Journalist Report
02/01/2014
Prepared by Tereza Pultarova
How would you explains snow on Mars? Crew 135 arrives
It’s been a busy few days, or actually, busy few weeks for members of Crew 135. Barely two weeks
before our departure our most prolific idea generator Vratislav had to cancel his participation in
the Crew 135 mission due to serious family issues. At a very last minute, cameraman Filip jumped
aboard, which means our crew will be a bit stronger in the media department. Hopefully, we won’t
lack in others.
Vratislav offered to support us remotely, as an astronaut left behind in a station in Martian orbit.
He would help with computer simulations and modelling.
Coming over from three continents, we all managed to make it to Grand Junction during Friday
afternoon despite a powerful snowstorm in Denver. On Saturday morning, most of us still struggling
with jet-lag, we set out towards Hanksville and the station, making several filming stops along the
way.
Our filming crew was a little bit concerned seeing the snow around Grand Junction – how would you
actually explain snow on Mars? Several ideas were proposed by our crew members – the base is in
Martian polar regions or the snow could actually be frozen carbon dioxide.
After the morning phone call with MDRS director Shannon, we agreed we would try to stick to the
simulation as much as possible including food – with one small adjustment. As we have a very skilled
green hab officer aboard, who actually plans to grow lettuce in the greenhouse, we could pretend we
have already grown something and buy some Mars-recommended vegetables to give the crew a source of
vitamin C and some fresh fibre.
We made one last stop in Hanksville to pick up our food supplies and buy some tomatoes, lettuce and
carrots.
The complicated part came surprisingly at the very end, we took a wrong dirt road towards the
station and were a little bit surprised to see how much mud we are supposed to get through to get to
the habitat. We soon found out we must have made a mistake and returned to the road and found the
right turn.
When the white structure of the Mars Desert Research Station suddenly emerged from within the red
sandstone Mars-like rocks, we felt relieved.
The air-lock of the habitat opened and there came Crew 134 members, already nervous about our
slightly delayed departure.
We unloaded our car, filled to the brim with luggage and food-filled bags. We took a tour around the
habitat. Some tension occurred when it came to the bed-rooms – everyone wanted a bed-room with a
desk – but there were only two available. The commander had to intervene and resolve the deadlock.