Food, supplies sent to ease Masursky Crater food crisis
Survey Mars drops supplies, but no personnel
ORSON WELLES, March 15 - Survey Mars has sent sufficient food supplies to feed the Libertad settlement in Masursky Crater for the next month, but will not send any personnel until they have analyzed the blight that has attacked all their crops.
“They continue to produce and recycle sufficient water for their needs, and we’ve left enough food to last a month, which addresses their immediate needs,” Survey Mars Chief Ian Kuyper told the Chaos Courier on Saturday.
The 272-person settlement about 1,000 km northeast of Welles sent out an urgent call for food on March 3, reporting that all their crops had failed due to an unspecified blight.
Survey Mars has yet to receive any of the additional information that it has requested on the crop blight, including detailed chemical and genetic analysis, Kuyper said.
“Given that, we are doing our best to avoid any cross contamination that could jeopardize our own food supply,” Kuyper said. “That is a risk that we simply cannot afford to run.”
Those measures included using a sky crane that hovers above the surface while lowering the supplies to the surface using disposable cables, Kuyper said.
“That way we’re bringing nothing back,” Kuyper said.
Survey Mars has provided testing equipment to run the analysis, Kuyper said.
“They simply have to put a sample in the box and press the button and that will send the data to us,” Kuyper said. “We need to have that data before taking further action. “
That is also crucial to identify any genetic modifications that have been made to the crops, Kuyper said.
Martian farmers are continually working to adapt their crops to provide better yields and to better withstand ambient conditions.
Survey Mars says initial investigations indicate that the Libertad settlers have been very active in bio-adapting their crops, which may have led to an unforeseen problem.
“The long-term goal is plants that can survive outside and lead to the eventual greening of Mars,” Tithonia Farms Chief Iris Notting said.
“We’ve adapted plants to grow better and withstand tougher conditions as well as to enhance nutrition,” Notting said “But we’ve always kept experimental plants totally separate from food crops.”
Notting reiterated that the Libertad residents should avoid contaminated foods, destroy all the crops and thoroughly disinfect the greenhouse.
Hands-off approach
In addition to adequate supplies of food, Health Mars is concerned that the modified crops may not be meeting nutritional requirements.
That is particularly crucial because so many of the settlers are children, Health Mars Chief Paolina Galenus said.
About a third of the residents are 8 annos (15 years) or younger and a fifth are 5 annos (9 years) or younger, according to the emergency message sent by the settlement
“We’d very much like to get at least one personal medical analysis so that we can review health metrics including nutrient and mineral levels,” Health Mars Chief Paulinia Galenus said.“Food grown on Mars doesn’t provide the full slate of minerals, unless they have been adapted for that..”
Health and crop analyses are available for any Mars settlement or homestead.
“We’ll send the tests, they just have to provide the required samples and it will provide a report to them and to us, if they wish,” Galenus said.
Galenus acknowledged that the tests would also identify any genetic anomalies in individual people that may be of concern, but declined further comment.
The Libertad settlers left Orson Welles in 94 to establish a new community in the crater of the same name, but stopped 670 km short of that goal in Masursky Crater.
Several Long-time Welles residents said the group had been enthusiastic bio-hackers for plants and for themselves.
“Their rationale was that they were now Martians and they should adapt themselves and their children to the environment where they were going to live,” said Octavia Linsky, an early Welles Councillor. “We know that hasn’t always worked out well and the consequences can be dire.”
Fly over Ares Vallis and Masursky crater, ESA
Remaining ransom gang members two weeks from Mars
Will be held in orbital brig, and tried by Tithonia court
MARS CAROUSEL, March 15 - Four ransom gang members who had hoped to skip off somewhere in space with a drone full of precious metal ore samples should be back in custody in Mars orbit in about two weeks, Mission Control Chief Ceres Piazzi told the Chaos Courier on Saturday.
“We’re looking forward to having them in custody in the orbital brig and bringing them to trial as quickly as possible,” Piazzi said.
All of the gang members will be tried remotely from the orbital brig by Tithonia Superior Court and face penalties including spacing.
“Since they threatened all of the people of Mars, they will face trial by a Martian court,” Piazzi said.
The nine-member gang had threatened to crash an exploration drone into the Mars Carousel unless they were paid a 1 gigacredit (billion) ransom, but five were arrested on Mars or in orbit before they could carry out the threat..
The remaining four were taken into custody 50 million km away by Space Rescue guards who boarded their ship Doughty just under three weeks ago on Feb. 62.
None of the gang members has been identified.
The explorer scouts Beansí, Boudicca and Fortuna caught the Doughty waiting for the drone, which had been remotely hijacked by the gang and diverted about five weeks ago on Feb. 45.
The other eight drones, which had been surveying the Asteroid Belt for metals and minerals, continued on their return course to Mars.
The gang had threatened to crash one of those into the Carousel, but Mission Control regained control of those.
The Beansí and Boudicca are owned by Mars-based explorers and entrepreneurs Electra and Attracta O’Ceileachair (O’Kelleher), who redesigned their fusion engines for increased speed that they have kept a closely guarded secret.
The Fortuna, captained by explorer Bartolomeo Vasco, was recently refitted with two O’Ceileachair engines.
The Doughty, piloted by Space Rescue Squad Leader Nico Virtus, is scheduled to return March 42, or just under four weeks.
Ophir Labes Inn hosts family caravan meet up
A soft opening for Mars’ first motel
OPHIR PABES, March 14 - Mars’ first motel is opening just in time for the Coprates Caravansary family cargo train meet-up starting next weekend.
“We’re not quite ready for our debut, but we knew a half dozen cargo trains were going to be here this week, and we wanted to offer them something,” said Tori Graziella, who with her husband Max are co-founders of the inn that they call the first motel on Mars.
“You can drive right up to it and walk right in,” says Max Graziella, holding hands with their 3-annos (5 years) son, Emmanuel.
For now, the Ophir Labes Inn consists of four large balloon habs in a semi-cricle around a central hab that connects to the main room inside a small rocky outcrop at the bottom of a 45km-long ridge that borders the main route to Coprates from Ius, Melas and Candor.
“We’re using the central hab as the lobby for now, and the outer habs can each fit two families, which is means we have room for two more right now,” Tori Graziella told the Chaos Courier on Friday.
The interior room serves as the combination lobby and dining room.
“We’ll have more rooms inside later this annos as well as a designated dining room,” Tori Graziella said.
Among the six caravan families staying at the Inn, are Eduoard and Liliana Charettier and their three children, who will be visiting Ed’s sister Marcia Charettier, organizer of the Coprates Caravansary Family overland cargo meet up from March 22-30.
Marcia Charettier, a Coprates Councillor and organizer of the annual Tractor Swap, is an investor in the inn, along with Air Mars shuttle co-founder and Councillor Rhian Llewellyn.
A work in progress
“Usually, we just stay in our caravan, but it’s very nice for all of us to come inside and meet other cargo train families,” Liliana Charettier said inside the temporary lobby. “We only get inside when we stop at the cities, or the (Noctis) Grange Hall, and it’s a long way in between cities.”
For the children, the opportunity to meet other caravan children is a special treat.
“They get to know each other through schoolwork, particularly the specialized classes, and keep in touch while we’re moving around the Valley,” Liliana Charettier said. “It helps to ease the isolation.”
“And it’s good to get out of the surf suits, for a couple days,” says Tom Charettier, the eldest of the three children at 9 annos (17 years), who just met a school friend in person for the first time at the inn.
Ettoria Haverhill, 9 annos, is also studying orbital logistics with an eye toward an an orbital cargo handling apprenticeship.
“But for the next couple of weeks, I’m focusing on having fun at the meet-up and getting to know more people my age before heading out on the route,” says Ettoria. “We don’t get much down time when we’re in town swapping cargos.”
That kind of socializing for adults and children is exactly the what the new Ophir Labes Inn is trying to foster, Tori Graziella says.
“We’re providing a space for people to get a head start on socializing and get to know each other better before they head off to Coprates,” Graziella says. “We designed the lobby as kind of a big family room for our guests.”
The inn’s layout enables adults and children of all ages to meet casually over snacks and coffee throughout the day and for the communal dinner in the evening.
The Graziellas picked the location near a relatively level area about 200 km west of Coprates where cargo trains often stop to double check their equipment just ahead of a long descent toward Melas Chasma.
“We’d both stopped and camped there in our cargo train days,” says Max Graziella, who with Tori spent a few annos working cargo trains after leaving Tithonia when their transport contracts ended.
“It was Tori who said it would be nice if there was a place to get something to eat or spend the night, like an old Earth motel,” Max says.
The opening comes just over 100 sols since the family was rescued by an Air Mars shuttle after Emmanuel radioed in a distress call when his parents got stuck behind a balky interior airlock.
For now, the inn offers hot meals and family suites as well as some food supplies, but the Graziellas plan to offer a wider selection
Over the next annos, the inn will be converting the balloon habs into permanent sandglass domes, boring more interior rooms and adding storage space for food and mechanical supplies as well as cargo transfer if the demand warrants it, Max Graziella says.
“We’re definitely a work in progress right now,” Graziella says, ” but we hope that will remain true as long as we’re here.”
Rockets beat the Pulsars for Marsball title in overtime
Rockets win a squeaker in sudden death play
TITHONIA, March 13 - The WestHill Pulsars couldn’t eke out a win this time.
The Pulsars and the Hab 1 Rockets played a match of firsts in the Marsball final - the first tie, the first overtime and the first loss for the WestHill side.
The teams also played the longest scoreless stretch of any match this season.
With just five seconds left to play in regular time, Rocket forward Ronaldo Sepulveda scored a comet to bring the two top teams even at 79-79.
That brought the capacity crowd of 750 to its feet at the Terrace One Arena in Hab 3.
It started off promising for WestHill, which took the ball away at just 7 seconds into overtime, and held it for 44 seconds before missing the meteor that would have won the match.
“Their defense was super tight, and we finally set up a shot only to miss,” Pulsars Captain Jerome Takahashi said. “But our defense was almost as good.”
The Rockets missed a comet and a meteor, giving up the ball at 1:53, but the Pulsars missed a long-distance comet 15 second later that was picked up by the Rockets’ Sepulveda, who dodged through the defenders to score a 1-point meteor at 2:17.
The Pulsars had a chance to equalize and fired off a meteor that just missed to seal their first loss of the season, and with it the championship.
It was the Rocket’s revenge for their 2-point loss against the Pulsars in the very first match of the inaugural Marsball season on Jan. 21.
For the Rockets, it was the slimmest margin of victory so far, while the Pulsars won a series of 1- and 2-point squeakers.
“It was a great match and a great ending for the first Marsball season,” said Terrace One Arena (Hab 3) Arena manager Sofie Talens. “It also showed that the Arena is a great venue for sports as well as a variety of civil and cultural activitie.”,
Arrivals and Departures
Scouts returning from space
The explorer scouts Beansí, Boudicca and Fortuna scheduled to arrive in Mars Orbit March 30. Doughty arrives at Mars March 42.
Air Mars
Friday - Orson Welles, Coprates, Melas, Ius.
Monday - Ius, Candor, Coprates.
Tuesday Coprates, Wells, Orbit. No passengers to orbit. Message Air Mars.
Calendar
Family cargo train Coprates meet-up
Coprates Caravansary Family overland cargo train meet up March 22-30, managed by Tractor Swap organizer and Corpates Councillor Marcia Charettier.
“Sail Away”
Fun cinematic escape fare. Solar-powered ships sail the future far heavens.
The Rosettas at Pub Seventeen
The Rosettas bring their Marsbeat sound to the Hab 3 brew pub near the Terrace One Arena. Friday, Saturday from 21:00
Cubby Samba
City Residence hosts the weekly Cubby part with the City Samba. Friday, Cubby Terrace at 20:00 Friday. Hab 1 Terrace 3. All resident are welcome.
Las Panteras de Marte
Singer Monique Solis, guitarist Hernando Senatobia and accordionist Ignacio Beck, play Mars style Norteño music. Ius Forum. Saturday 16:00
Rock Hounds
Old Earth style trio, guitar bass and drums liven up the Ius Forum. Friday 21:00
Melas Aquanauts
Fun a-capella group. Listen and sing along Bottom of the Sea Cantina, Melas Friday 20:00.
City Social
Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Friday 17:00
City Farmer’s Market
Saturday. Stalls available by appointment. Fabrica (Industrial) Tube Terminal Saturday 0900-1500
Geryon Stuff Swap.
Find your stuff a new home. Find new stuff for your home. Two items per person. Geryon Agora. Saturday, 13:00-15:00.
Spike
Ready for some beach volley ball? Jump as high as you can off the sand. Learn to play volleyball at the new Hab3 beach. Saturday, Sunday sessions. 08:00, 10:00, 12:00. North Beach Hab 3 Terrace 1. Just show up dressed to play.
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
Classified Ads
SHIP REFITTING, BREAKING All craft, parts and refurb. PONTUS 100 751
BORING HEADS Diamond durable. Get the job done. CANDOR 286 49762
JUMP START. Tractor Repair. Mobile unit available. If we can reach it, we can fix it. NOCTIS 260-22098
DUST BUNNIES. Turn dust into dirt. Best for plants. MELAS 285-78329
SURFSUIT Refurbishing. Fabric and boot repair, seal replacement, visor refurbishing, comms upgrades. COPRATES 297-14210
CARGO HANDS, For overland cargo train. Ex-contract only ARES PORT 268 31211
SHUTTLE AGENTS, MECHANICS for Air Mars InterChasma terminals. PONTUS 100 763
CARGO HANDLERS. Space experience required. Contract exemptions considered. PONTUS 100 419
WELDERS. Experienced welders seeking space yard qualification. Ex-contract only. PONTUS 100 639
CONSTRUCTION All specialties. Some outside. Ex-contract only. GERYON 278 68034
APPRENTICES Recycling systems. 8 annos and up. IUS 278 98559
APPRENTICES Metal smith, forging, casting, 8 annos (14 years) and up. URBS 269-37728
APPRENTICES Fabrics production, design. 8 annos and up. URBS 269-98523
APPRENTICES Ceramics. 8 annos and up. URBS 269-98523
APPRENTICES Environmental systems. URBS 269 81447
SPACE CAMP. Get ready for orbital work. All ages. ARES PORT 268 00910
BALLROOM DANCING Let's Rumba! URBS 269 49144
YOGA. Get the kinks out. IUS 278-43256
DANCING. All styles for adults. Hab 3 Rec Center. URBS 269 10311
STRENGTH Training for trainers. COPRATES 295 04716
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Photomosaic: Viking Orbiter: NASA/JPL-Caltech