Tiriganiaq (CREW 19) Sol 1 Report 15-7-2026
The Arctic Foxes have landed.
After a day spent finishing up some mission critical maintenance tasks that remained after the departure of the skilled and energetic Advance Team, today marked our first day in full simulation. We are a crew of five, the 19th so far to visit FMARS. Each of us brings unique experiences, expertise, and priorities to this mission. We are an engineer, a psychologist, a behavioral scientist, a geologist, and a humanist. We are also jacks-of-all-trades, tinkerers, jokesters, and inquisitive to a fault. That potent blend went on full display as we began our mission in earnest.
After commencing a mission-long set of surveys conducted by XO Laura and a briefing on bear safety by crew science officer Anderson, we departed on our first EVA. We took care of some practical tasks, such as taking our ATV rovers to collect a barrel of fuel from where the airplane dropped us off two days ago and visiting the river to refill our water stores. Mission specialist Rand took our return to the landing site as an opportunity to draw up an informal survey of the footprint left by visiting researchers on Devon Island. Mission specialist Adrian accepted the constant flow of geology questions from his crewmates with good humor, from explaining how permafrost behaves the way it does underfoot to directing our gazes to where tectonic activity likely shaped rocky uprisings in the distance.
We also took the opportunity to get our bearings. Commander Trevor and XO Laura have both served on prior missions to FMARS and know the lay of the land—the landscape itself, and also the unique world of the habitat that will be our home for the duration of the mission. The other three crew members are first time visitors. As a team, we hope to make the most of our precious time here, conducting research, improving the hab, and supporting each other through challenges and triumphs alike. If this first day is any indication there will also likely be plenty of dad jokes, Star Wars references, and an already mounting volume of Crew 19 lore to keep us united in the days and weeks ahead.
