SOL 6 – Loud and Clean

Saturday’s sun came without warning. Hypatia I crew members woke up lazily and they slowly sat around the table to have a coffee and weekend homemade pancakes. It was a peaceful and relaxing start for the Martian day SOL 6. Some were eager to continue with their experiments, while others were looking forward to exploring the outside. But all had one duty in mind: clean the station and its surroundings to maintain the habitability of Mars.

Three of the crew members conducted an extravehicular activity (EVA) around the MDRS to collect some bridles which were left on the ground. Hypatia I is very conscious about the importance of maintaining the integrity of the environment, especially to reduce the impact of human presence. The preservation of Mars and space is important for many reasons if we want to transform society into an interplanetary species. 

Within the station, after a few hours of hard work, the Hab was looking pristine, ready for another week of experiments and exploration. The cleaning was reflected in the water consumption. From 11 liters per person on average, last day the consumption increased to 16 liters per person. Anyway, Hypatia I is proud of their water consumption during the first half of the simulation. They are learning to manage their daily routine with less water, which is crucial for long-duration space missions.

Another crucial routine for the crew is doing exercise in the morning. The Hab’s lower deck was transformed into a gym, where crew members can maintain their physical health. The back-up Crew Engineer, Helena Arias, developed personalized exercises tables for all crew members that can be done in a small space in a situation of confinement. Exercise is crucial for preventing muscle and bone loss, maintaining cardiovascular health, and improving overall well-being.

Finally, the crew flew a small drone around the base and took amazing pictures, such as one of the Crew Commander, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, from the window, where she said “Loud and clean.”