Amaruq (Crew 18) Sol 2 Report 25-7-2025

Sol 2, Mars. The weather shifted gears last night as the sun kicked it into over drive. The snow from the day before had been banished to recent memory. The early morning damp air was replaced with fresh solar radiation as the ground began to evaporate and give up its liquid captives. 

Relief filled the minds of the crew upon discovering the air tasted less bitter and cold than the day before. Wind only lightly brushed the shoulders early in the morning as if to say, “goodbye, I will miss you, and be back again tomorrow”. The majority of the day saw no wind. 

The crew successfully completed their first water collecting mission. Members indulged in taking their first sips of water directly from the arctic stream, fresh from recently melted permafrost. One crewmember quietly pondered the water, “must taste like what the creator had intended it to be like all along, and everything they had ever known until then had been a lie”.

Water samples were also collected from around the outside of the habitat where sample collection containers had been left to collect the snow. Water consumption was measured throughout the day. The habitat power economy was taken stock of, and other consumables outside were replaced and set straight. A 3D scan was made of the inside of the habitat, and the crew flew a drone and created 2 3D models of the surrounding area to help with science objectives in the coming days.

The crew listened to songs and danced as they cleaned up after dinner, sharing their favorites from the Beastie Boys, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, and of course Led Zeppelin. 

Sol 3 is shaping up to be another grand adventure on Mars. The crew is in high spirits, well rested, well fed, and set up for success.

Ad Astra,
Trevor Jahn
Crew 18 – Executive Officer