some time to take some crew pictures in our space uniforms.

Looking forward to potentially testing some sensors in the field during EVAs tomorrow!

Emily Doherty