Silaliq (Crew 17) Sol 2 Report 22-7-2025

Our second day on the island couldn’t have been more successful! We woke up, had a delectable breakfast, and got ready for the day. Phnam stayed behind today while Terry, Laura, and I embarked on our second EVA. Laura and I suited up while Terry stayed vigilant on bear watch.

Today, we debuted a very special update to our space suits: sun visors, custom made by Phnam! Laura and I felt so spoiled as we ventured out comfortably into the sunny landscape.

Out in the field, Terry led us to some established sampling spots where previous crews had sampled water and algae. Some of the algal mats we visited were incredible – bright green spots of life thriving in one of the most treacherous places on Earth. A true testament to the resilience of microorganisms! When we returned to the Hab, Phnam showed us what she had been working on while we were out. As part of her Habitat Redesign project, she painted one of the wooden window coverings (placed over the windows at dinner time to imitate sundown) with some of the most significant Inuit constellations.

After dinner (a very yummy meal of chili a la Phnam), we continued this project by drilling holes of various diameters in the spots where Phnam had originally painted stars. The end result was gorgeous; when we placed the finished window covering over the Habitat window, the sun shone through the holes that we had drilled, creating perfect constellations. A wondrous end to a beautiful day.