For the last 2 weeks I lived as an Analog Astronaut on Mars at HI-SEAS on the Mauna Loa volcano.⁣ ⁣ It’s impossible to put into just a few words what this experience was like. Our crew did everything together: slept in tiny side-by-side rooms, cooked and ate freeze-dried food, conducted research, watched movies, shared each other’s stories, and learned how to completely rely on each other. ⁣ ⁣ Before I arrived I was a bit skeptical: Would it really feel like Mars? ⁣ ⁣ It...really, really, really, really did. Not just because of the geology (miles and miles of volcano) or the isolation (we didn’t see a single life form other than our crew and a Lettuce Grower for 2 weeks). It was the intangible stuff, the things I didn’t even consider until the mission was over:⁣ ⁣ - The tickling warmth of sunshine on bare skin after 2 weeks of no open-exposure to sun. I imagined my skin was drinking it up, ray by ray. ⁣ - Greenery. Nothing is green on Mars. It was an out-of-body experience seeing trees and grass upon returning to Earth. ⁣ - Food. Oh my GOD freeze dried food is.....less than mediocre. I need a long, long break from quinoa and rice. I cried when I ate my first vegetable back on Earth. ⁣ ⁣ There’s nothing to describe the feeling of intense, harsh isolation and then re-entering Earth - with all of its beautiful trees, vast oceans, and LIFE. ⁣ ⁣ It’s a total shock to the system. As I reflect on the mission and what I learned, it’s not simply that humans are adaptable (we are!) and that we do cool science (we do!). It’s an appreciation for the Earth and it’s magic.⁣ ⁣ How lucky we are. ⁣ ⁣ I plan to share pieces of my mission over the next few weeks. Thank you for joining me on this journey ☺️🚀