Mission Day: 02

Day Two.
 
Well, the big event today was our first two EVAs – Extra Vehicular Activity. The morning crew to go out was Olav, Kent, and Chad with Crew Commander Michaela. Our goal was twofold – to learn how the space suits actually worked and how to use them and to also explore a nearby lava tube. I think it is important to appreciate that on a real trip to Mars (or the Moon) geology will be of prime importance as it will be necessary to find fuel, etc to prolong a colonization mission. For instance, if you could find the proverbial water on Mars you would not have to bring as much with you – at least in principle.
 
The first EVA was a success but the team quickly realized how hard it is to walk across A’a lava – it is very broken, gives away, and just for fun quite sharp. With that said, we made it to our goal and explored down into a lava tube – BEYOND COOL! Lava tubes are created when the outer layer of a lava flow cools and the inner layer keeps moving leaving a, well, a tube.
 
Anyways, we got down into the tube and explored. Of interest geologically is the growth within the lava tubes – colloquially termed “space snow” but no one knows why it grows there. We made it quite far down the tube with Kent and Chad going on a crawl to reach an alternative exit.
 
On the way back we took advantage of the other type of lava, Pahoehoe, which is considerably more solid and thus easier to walk on. On the way back we saw the entrance to a massive lava tube that no one had been able to make it down to date. Future missions will try to explore but they will literally need to rappel in.
 
Lunch was a massive success today – the team that was not on EVA managed to whip up a pasta dish with free dried food that was impressive. I am not sure we will be opening a restaurant at the Hab anytime soon!
 
This afternoon the second crew (Gord, Tom) went on EVA and their goal was to test drive a new rover made by a Slovakian company. Obviously, future space missions will use this type of technology to do exploration of Mars and other solar bodies.
 
In terms of the scientific goals of CBHMM1, our tech is definitely tracking our brain health and performance! No major effects to be see, except if you look at the top score today after the morning EVA I was the most tired I have been all trip so far and this top line, PERCEPTION, is one that is sensitive to cognitive fatigue. So, based on that, everything seems to be working as planned. We will of course have to do a proper large scale analysis when we get back.





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On a more human note, if I will, it is a strange experience to be locked in here and cutoff from the world. Currently, our internet is still down so communication has solely through a brief window in the evening. We all miss our loved ones already even though it has been just over a day.
 
Goodnight from Mars.
 
O. Krigolson
 
End of Report

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