MARS DESERT RESEARCH STATION

Crew Photos – May 22nd

Ozzy, Jack, and Crew 181

 

After the deluge

 

The Right Stuff

 

 

Film Crew and Mars Crew

 

Commander Cassie and Crewmember Avishek

Journalist Report – May 22nd

Journalist Report 22 May 2017

Prepared by Janet Biggs, Crew Co-Journalist

Sol 9

 

You’ll never believe who came to visit us today on Mars … Ozzy Ozbourne and his son Jack!  Who knew that we’d have celebrity guests here on Mars! 

It was a long and arduous journey for them to travel all the way from earth just to visit us, but they did!  And they brought a film crew with them.  We’ve been so isolated up here on Mars that it seemed like suddenly hundreds of people descended upon us.  It was actually just over a dozen and they came with their own catering crew, leaving us to fend for ourselves in our freeze-dried pantry.  They bustled about with honking cameras, boom mikes, asking us to sign stacks of releases, and wiring us and our Hab up for sound and with GoPros.  The amount of equipment made our crew’s tech table of a few days ago seem pretty miniscule.  We’re not supposed to say what this is all for, but suffice it to say that MDRS and Crew 181 may show up on your TV screens sometime in the future.

While it was exciting, it was also disrupting.  We had to go out of sim for the day.  We and the Mars Society are eager to get information out about this amazing experiment being conducted up here on the Red Planet!  PR is part of every mission, so we knew there would probably be a break in sim, but it was eerie stepping out the front airlock without a spacesuit.  Just in the week we’ve spent here on Mars, we’ve become conditioned that no suit outside means no survival! 

Iron Man Ozzy was super nice, as was his son Jack, and they were truly interested in both the science and the art being conducted here.  We even had a private concert on harmonica from the Black Sabbath lead man himself! 

The experience left a lasting effect on us all … including on our toilet.  The history of toilets here on Mars has been a trial and error kind of thing … from wax linings meant to burn each individual deposit, to low flow which required multiple flushing during the act.  Rumor has it one model even exploded!  Ours has a trusty affair, but not necessarily meant to handle a large film crew. We thought it was just an overtaxed odor problem, but we have since learned that it is a leak.  We are all on hold … literally! … until we figure out the problem.  Stay tuned…

Sadly, we have lost one of our crewmembers.  Avishek had to head back to the UK and his PhD program.  He asked Cassie if he could go on one more EVA, so Cassie, Charlie, and Avishek warmed up the AVTs early in the morning and struck off for one last sunrise EVA before the Ozbournes arrived.

After Ozbournes, crew, and caterers were packed up and blasted off back to Earth, Cassie and Juan transported Avisheck to the location of his launch (about an hour and a half away).  We are all sad to see Avishek go.  He has been a great crewmember and friend.  We have all enjoyed his conversation, innovation, research, and cooking!!!  We wish him a safe and speedy return to Earth.

Daily Summary – May 22nd

Crew 181 Daily Summary Report

May 22nd, 2017

 

MDRS Daily Summary Report for SOL 9

 

Summary Title: A Red Mars Day of Black Sabbath Proportions

Mission Status: Ozzy and Jack Osbourne invade Mars.

Sol Activity Summary: Morning EVA was great for Charlie and Avishek.

Around noon we started to be invaded by a camera crew. The rest of the daylight was dedicated to giving Ozzy and Jack Osbourne a tour of our Habitat. All hands on deck for a media visit of epic proportions! Jack tried some freeze-dried goodies and Ozzy scoffed at the smell of powdered eggs.

We presented them with honorary crewmember patches, name tape, and country of origin patches. Juan, Cassandra, Ozzy, and Jack then went on a short EVA. Ozzy soon “aborted the mission” as the helmet was a bit too warm for his liking! Jack, Cassandra, and Juan found a rock sample and then re-entered the Hab and finished filming.

After the camera crew left, we talked with Dr. Shannon while Avishek packed up his belongings. We then used a large multi-person rover (the Hab truck) to drive Avishek back to the shuttle docking station in Green River. It was sad to say good-bye to a crewmember before our mission is complete, but sometimes Earth activities can’t wait.

Look Ahead Plan: No EVAa tomorrow, we will have a more relaxing day of writing and projects.

Anomalies In Work: None at the moment.

Weather: Sunny and cool.

Crew Physical Status: Feeling great!

EVA: Morning EVA was to Galileo Road and URC South Site.

Reports to be Filed: journalist report, EVA report, and EVA request.

Support Requested: None at the moment.

 

Prepared by Cassandra

 

Best,

Cassandra Klos

Commander, Crew 181