Veronica
Ann Zabala-Aliberto, National Space Society Projects and Events Coordinator for
Chapters is on a mission. A mock mission to Mars, that is.
Veronica Ann, along with her children, manned the MDRS, Mars
Desert Research Station analogue, in Utah. Veronica Ann, who is also the
founder and current President of the Phoenix Chapter of NSS, served as
commander (CDR) during the mission and took time from her busy schedule on Mars
to send reports to other Spacers around the globe.
This
article contains one of Veronica Ann's CDR Reports from the Mars Desert
Research Station. This report, along with others can also be found at The Mars Society - MDRS: Daily
Field Reports page:
Commander's
Journal
Veronica
Ann Zabala-Aliberto Reporting
MDRS Crew
59
"I
demolish my bridges behind me - then there is no choice but forward." -- Fridtjof
Nansen
We are on
Mars. We are here to stay. Everything left behind: our families and friends,
our employment, schools, things that make us feel like we belong. We are now
moving forward, leaving what we know behind....
Our first
couple of days have been "normal." A shortage of water and our
generator not charging its batteries in order to keep our systems up and
running. Our children keep busy with their school work and are acclimating
themselves to the longer Martian Sol. They e-mail their teachers, family and
friends back on Earth when they have their free time. The Crew is a little
fatigued with the longer days and the technical difficulties but they are
adapting quite well.
I am
impressed with the level of skill this Crew has exhibited and how well they get
along with each other, especially with the younger Crew Members. This is our
voyage of discovery...discovering not only our new home but discovering
ourselves, on how much we are able to contribute to our mission as well as how
much we are able to handle ourselves in a restrictive regime. The Family Living
Analysis on Mars Expedition Crew is currently on its third major mission of
discovery.
Even though
we have new faces on each and every mission we all are appointed certain tasks
to ensure that we lead a productive and safe mission.
Our younger
Crew Members, four in all, are being apprenticed
in geology, chemistry, biology, history, engineering and much more. They
are learning the protocols of Martian life. Discipline is something that should
be instilled in all Crew Members; young and old alike. We all share in the
work. Even as the Skipper, today I spent close to two hours washing the dishes
that we could not do because of the lack of water until we resolved the problem
with the water tank. Pyscho-social factors test techniques, in order to
maintain an effective mission.
F.L.A.M.E.,
Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition, is the first in analogue missions to
do just that which include children under the age of fourteen. We have an
international crew unto which there are no issues with them speaking in their
own languages amongst themselves. Respect is another key to a successful
mission. We each respect each other's culture, religion and privacy.
Dependencies
on everyday tasks are crucial in order to keep morale up and the Hab in order.
Some
behavioral markers have been noticed when dealing with the F.L.A.M.E. students.
Once adjustment to an already recognizable environment is achieved the children
feel relaxed and mark their respective territories with their personal
belongings such as toys, clothes and sleeping equipment. The children's
perception of tension, cohesion and leadership is different than that of the
adult Crew Members. The parents and the Educator are the main role models in
this sort of environment.
They learn
to implement new procedures and conduct special projects that are not offered
in classes back on Earth. This is an excellent way for children to actively
participate and contribute to their environment.
Our typical
day consists of everyone waking up early and having breakfast and our morning
briefing sometimes at the same time. The children then prepare for their
classes which are conducted
in the galley.
The adults
get to work either by going on EVA to scout out for possible building
materials, ground water to add to the already existing supply the Hab has, and
possible features that can be used for shelter from the harsh environment. The
Engineers work on the Hab's systems to ensure the Crew has power to communicate
to Mission Support and electricity to conduct experiments in the science
laboratory. Other Crew Members go to the GreenHab to plant seeds so they will
have fresh food to eat in the coming weeks. We try to get together for lunch
but sometimes a few of the Crew eat later because of the tasks they are working
on or because they are on EVA longer.
One thing
that is constant is that everyone comes to the galley for dinner. Here we can
talk about our day to keep everyone informed, share our stories from the past,
or share some visions for the future.
After
dinner the children help clean up and the adults sit at the Communications
Console and write their reports for Mission Support and for the people back on
Earth to read. Sometimes we have "Movie Night" and everyone camps out
on the floor to watch a movie and eat popcorn.
Then we all
go to bed. Our days are long but productive.
By the
F.L.A.M.E. Crew's efforts we hope to give a renewed enthusiasm for human
exploration. With a predetermined destination we embark on a voyage in which we
hope to inspire our children and others to reach as far as they can, for
exploration is the act of searching for the purpose of discovery. Exploration
challenges us. Have you felt challenged lately? If not, what can you do to be a
part of the wonders of space exploration?
Veronica
Ann Zabala-Aliberto
Commander,
MDRS Crew 59
Family
Living Analysis on Mars Expedition (F.L.A.M.E.)
Veronica
Ann Zabala-Aliberto is the founder and president of the NSS Phoenix Chapter and
serves as NSS Projects and Events Coordinator for Chapters. The MDRS Crew 59's
F.L.A.M.E. expedition ran from March 4-17 earlier this year.
NOTE: The
views of this article are the author's and do not reflect the policies of the
National Space Society.
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