Crew 203 Journalism Reports

JANUARY 13, 2019 Journalist Report – January 13th Title: Country Roads, take me home…

Author: Oscar Ivan Ojeda Ramirez

Extract from Commander’s log, Sol 1

We’re finally here. After months of preparation, planning, after rising expectations, we’ve made it. Those alien-like red hills, and geometric shapes of cylinders, hemispheres, and cubes, worthy of a Dali painting, are finally a real place, a place to call home. A whole mission is now ahead of us, a mission full of challenges and rewards, of personal and professional growth, and at the end of it, we expect to come back home to share what we learned, so that others may follow the path.

We venture into the unknown not just to discover it, "it", but most importantly to discover ourselves. Ourselves as individuals, as a crew, as a community, and in our particular case, as a nation, is it the first time a 100% Colombian crew takes the station.

Any doubts I might have had to be on this mission were cleared as soon as we made the turn and the habitat appeared on sight. At that moment it was clear to me that the efforts and sacrifices we are taking are going to be worth it.

And they won’t be few. Amongst others, we have for the better or the worst, the eyes of many people upon us, and we’ll have to perform to the best of our abilities, just to match what they expect from us. And living in a desert, far away from everyone, comes with a toll. But each one of us must not forget why we volunteered to be here, and that being here is the most important thing for our lives right now. We’ve had a history behind with most of the crewmembers and I trust each one of them as a perfect fit for their role within the crew.

Despite its beauty, Mars is definitely not the most welcoming place, it’s cold, it’s dry, and when it’s not dry, it’s muddy. Mars wants for many secrets to stay unveiled, and sometimes will put up a fight on that.

With 14 sols worth of challenges, lessons, laughter, probably tears, but for sure growth, on both a personal and professional point of view, we have to be up for it.

We are now on it together, and as a famous Aristotle quote goes, "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts". It was once a dream, now it is our reality, and soon it will be a memory. It better be a wonderful memory.

Per Aspera Ad Astra.

JANUARY 14, 2019 Journalist Report – January 14th English

Title: Los caminos de la vida (Colombian song)

A hard day begins, two EVAs, a Greenhab that needs to be reborn, a suit that needs repair, the cleaning of the habitat and the dome science. Added to this, the cold Martian begins to make that some of our crew from the tropic land are attacked by strong colds, however, it seems that neither these harsh days nor Martian hostility managed to silence the laughter that comes from spontaneous comments.

First EVA of the day, three of our crew members accompanied by MARStha Leticia, go out to explore and collect material to start their science projects, meanwhile the other 3 crew stay in the habitat carrying out maintenance activities that do not wait. After this EVA again we all meet to taste the culinary creations of our commander and quickly we are ready to change roles.

At the end of the last EVA the tiredness inevitably becomes noticeable, we begin to value the earthly comforts, but at the same time we continue to marvel at the inspiring beauty of our current home. We know that we do not arrive at Mars by chance and that we are sharing this small space of the universe with people with the same dream, reaching the stars.

With little modesty many Colombians often say they are part of the happiest country on Earth, a statement that becomes controversial when we enter to discuss the definition of happiness, what is indisputable is that our new Colombo-Martians have achieved in a short time to cheer Cold Martian desert and fitting to any definition of happiness make it one of the happiest places in the Solar System.

POSTED ONJANUARY 15, 2019 Journalist Report – January 15th Sol 3

Title: Yo también soy un boyaco (Colombian song)

Mars may seem a desolate place but since we met on this planet, laughter, camaraderie and complicity took over the place. Here we are a family and we are happy to belong to it.

202 crews have passed in front of us but it is the first time that someone has prepared “changua” at the station, a typical breakfast of cundiboyacense plateau of Colombia, where most of the crew members are from. When we arrived at Mars we thought that one of the great limitations was going to be the food, the commander and I have made sure that the culinary experience is a delight for the palate, who said that dehydrated food has to taste bad?.

Today has been quite cold, it is even snowing, that has not been an impediment to continue with the activities. Within the Hab each one was working on their science projects. We hope to leave on January 17 to our next EVA, our second encounter with the inclement Martian environment.

MARStha Leticia, our mascot, has been bored today but we have told her that she can get sick if she goes for a walk because she comes from a tropical area and is not used to snow. She, without a doubt, wants to go out and has spent all day in the window.

The greenhab keeps reborning, the romanticism of breathing fresh air and seeing the green color of the plants makes us feel close to home. We all return from our activities, we will have movie night, the commander and the XO said that we are going to eat “canchita”, what is “canchita” ?, we do not know yet.

Today at the end of the day we realized that if this if the space exploration does not work for us, we have the potential to become youtubers.

JANUARY 16, 2019 Journalist Report – January 16th Freddy Alexander Castaneda Latorre 16Jan2019

SOL 4, we do not know whether to say: "… it’s already sun 4!" or "… it’s barely sun 4". We have a great physical and mental burden on our shoulders, tiredness overwhelms us and makes us think that we have been here much longer than what it has actually been, it is a common feeling among most members of the crew. The night was cold and the season dawned covered by a white layer of snow. Contrasting with the red of the desert, Mars surprises us with a deep mist that mixes with the ground and makes us lose sight of the horizon, the image is shocking, simply unforgettable.

Last night I slept more than usual, I succumbed to the powers of Morpheus, I believe that the distance between planets is not an impediment for him. We all get up, our commander prepares a delicious breakfast and when we get ready to work on our science projects the technical problems appear, the bathroom plays a trick on us but the team meets and faces the situation, problem solved; back to the projects.

The day, which dawned cold, became sunny. The temperature has been higher today than the previous days, once again lunch brings us all together in the habitat, delicious rice with tofu, vegetarian style for all today in honor of our XO, food without suffering! Digestion is not our strength, it conspires with fatigue and affects us all, my partners lose the fight, for the next 15 minutes I do not know anything about them, they are not here, they returned to earth in their dreams, the best way to travel when distance and time is an impediment.

The day is over and it is inevitable for me to think of home, nostalgia comes back to take over me as it happens every time the sun goes down, more and more suns away from what I love the most, my family. Far from my Tontina and Lalita, they do not know how much I miss them. A special greeting from Mars to Mrs. Geo and to all my family. Alejo, Liz, and Pablo … how much I miss to embrace them. I will see you all again, but not yet 😉

P.S. A "ñero" spirit goes around in the environment.

JANUARY 17, 2019 Journalist Report – January 17th Waking up on mars

Author: Liza Forero

This morning the MDRS woke up with a chimerical dawn and the silence and peace that I feel while I see it begins to invade every cold bone inside of me. I can see in my partners something different from the first time I saw them, in the way they look, in the energy they transmit and in each laugh they share.

In the morning, we were all waiting to have our third EVA, however, I think this delay increases my anxiety more than it does to the rest, maybe it’s because of the need to be outside, to be able to walk, to feel the earth under my feet and see majesty on every horizon; that majesty that leaves you breathless, but fills you with satisfaction, pleasure, nature, life.

As we walk through the valleys and reach the hills, a shadow chases me, the shadow of reality. That reality of which I am possibly fleeing by being here. But the walk continues and while the fatigue takes over my body I realize that there are glimpses of happiness in each day, in the friends that I have, in the landscapes I walk and in the work that I do

The day ends with tired bodies, with laugh and with the desire to continue experiencing the day to day that this desolate and reddish place offers us. We hope that each one of us be able to assess and learn from everything that this place inspires.

After five days of being here you could say that you have already established a routine and you get used to doing the same thing, to see and talk with the same people but the reality it is not like that, I think the word habit will not be at the moment the one who describes this place once he has left it and look back to remember this space, this cold, this piece of no man’s land but of all those who are willing to really see it, feel it, live it.

There is a wonderful feeling in all this. Maybe the places where you think nothing could live is where you can feel alive again and wake up from the lethargy in which life itself can envelop you. Maybe there is more life in an arid desert than anyone could imagine.

JANUARY 18, 2019 Journalist Report – Jan 18th MDRS Crew 203, Journalist Report

Tittle:

On the way to new world.

Author:

Hermes Hernan Bolivar.

Today, being the sixth day of the mission, a radiant sun illuminates the station and with it the start of one more day of activities for each of the crew, we came from a night where the intrigue welcomed each of us after a fault in the electric power generator. Which we could cope with in low light and a dinner with hamburgers prepared by our commander. Despite the inconveniences of the previous day, and as an interesting routine, I started my activities in one of the places that in my opinion is a small piece of the Earth in this hostile world; the GreenHab.

There, one of the greatest miracles on earth has its greatest expression. Life emerges in the form of small plants that feed the spirit of each of the crewmembers of this station. Not only providing food, but also the possibility of feeling at home. I think that this opinion is also shared by our mascot, MARStha Leticia, who accompanied us to the watering work.

As the day goes by, each crewmember concentrates on their work, while our commander carefully prepares for all exquisite dishes, which keep up our spirits and energy to carry out our projects and work in the station.

Our projects are advancing slowly, I must admit that doing science on Mars has been a challenge for me and my colleagues. Mars has shown us its majesty but in the same way it has made it difficult for us to know its mysteries. However, that does not weaken the morale of each of the crew members, but on the contrary, encourages us to continue in this adventure.

Now a greater responsibility comes to us, by being completely alone in this station. At this moment I ask myself, are we ready to face all the problems that could arise in the station? And I believe that this same question will be asked by the first crew that will dare to make this epic expedition to an unknown world, away from all their loved ones, their species, their world. But I also remember that like the plants that are born in the GreenHab, life makes its way, in the places where we as humans never expect it, and in that way, we will make our way to the conquest of a new world.

JANUARY 20, 2019 Journalist Report – January 19th Author: Oscar Ojeda

Title: Commander’s log, Sol 7

Seven Sols have already passed. Being the commander of the station for the past week must have been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I must say that I have a wonderful crew of people that are more than willing to give their best, and to endure each one of the tests that Mars puts on our path. In fact, each one of them is so autonomous and competent that at times I feel like I’m doing nothing. I appreciate them very much, and I understand the sacrifices they are doing by being here. I not only feel compelled but also pleasured to give the best of me for them, as a person, a professional, and as a commander. (And of course, as a member of the family we are now, but shh).

I have been able to reencounter with one of my biggest passions, cooking. I have to thank my mom for that. I’m sure that food will play a major role in the future of space exploration. I’ve had the opportunity to test my creativity with a pantry full of dehydrated food. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the faces of the crew when they have in front of them an empty plate, a full stomach, and a smile on their faces. I still have a couple of surprises for them, we have plenty of food to keep their energy up, it’s the least I can do for their wonderful work and their passion.

Today 4 of the crewmembers left for an EVA, and the hab seemed really empty. It’s interesting to have those spaces again. I was really happy to hear their stories of the EVA, to hear from the wonderful science they are doing, and to experience how this is changing their lives. I welcomed them with a hot cup of chocolate, and they came with gorgeous rocks, photos, stories, and a bit of mud, I consider it was a wonderful trade for me.

We’re closing the night by sharing, laughing, and making plans for the future, as we’ve been doing it for the past weeks that seems like a month, of course in the good sense. I still have one week to come to terms with how much I’ll miss this crew once we’re back on Earth. We have a lot of plans together for the future, our paths will reunite us, but it will never be soon enough.

Per Aspera Ad Astra.

JANUARY 20, 2019 Journalist Report – January 20th SOL 8

Title Total eclipse of the hearth

Today begins with the departure of the Queen of Mars and the arrival of our crew astronomer, which arrived thin and pale, even though he always looks serious, now we do not have the feeling that someone is missing in the hab.

The day goes with some science, maintenance of the station, a puzzle that invades our dining table and knowing that we are already in the third quarter of sim.

The feared third quarter of sim arrives and the tiredness is felt, however, today the crew received a gift from our commander to renew our motivations, with messages that remind us that we have someone on the Earth waiting for us and that we are the pride of many people.

The tears of today remind us that this time we do not only have robots on Mars, we also have humans and, therefore, the challenges of space exploration are not only technical.

No matter how many times we come to Mars we will always learn something new and we continue to be amazed. I want this journalist to be another message for my colleagues, I want to know that it is an honor to work with you, that your relatives have reasons to be proud of you and that I have learned a lot from you. I do not know if you have learned something from me, for now I am happy to steal some of your laughs, even with the help of the most ridiculous card game in the world (Thanks Cristy Clarke).

JANUARY 21, 2019 Journalist Report – January 21st Sol 9

Title: Game Over, Insert Coin

Author: Yael Natalia Méndez / Crew Scientist and HSO

A night of total darkness, full of fog and stories of terror, accompanied our dreams. It is curious that all the crew have had surreal dreams where they combine the reality that awaits us outside with the daily life of the station. It dawned snowing, it doesn’t stop being worrying the uncertainty of knowing if we can make the EVA, not only for the science that we want to do but for the opportunity to go out to "breathe fresh air".

With a finished puzzle and the missing Table topics cards, we started the routine. We go a little more than half of the rotation and fatigue is evident, the spirits a little low, however, we are all doing our best to continue making the most of this experience. Today I would like to embrace my family and my friends, I have read their messages and at this moment they can not imagine how important it is to receive them, that little greeting renews the spirit and gives strength to continue.

With an approved EVA, we started the journey to the moons. With the weather conditions against us, we raffle the situation well, we have great samples. We marvel at landscapes of colored clays, resembling the vegetation of our beautiful Colombian mountains. The cold did not stop us, our bodies were tired, frozen, however, none wanted to return yet, we all wanted to see that immensity. Once back home, what we now call home, we only hoped to have the warmth of a "aguapanelita". Only 9 soles have passed and we already want to eat "arepa", "mango biche", "bom bom bum", even though we have enjoyed delicious Colombian dishes like the beans of yesterday and the “calentao” of this morning.

Those things are undoubtedly important, but what made me reflect today was the fact that Mars is a hostile environment to preserve human life, how would we make the right decisions to survive? If the life of a friend were at risk, how would we act? Today I’m really happy because our EVA is part of a simulation and we all return home …

CATEGORY: JOURNALIST REPORT POSTED ONJANUARY 23, 2019 Journalist Report – January 22th Title: One of the best landscapes I’ve seen in my life …

By: Freddy Castaneda

Here we are, the cold of the morning awakens us earlier than expected, the sun still does not appear on the horizon but our day is already beginning. The crew is waiting with some uncertainty for a scheduled visit for today, after 10 strange days on Mars, we will finally see a different face. Our HSO (Crew Scientist) prepares a delicious breakfast, as the best style of our land she surprises us with a heated rice, beans, and eggs, a flavor that has a "Ratatouille effect" in some of us, I have to admit that there is no chance of being at risk for lack of food while she and our commander are in charge of feeding.

As if it were a bad joke, the breakfast of Hermes, our Greenhab Officer, is interrupted with the incoming of our visitors, is one of the few things that can annoy this great adventure partner who has become the soul of the crew. But hey, ultimately it did not matter, there are new faces in the habitat, new voices, this has not happened for 10 days and although it may seem like a short time, believe me, it not like that here; It is a daily situation of supreme simplicity on our planet of origin, however, under the current circumstances we see it as such an event.

The reporters have arrived, their kindness meets our hospitality and everything flows well, they seem not to understand how it is possible that we may be living in this hostile environment, alone on this planet. They will accompany us during our day, document our activity and then share it with their people, from their own perspective but through our eyes. Enchanted with the idea, we invite them to be part of our EVA, scheduled to start before noon. A short tour in the Rovers and we are already in Pooh’s Corner, the first view of the day is provided by the habitat itself, in the distance we can see that "little station”, our home, subjected to the inclement environment, vulnerable in the middle of the desert …

A quick tour and we return to leave our vehicles; we now have to walk to go in search of the highest peak to which we will climb on this magnificent trip. After a long "climb" on a hill with slopes that barely exceed 20% of inclination but that seem like a real wall with our suits on. Finally, the arduous road had a great reward, one of the best landscapes I have seen in my life … silence says it all, we were dumb under such immensity, marveling at the implacable presence of the desert, kilometers, and kilometers of solitude, only we are here. For several minutes we held our breath just to let ourselves be carried away by the sight, it is impossible not to feel the spirituality of the place.

Fatigue reminds us that we must continue on our way, although we arrived here in a short period of time now we must return to the safety of the habitat and the way back will not be the same one we came for. Twenty minutes after leaving that view behind we can see our home from a distance, I think it is the first time that we all arrived from an EVA with a big smile drawn on our faces, what a good day.

Our visitors met us at the station and immersed themselves in our daily lives, taking careful note of our jobs. The work is done, the energy returns to our bodies to share a delicious lunch that the girls of our crew have prepared with love, it is late for lunch but this is life on Mars, a final reflection invades me when I answer a short question that that kind visitor makes to each of the crew: why is this mission important for your country? This simple question has been deeply engraved in my mind and now I just hope I can answer it with facts rather than words.

JANUARY 23, 2019 Journalist Report – January 23rd Between skies on fire and colored grounds

Author: Liza Forero

The dawn arrives without haste and with silent giving way to the eleventh sun of our peaceful stay. While the sky is in chromatic flames that are appeased with the passing of minutes, I breathe in the cold air and fill myself with calm and peace, an ephemeral and volatile peace that can only be achieved in those small moments of privacy between an infinite landscape and the soul.

The sunrise ends, and it predicts us a sunny and calm day. I see reflected in my partners the fatigue of the hard work and effort they used in this dream, in this experience turned into a tangible reality, but at the same time, I see reflected in the new perspectives and yearnings of new adventures.

Fatigue manifests itself in some of us in illnesses and in others in long silences, but we decided to give the space and the time that each one needs so they can recover while the rest of us cover all the tasks, like the team that we are, to be able to fulfill the objectives set before.

During our EVA I cannot avoid comparing the diverse range of colors that this place offers me and how it varies according to the time, according to the place and according to the perceptible beyond the view. The different lines of colors that range from violet to green and red make me believe that this space is a canvas that is renewed and that changes every day, bringing new teachings, new perspectives, new reflections.

Excited to see the geological wealth offered by a small area in the middle of the desert, my partners and I rejoiced and marveled at the sight of our feet small pieces of history, history petrified for hundreds of years and that manifests itself to our eyes in small fossils and rocks of multiple shapes and colors. Before such distraction, the minutes fly and we remember that we must return to where our friends are waiting for us to listen to our experience in the field.

The day ends, and the colors dissipate on the horizon, we know that the countdown begins and that the last days in this desert paradise must be treasured to remember them with pleasure while each one continues his own way to new adventures.

JANUARY 24, 2019 Journalist Report – January 24th Tittle: The Great Journey.

Author:Hermes Bolivar.

Sun number 12 of the mission, The Sun rises and each of the crew are available to their daily tasks and at the same time begins the expectation of their return to Earth, in each of us rolls the uncertainty of our return, everything that awaits in our lives, return to the routines of work and research, to cities full of people, with their daily problems.

Mars has offered us a hostile environment, but in turn unimaginable landscapes and a tranquility that has no price, that is what undoubtedly those crew members who left today to their extra vehicular activity thought. This type of environments that are increasingly less frequent on Earth stimulate our imagination and makes us reflect on how small we are in this vast and mysterious universe. It also makes us understand that this new world is just a small step through this great journey that we have started from our origin as a species.

Meanwhile, today I had to stay at the station, taking care of its maintenance and research projects. Some of them without problems, others of them that still require our attention. In the GreenHab, my job, the plants with their green color and their variety of aromas remind me of those mountainous fields of the Colombian Andes from which I come and miss.

Only a few days after returning to Earth, there are many lessons that I have from this place. I have understood that before this adventure comes to its conclusion, the experience we have had here is like the seed of one of the many plants that I have sown in the GreenHab, and that from this, the generation that will start the Great journey through the cosmos shall come.

JANUARY 25, 2019 Journalist Report – January 25th Title: “A Commander comes back down to Earth, and knows…”

Author: Oscar Ojeda

And just like this, the mission comes to an end. I can sound repetitive, but I can’t be happier with the crew that got here, thanks to their personal path. Each one of them with their personal and professional inputs made better each minute of this Sols, Hermes with his energy and comments, Freddy with his disposition and abilities, David with his madness and enthusiasm, Yael with her tenderness and discipline, Liza with her spot-on comments and passion, and Santiago with those photos of the sky that left us amazed. I just hope to have been up to it as a Commander.

How is it like to be on Mars? Demanding, and a lot… Physicaly, mentaly, emotionaly, and I would even dare to say, spiritualy. Being in a desert in the middle of nowhere is at the same time an inspiring and overwhelming sensation. Just hearing the voices of the 6 crewmembers for two weeks, just eating dehydrated food, at the same time that you perform physically demanding tasks as the EVAs are, it’s not easy… things fail often, a small problem can become quickly into a crisis, people get stressed, tired, bored… but it just takes a look out of the window, remember where we are, remember the people we love, who we left behind… and all that vanishes, and a great wave of enthusiasm to keep going comes, and to fight for the success of the mission and, of course, for our dreams.

What do I miss being here? It’s curious… the simplest things. A fried egg, given that there’s only powdered egg (yes, powdered “Egg”), a tree, wind, a hot shower, hopefully a long one, fresh fruit, and of course, my cat Spock (And everyone who I love and love me back, or, how Matt Bellamy would say “The people who care if I live or die”).

What won’t I miss? The fast pace of life, the hyperconnectivity, the bad news, maybe traffic, just that in the life that awaits me back on Earth there’s not much traffic, among other things.

And yes, it’s going to be a wonderful memory. And I hope, the beginning of many new and good things. Every second was worth it. And just like life, sometimes the sense of them is that they have an end.

And the stars look very different today…

Per Aspera Ad Astra

JANUARY 27, 2019 Journalist Report – Jan 26th Title: Across the Universe Author: David Mateus

With the last days full of Latin American music it is evident that we miss our home, the green of the Colombian mountains, the taste of our fruits, the voice of our relatives and dance with the rhythm of salsa brava.

By getting involved in a trip to other worlds we do not stop being human, we will always need a hug and it will be inevitable to shed some tears from time to time. Mars teaches us that difficulties on land were only part of a training, that we always have something more to learn and that we do not advance just by ourselves.

I will never forget his great sense of humor, your ability to cook exquisite dishes with dehydrated food, your disposition in the maintenance of the habitat systems, your resistance in the EVAs, your professionalism, your companionship, your tolerance, your happiness. I hope to see you soon and to continue working for this beautiful dream. I still have a lot to do on Mars, a lot to learn and I’m happy to stay a little longer, but I’m sad that I will not be with you tomorrow enjoying the beautiful scenery on the way to Grand Junction.

The 204 crew receives the immaculate RAM and science dome, a greener Greenhab, an observatory where our remote astronomer followed the most amazing images and a cozy main Hab where for two weeks our laughers were heard. We hope you have an excellent stay in this that was our home and be aware of the great responsibility that remains in your hands.

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