AURORA // CREW DATABASE

Ethan Jones 

Commander — Aurora Mission 

Ethan Jones is the Commander of the Aurora and the operational lead of the mission to Mars. With extensive experience in deep-space operations and spacecraft systems oversight, he is responsible for the overall safety, coordination, and success of the crew throughout the mission. Known for his calm decision-making under pressure and strong leadership in critical environments, Ethan plays a central role in both mission execution and crew welfare. He is widely trusted by the team and serves as the primary link between engineering, science, and flight operations.

🛰️ ISABELLA JONES

Environmental & Biological Systems Specialist — Aurora Mission

Isabella Jones is responsible for Aurora’s life-support ecosystem, including hydroponic food production, water recycling, and all onboard biological sustainability systems. She ensures the crew can survive independently of Earth by maintaining a fully closed-loop biological environment throughout the mission to Mars. Calm, precise, and highly systems-focused, Isabella plays a critical role in sustaining crew life and long-term mission viability.

🛰️ DANIEL ROBERTS

Engineering Lead — Aurora Mission

Daniel Roberts is the Engineering Lead aboard the Aurora, responsible for propulsion systems, life support integration, and overall spacecraft structural integrity. With a background in aerospace engineering and aircraft systems maintenance, he ensures all critical ship systems operate reliably during deep-space transit. Calm under pressure and highly analytical, Daniel is the primary technical authority for diagnosing and resolving complex engineering issues onboard.

🛰️ RACHEL O’CONNOR

Crew Wellbeing & Medical Support Officer — Aurora Mission 

 Rachel O’Connor is responsible for crew psychological well-being, human performance, and frontline medical support aboard the Aurora mission. She has a background in psychology and remote workforce wellbeing, specialising in mental resilience, stress regulation, and performance under long-duration isolation. In addition to her behavioural expertise, she is trained in emergency medical response and serves as a first-line medic for non-surgical onboard care. 

 A recent addition to the mission, Rachel joined the Aurora crew approximately four months prior to launch to strengthen crew cohesion, psychological stability, and emergency response capability during deep-space transit. Calm, observant, and highly adaptable, she plays a key role in maintaining both the mental balance and day-to-day health resilience of the crew.

🛰️ DR. JACKSON HAYES 

Astrobiologist & Geochemist 

 Dr. Jackson Hayes is a senior Astrobiologist and Geochemist serving aboard the Aurora mission, specialising in planetary habitability, biosignature detection, and extreme-environment geochemistry. He holds a PhD in Astrobiology and Geochemistry, along with additional postgraduate qualifications in Planetary Sciences and Analytical Chemistry. 

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Hayes developed an early interest in Earth’s most extreme environments, which later evolved into a focus on how life might arise and persist beyond Earth. His early upbringing was shaped by a challenging family environment, which he has largely kept private throughout his professional career. Before joining the Aurora program, Hayes worked extensively in Antarctic research stations and Mars analogue sites, contributing to several high-profile studies on subsurface microbial life and mineral biosignatures. 

Despite his reserved nature, Hayes is regarded as one of the mission’s most respected scientific minds, known for his meticulous fieldwork, calm decision-making under pressure, and unwavering focus on the search for life beyond Earth

Clara Hayes

Science Lead – Astrobiology & Field Operations Clara Hayes is the Science Lead aboard the Aurora mission, responsible for coordinating astrobiological research, directing field sampling priorities, and overseeing in-situ analysis across multiple scientific teams. 

At 22 years old, she is among the youngest senior-ranking members of the crew, selected for her advanced academic performance, field readiness, and systems-level understanding of planetary science operations. 

Prior to the Aurora mission, she contributed to several analogue expeditions simulating Martian surface operations, where she demonstrated strong leadership in scientific coordination, sample prioritisation, and real-time decision-making under operational constraints. 

She is recognised for her analytical precision, calm leadership style, and ability to integrate complex scientific data into actionable field decisions in real time.