CDR - Commander
THE EXPEDITION / A FULLER ACCOUNT
Inside KiwiMars 2012.
Two weeks of analogue exploration—and a much wider conversation about science. Step into the crew’s accounts, research, daily reports and education resources.
MDRS CREW 118 / UTAH, 2012
THE PURPOSE
Inspire science citizens
for the 21st century.
The expedition’s own mission statement placed learning at its centre. KiwiMars used the experience of an Earth-based Mars simulation to connect students and teachers with science, exploration and responsible treatment of other worlds.
At the Mars Desert Research Station, the crew shared living quarters, managed resources, carried out fieldwork and reported back to mission support. Carter Observatory in Wellington served as Mission Control, bringing the expedition into a New Zealand learning setting.
This collection preserves the actual accounts: daily reports, scientific questions, crew perspectives, classroom resources and the final evaluation. It keeps the detail behind the project summary available to explore.
Read the full final expedition reportTHE EXPEDITION CREW
Six people.
A shared mission.
XO - First Officer
Mike Bodnar
Read the original crew profile
MSL - Mission Specialist Life Sciences
Annalea Beattie
Read the original crew profile
FE - Flight Engineer
Don Stewart
Read the original crew profile
MSP - Mission Specialist Planetary Sciences
Ali Harley
Read the original crew profile
HSO - Health & Safety Officer
Bruce Ngataierua
Read the original crew profileTHE MISSION, DAY BY DAY
Field notes.
Daily discoveries.
The logs retain their original day/date labels. Open a day to explore the crew’s reports, from fieldwork to engineering and life in the habitat.
Day 121 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 01 “The Trans-Tasman crew 118 from New Zealand and Australia was reunited today at 0800 hrs Grand Junction Time.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 01 “The Mission 118 KiwiMars 2012 crew assembled in Grand Junction, Colorado without incident, although three members had a very long drive from Los Angeles.”
From the original report“The gasoline tanks that are used to fuel the ATVs were found at the front of the Hab entry left by the previous crew.”
From the original reportDay 222 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 02 “That is why the first KiwiMars crew was composed of communication specialists, each bringing a new angle to the project (journalism, science communication, distance learning, education and arts). ‘”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 02 “It was scheduled as our final training day before we go into sim tomorrow, and started well enough with a crisp dawn and some not-so-early rising by some of the crew still tired from their long journeys to 'Mars'.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 02 
Chef's Report Day 02 “Not today but a karakia (prayer) was spoken to bless the food and this will be a regular event for each meal eat together as the crew.”
From the original report
HSO Report Day 02 “The MSL (Mission Specialist Life Sciences) crew member injured her foot when she was coming down the Hab steps from the crew room.”
From the original reportDay 323 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 03 “Plan C means that will try to start the EVAs very early in the morning and will have some other EVAs in the afternoon with lunchtime reserved for siesta time.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 03 “The good news was that overnight Annalea's ankle improved considerably to the point where today she has been able to limp up to the top of Hab ridge during a casual expedition to the fossilised shell field on the top.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 03 “Toilet cistern repaired - valve was not closing properly - and general clean up of toilet room undertaken.”
From the original report
Chef's Report Day 03 “- a day "out of sim" with respect to the food study (repeated from yesterday sorry-tomorrow will be a cooking day.)”
From the original report
HSO Report Day 03 “The MSL (Mission Specialist Life Sciences) crew member who injured her foot when she was came down the Hab steps yesterday returned with her foot strapped up last night.”
From the original report
EVA Report Day 03 “The lizards are much bigger up at the top than the ones we've seen down at the Hab, and we found a few of their burrows.”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 424 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 04 “However to our disappointment the blazing hot temperature today (at least 36 Celsius) made it impossible to stay with the helmets on for the entire duration of the EVA.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 04 “So today, our first proper day on "Mars" we suited up in our spacesuits, checked our air flows, and ventured outside.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 04 “Last 11 inches of water transferred from trailer potable water supply to Habitat potable water supply.”
From the original report
Chef's Report Day 04 “Even though it was ANZAC day in N.Z and Australia today the crew didn’t observe this.”
From the original report
HSO Report Day 04 “A brief inventory of the medical supplies was taken today to compare with the list on the door. (this was completed in December last year) Apart from a few additions all the equipment was present and correct.”
From the original report
EVA 01 Report Day 04 “It took us one and a half hours to 'suit up' (get into the astronaut gear), check everything before we left the Hab, and depart on our first mission of exploration on this barren surface.”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 525 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 05 “Today started very early in the morning at 0700 hrs with an EVA to Phobos Peak.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 05 “The illusion of being on Mars while wearing the EVA suits is total, especially in an alien landscape such as this, but it also gives us a good appreciation of what explorers will face on Mars itself.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 05 “When investigated prior to start-up re sign saying "remove pillow from back before use", no pillow was found.”
From the original report
Chef's Report Day 05 “- the first day of the food study (defined meal) –sorry we weren’t aware that Mountain Chilli was first up to cook.”
From the original report
EVA 02 Report Day 05 “EVA 02 investigated types of lichens that can be found in the Utah desert to further compare them with New Zealand and contribute the knowledge gained to school resources related to ecology, terraforming and ancient life forms.”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 626 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 06 “I am looking forward to being able to walk through the Lith Canyon out of sim and so does my crew.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 06 “While our moon is barren, airless and virtually unchanging, Mars has an atmosphere, winds, dust devils, dust storms, clouds, ice, geysers and water vapour.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 06 
Chef's Report Day 06 “All finished-nicely flavoured however the crew did comment that it was very salty.”
From the original report
EVA 03 Report Day 06 “We started out at 9.30am in the pressurised rover to carry the photographic gear and stopped along the roadside - possibly 'Glistening Seas' Waypoint 343 GLTSEA 12 S 517900/ NAD 4254650 and collected gypsum crystals.”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 727 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 07 “He is going to give us an overview of the entire geological features of MDRS and promised to take us on a field trip to the Henry Mountains (same Henry Mountains we see far far away from the Hab).”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 07 “The first long-term explorers on Mars might make their own ornaments and bowls, if their water supply allows, to help alleviate the long days of EVAs, analysing and report writing.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 07 
Chef's Report Day 07 “Re-hydrated the ground beef and added the vegetables and brown gravy mix and left it to simmer.”
From the original report
EVA 04 Report Day 07 “KSCRNG - Kissing Cammel Range - Waypoint 326 Inverted Channel at 12 S 519000 /NAD 4249500”
From the original report
EVA 05 Report Day 07 “Location 2. lat 38 24' 24" / long 110 47' 30" (12 S 0518265/ 4250751) Elevation 1383 m, accuracy 4 m - distance from Hab approximately 39 m”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 828 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 08 “The first scheduled connection KiwiMars - Antipodes with the press conference in Austria took place this morning at 0800 hrs.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 08 “Locally we can blame the igneous activity of the Henry Mountains for doing this, as they heaved and squirmed their way up over aeons, pushing the sedimentary layers aside, tilting some, annihilating others, to finally stand magnificently above all else and provide a glorious southern backdrop when viewed from the Hab.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 08 
EVA 06 Report Day 08 “(1) Hab ridge (concretions, endoliths, sedimentary features, fossils, geologic overview) (2) fossil sites (3) endolith sites (4) hypolith sites (5) inverted river channel (6) microbial mats and soil crust field sites (7) the Henry Mountains.”
From the original reportDay 929 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Day 09 “During the experiment I collected samples from the gloves and tools we routinely use in SIM and that was done in full gear, outside, at the engineering bay.”
From the original report
Journalist Report Day 09 “The Mission Commander therefore declared today a day of rest for KiwiMars 2012 which meant different things to different people.”
From the original report
Engineering Report Day 09 
Chef's Report Day 09 
EVA 08 Report Day 09 “Two crew members made a short EVA towards Phobos Peak on 29 April, for a period of approximately 1.5 hours.”
From the original report
EVA 09 Report Day 09 “It's easy to get lost in the desert - we found ourselves off the trail for approx 5 mins.”
From the original report
EVA 10 Report Day 09 “We also have the advice of a flight surgeon if someone got injured. (one of our crew did in the first couple of days and we had to get her leg x-rayed-not sure what we might do on Mars though?)”
From the original reportDay 1030 April 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report “... here we walk today on barren ancient land unveiled and transformed by the elements, learning how it all came together.”
From the original report
Journalist Report “And had he been here as part of Crew 118 KiwiMars 2012 he would by now have stolen an ATV and ridden into Hanksville to Stan's Burger Shack.”
From the original report
Engineering Report 
EVA 11 Report “Compare Muddy Creek gravels with Cow Dung Road Cattle Grid gravels (already collected on EVA 01 )”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 111 May 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report Supplementary: Antipodes 3 “Antipodes is an operations experiment, where we assume a loss of communication between the Mission Support Centre on “Earth”; a parallel landing party on the other side of Mars takes over the coordination of an ongoing Extra-Vehicular Activity via their Habitat, relayed via a satellite in Martian orbit.”
From the original report
Commander Report 
Journalist Report “Today we activated the Hab's remote controlled rover, which is here courtesy of the Northern California branch of the Mars Society.”
From the original report
Engineering Report 
Chef's Report “Prepare 2 t of egg, pour onto the mix and bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until burned on the edges. (would have been nice if we found the bourbon/vanilla in time-a teaspoon of that would have been magic!)”
From the original report
EVA 12 Report “South of Kissing Camel Range (Bob's Rock Garden) UTM Northing 4249475.1 UTM Easting 518284.3”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 122 May 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report “Had they read the whole press kit, they would have seen that the KiwiMars crew had not, one, not two but three Antipodes experiments scheduled with the Austrians.”
From the original report
Journalist Report “We have flown our own flags on our own Mars here since landing, though due to a lack of flagpole (the one on top of the Hab is occupied by the red, green and blue Mars flag) we have had ours indoors most of the time, except for photo opportunities.”
From the original report
Engineering Report 
Chef's Report “The satay sauce has peanut butter in it but our XO didn’t tell us how it was made (it was yummy though)”
From the original report
EVA 13 Report “Crew departed Hab and traversed to the base of Olympus Mons where Don climbed a medium-sized Morrison strata mound to view local drainage patterns.”
From the original report
EVA 14 Report “We about-turned and came back to the Hab the way we had come (Lowell Highway).”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportDay 133 May 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report “So my crew and I today tried to catch-up with the rest of our work and see what is feasible to do in a day.”
From the original report
Journalist Report “So NASA, if you're listening, the crew of KiwiMars 2012 would be happy to trial any prototype surface vehicles for you, any time.”
From the original report
Engineering Report 
Chef's Report 
EVA 15 “After yesterday's unsuccessful attempt to follow the Brahe Highway (we got lost and had to double back), Mike and I gave it another go today.”
From the original report“This is very encouraging as it means that there is a link between the geology found here in Utah and that on Mars.”
From the original reportDay 144 May 2012
Day overview Explore this day’s collected reports and photographs, with the crew’s original accounts of work and life at the habitat.
Commander Report “After a few more hours and few more reports we suited up for the very last EVA of KiwiMars: we were going to draw a Maori Star Compass on what we know now as the Solar garden of the new location of the observatory.”
From the original report
Journalist Report “Looking at the previous laminated patches, photos and names, it seems KiwiMars 2012 will be the first crew to feature original artwork as a memento of our stay.”
From the original report
Engineering Report “A small section of the Hab. roofing cover sheet (0.5square metre approx) on the perimeter of the Hab over the Engineering Air Lock Door (i.e. facing telescope) has peeled back - possibly due to today's strong southerly breeze.”
From the original report“A suite of laptops along with Mars themed exhibits set the scene and allowed students, teachers and the public to interact with KiwiMars Crew, find out about the mission, and learn more from expert astronomers.”
From the original reportSCIENCE & LEARNING
Questions worth
following.
Original project and classroom material, including the reasoning, methods and questions recorded by the team.
Collecting a Suite of Gravels to Characterise Geology Outside the Immediate Area Lichens and Terraforming Fossils and the Importance of Negative Results In Science Design a Mission Patch Biosecurity - Impact of Human Activity on Ecosystems Biosecurity - Organisms Wish List for Mars Cultural Encounters - Significance of Culture in Space Exploration Astronomy & Navigation - Make a Star Compass From Teachers - Mission To Mars Project Art and Space Food Safety - HACCP 1. Origins of HACCP 2. What is HACCP? 3. The HACCP Process 4. Conducting a Hazard Analysis 5. Food Safety Programmes and Risk Management Plans E-learning: Geology Mars Analog Panoramic Photography Geographical Information Systems GIS On to Mars Resource for NZ Schools Antipodes 2012
A WIDER EFFORT
The mission
reached home.
The final report records an ambition to deliver an engaging learning experience, build a space science educator network, refine remote outreach and develop international relationships.
Outreach plans and school connections Curriculum links and classroom resourcesPartner organisations in the expedition record
The full story.
Still here to explore.
Browse the preserved records across KiwiMars, the wider Mars analogue programme and the later TasMars dashboard. The missions are labelled separately so their dates and accounts remain clear.
Browse the mission library ↗