Laura Lark, IT specialist: So the purpose
of HI-SEAS is to study the effects of isolation
and confinement.
And you should expect that you really will
feel differently and respond differently in
here then in normal life and the same will
be true of your crewmates.
Brian Ramos, health and performance officer:
The most challenging part of the mission right
now has been the end of the mission.
Itʻs a real crazy hectic time.
Weʻre all kind of running around from the
moment we get up to the moment we go to bed.
Lark: For me one of the most memorable
things weʻve done here is exploration around
the hab.
Ansley Barnard, engineering officer: It becomes
a very different challenge when you have to
wear a very cumbersome, very hot, very sticky
sort of suit.
You realize that even simple tasks are really
difficult like tying your shoe if it becomes
untied during a hike is so difficult so you
start to take precautions against things like that.
I have duct tape over my laces.
Lark: Long-term space travel is absolutely
possible.
There are certainly technical challenges to
be overcome, there are certainly human factors
to be figured out, thatʻs part of what HI-SEAS
is for, but I think that overcoming those
challenges is just a matter of effort.
Ramos: My advice to Mission VI is say, ‘Yes.’
If you have an opportunity whether it’s
filming or learning a new science skill or
flying the drone, going out to a lava tube,
whatever it is, say, ‘Yes.’
Take leadership on things.
Honestly you can come out of here in eight
months learning a ton of stuff.
Barnard: As the crew engineer, Iʻve had a
lot of time to get to know the habitat.
We have mostly a loving relationship, but
there are times where you can get frustrated.
So my advice for the next crew is to stay
patient and remember that even though the
habitat can kind of take care of itself, that
you are a steward for it.
