Journalist Report – January 25th

Crew 187 Journalist Report 25Jan2018

English

[Sol 14]

[Jurassic
Park]

The previous night was long between debates, talks and a delicious ramen soup with meat. Five hours later, it was time to prepare for the last day of work here and the last exploration.

Exploration that by the way had several facets between risk and danger, adventure and adrenaline, emotion, admiration and the Martian. A path of rocks and red plains until the deviation 1101 that started the route with positive and negative drops, jumps and another thousand rocks.

In our vehicles we reached the end of the road where vestiges of ancient or extraterrestrial civilizations had left what appeared to be a container of food and drink where the effect of oxygen with metals would have done its job. We are not alone.

On the left, you can see the trace of what was millions of years ago. Rock formations that would only be possible elsewhere on Earth, in Utah. More than 20 meters in a rigid labyrinth in multiple shades looks out. It would be much easier to go down without our spacesuits but in the end who would like to close their eyes here.

Seeing the ground is also allowed. The rocks here are rare, different, of many colors and ages. From the voice of our almost geologist of the expedition, the area was watery with calm, agitated times and floods or so it seems with the sediments framed in its walls.

Further ahead and in the distance in something similar to a road for Martian ships we observe their passage at interesting speeds, where will they go? Will there have been a Hanksville on Mars? It would be a great coincidence.

With the Sun on our shoulders the way back is the destiny. The ground is full of small rocks that seem not to be rocks. Were there corals on Mars? Antelopes? And snails? Seems that yes. Maybe there was also a Jurassic age here, or that´s what our little Martian souvenirs show.

When the hunger appears there is no worry, the food was enough. At least we managed to lose a few extra kilos. Today we ate a good buffet, although the idea of having Peruvian, Colombian and Mexican food on the plate soon makes our small stomachs resonate.

When the first star shone in the sky of this sol, we all together went to listen to the desert, the nothing, feel the wind and cold, but especially to share our last candies as Martians. And me, I do not even want to think about the end, tomorrow and the farewell, in my life on Earth without their laugh, jokes and presence. Happy last day as Martians.

LATAM II will continue to inform

Tania Robles, MDRS Crew 187 Journalist

Journalist Report – January 24th

Crew 187 Journalist Report 24Jan2018

English

[Sol 13]

[Into
the Wild]

When we arrived we promised to maintain physical condition with exercise and a balanced diet. Today on our penultimate day that is not exactly true anymore. We woke up at 9 o’clock in the morning to rest until the time of the EVA arrives.

Four crew members were chosen to explore the terrain of Candor Chasma, which on maps looked like the red planet but when we arrived it remind us of the home of elephants, giraffes and lions, the very African desert among small canyons and dry rivers, with trees that look like years ago they lost their last drop of life trapped in two rocky walls that force to look up to reach its shore.

We are not only astronauts in the middle of the yellow of these arenas, now we are more, friends and brothers with a responsibility: to give the best of ourselves together and apart, to give the best of our kind. Humans, who without the effort of dozens behind us 5, 10, 20 years ago, who share our blood or not, have brought us so far from home. Soon we will be back.

With the night reaching these mountains and near the end we decided to prepare a gala dinner for the Queen of Mars as some locals call her. It’s amazing the kind of food that can be created when you have cans of dehydrated food and a well-equipped kitchen. Desserts are possible as our chef showed: apple pie with cinnamon, the best dessert in the area, the planet.

The greatness of a person is not measured by how recognized they are but in the work and collaboration that has been given to society. Coming here does not make us more or less, it gives us experience and more duties because having a great power carries a great responsibility as an arachnid would say.

With the hours counted here, we have promised to make better our places of origin and planet, help the people see what we have seen, learned and understood. You can´t understand Mars with words, only with sighs.

LATAM II will continue to inform

Tania Robles, MDRS Crew 187 Journalist

EVA Report – January 24th

EVA Report for 24Jan2018

Author: Oscar Ojeda

Purpose of EVA: Usage of rovers for battery discharge, aerial mapping of terrain, testing of mid-range EVA protocols, testing of the Guache I Rover, Collection of possible halophile samples.

Destination: Intersection of Quarry Road and Cow Dung Road

Coordinates: 518400 E, 4255500 N

Participants: Atila, Danton, David and Oscar

Narrative: One successful EVA was undertaken on this day. A crew of 4 departed the habitat at 11:35, aiming for the two main goals of discharging the rover’s battery and to keep testing the different projects. After taking Cow Dung Rd for about 30 minutes, the crew arrived at Quarry Road, where several aerial shots were taken, testing the 3D mapping software, as well as a first field run of the Guache I rover. On the way back, the crew stopped on two more locations to perform the same activities, taking aerial footage, and testing the Guache I rover performance over different types of terrain. The expedition never left the main road for more than 20 meters. No halophile samples were taken, because no relevant sites were found during the expedition. The batteries of the rovers were discharged, and in particular, opportunity dropped to 55% during the traverse. The crew entered the airlock at 13:55 and finished the EVA.

No incident or anomaly was sustained during the EVA.

EVA Report – January 25th

EVA Report for 25Jan2018

Author: Oscar Ojeda

Start time: 10:00

End time: 15:00

Purpose of EVA: Aerial mapping of terrain, testing of long-range EVA protocols, testing of temperature regulation vest, Collection of possible halophile samples.

Destination: Candor Chasma

Coordinates: 520500 E, 4251000 N

Participants: Atila, Luis and David and Tania

Narrative: The exploration team left the Hab at 10:35. Being the last exploration for the majority of the crew, they were willing to go to the depths of Candor Chasma and conquer it. They took the 4 ATVs and advanced on the main route until arriving at Galileo Road 1104 with the intention of entering the canyon from an area near the intersection between Stream Bed Connector and Cactus Road. Not being able to visualize Stream Bed Connector, the expedition team arrived Mountain Goat Trail and returned by the same way to find Stream Bed. Apparently, no one has used this path for a long time and it was impossible to find. Because of that, the expedition team returned to Galileo Road, and had a short communication with the Hab. They decided to advance approximately half a kilometer in the direction of Cactus Road and stop. They walked almost 10 minutes and found a perfect entrance for Candor Chasma. At 12:03 they entered into the depths of such majestic beast and advanced for 50 minutes. They found traces of Martian species that resemble terrestrial antelopes, but they had no encounter with any living species. At 12:55 they decided to take the road back and were ready to return home at 1:43 pm. The way back happened without incident and they arrived at the Hab 14:20.

No incident or anomaly was sustained during the EVA.

Sol Summary Report – January 26th

Crew 187 Sol 14 Summary Report 26JAN2018

Sol 14

Summary Title: In the end

Author’s name: Cynthia Fuertes Panizo

Mission Status: All nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

Hello Earth,

How is everything going on there?

Stay on Mars, it’s a dream that every Martian has. It is funny and enjoyable to stay here but also tired. Today we woke up in different hours. By 09:30, every Martian was awake. We ate breakfast; then, Oscar, Danton, Tania and I were getting ready for the last adventure as Martians. At 10:35, we started our last exploration; this time we found the right way at once, we arrived at the unknown canyon at 11:45. Again… we are the first crew in there… That feeling is awesome!!! You can’t imagine that kind of sensation. We would like to give it a name. Despacito road and Porg canyon, because, we consider that the road is dangerous so you have to drive slowly (slowly in Spanish is Despacito). In addition, It’s important to mention that Porg is the official pet of the crew 187, he always stays with us in all the adventures; therefore, we would like to leave a mark of our official pet.

We strongly recommend you to go to Porg Canyon! And drive very slowly in Despacito road, it’s for your security! The view in Porg canyon is beautiful, it’s a geological rich area. Thanks Shannon for recommending us this place!

At 14:45, we were inside the Hab. One hour and a half later, well, exactly talking, at 16:10, the extraordinary EVA began, at 17:10, they came back to home.

Later, Danton fly the drone around the Hab to do the aerial 3D mapping. At 18:20, wow, the moment that none Martian wants to arrive, arrived!… From that time, we were out of sim! But we feel like we are still Martians, at least, we are going to feel it until we left the MDRS and come back to Earth.

Currently, every Martian is running doing reports and the Mission Summary. Later we are going to have our last dinner together as crew 187. Tomorrow we are going to receive the next crew… Crew 188, we hope that you enjoy staying on Mars as much as we did!

Ad Astra,

Cynthia Fuertes Panizo

Commander Crew 187 – MDRS

Look Ahead Plan:

Receive the next crew… Crew 188, you have less than 24 hours on Earth!… Tomorrow you will be on Mars! This place is amazing, and you can learn a lot of things from the MDRS, every Martian, the landscape, and so on!

Furthermore, we are planning to enjoy our last day on Mars!

Anomalies in work:

None

Weather: Temperature: -5°C, Fair-weather, Winds speed: ESE 8 KPH, Humidity 35%, Barometer 30.29 in

Crew Physical Status: Healthy

Today’s EVA:

Location: Porg Canyon

Duration: From 10:35 until 14:45

Purpose: Testing of long-range EVA protocols and testing the Guache rover.

Today’s Extraordinary EVA:

Location: Quary Rd

Duration: From 16:10 until 17:10

Purpose: Usage of rovers for battery discharge.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, GeenHab Report, Operations Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report and Mission Summary.

Support Requested:

None

Greenhab Report – January 26th

GreenHab Report

Hernán David Mateus Jiménez

26Jan2018

Environmental control:

Heating

Ambient with door opening

Shade cloth on

Working Hour: 19:00
Inside temp at working hour: 15° C
Outside temp during working hours: 1° C
Inside temperature high: 29° C
Inside temperature low: 14° C
Inside humidity: 49 %RH

Inside humidity high: 49 %RH
Inside humidity low: 16 %RH

Hours of supplemental light:

For the crops 05:00 to 11:59 PM

Changes to crops: none

Daily water usage for crops: 8 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 18:15

Changes to research plants: The plans of quinoa over the lysimeter are withered.

Aquaponics: Atila is assembling it. He is waiting for the amount of water to fill the tank, this is necessary to do the test.

Narrative: The last day simulation, I started disassembling the Lysimeter, Atila and I replanted 4 tomato plants in bigger pots and started to clean the greenhab.

In the afternoon, I realized that the first digit of the temperature on the screen of the sensor is not showing.

EVA Report – January 26th

EVA Report for 26Jan2018

Author: Oscar Ojeda

Start time: 10:00

End time: 15:00

Purpose of EVA: Aerial mapping of terrain, testing of long-range EVA protocols, testing of temperature regulation vest, Collection of possible halophile samples, Testing of the Guache Rover.

Destination: Unnamed zone on 1101 marker, west of Cow Dung Road, near white rock canyon

Coordinates: 519000 E, 4247500 N

Participants: Danton, Oscar, Tania, and Cynthia

Narrative: Today we were going to a place that was never explored by a crew before, and we took out our official pet, the Porg, with us. The crew left the airlock at 10:35 and headed south in 4 ATVs, upon finding the pole 1101 trough Cow Dung road, after about half an hour of traverse, we proceeded to drive into a road that hasn’t been used in a long while. The Road was very harsh, and we had to go very slow, so we decided to name the road “Despacito Rd”. Upon arriving we found several areas to explore, each one as beautiful as the other. Then is was when we realized that it was our last exploration EVA, and our goodbye from Mars. We walked through a canyon, which we decided to name Porg Canyon. The area is very rich geologically, with several sedimentary deposits, as well as clast rocks. There was also evidence of herbivore animals. The crew walked for 2 hours in the canyon and returned to the ATVs, starting the road home. Midway, the crew stopped in a rocky plain to test the functionality of the Guache Rover, using a wheel that was 3D printed in metal by the company ITAMCO, and designed with Purdue University. After that the crew resumed the way home, entering the airlock at 14:45.

No incident or anomaly was sustained during the EVA.

Operations Report – January 26th

Crew 187 Operations Report 26012018

SOL: 14

Name of person filing report: Luis Jose Antonio Diaz Lopez

Non-nominal systems: None.

Notes on non-nominal systems: Generator system limping along with a now-nominal routine.

Generator (hours run): 14.0h

Generator turned off, charging battery at 09h:50m

Generator turned on at 20h:20m3

Solar— SOC

@ 09:43: 54%

@ 19:43: 32%

Diesel: 94%

Propane: 88%

Ethanol Free Gasoline (5 Gallon containers for ATV): 10 Gallons

Water (trailer): 0 Gallons

Water (static): 60 Gallons

Trailer to Static Pump used: No

Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used: Yes

Water Meter: 01303618 Gallons

Toilet tank emptied: No

ATVs Used: HONDA, 350(1), 350(2), 350(3)

Oil Added? No

ATV Fuel Used: 7%

# Hours the ATVs were used today: 01h 40min

Notes on ATVs: None

Deimos rover used: Taked by the director to testing due the recently battery problems.

Hours: 102.3 (crew) + Director discretional hours

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: –

Currently charging: Maybe

Sojourner rover used: Assigned to director only.

Hours: Director discretional hours

Beginning charge:

Ending charge: –

Currently charging: Maybe

Spirit rover used: Yes

Hours: 15.1h

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: –

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Yes

Hours: 12.4h

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge:

Currently charging: No

Curiosity rover used: Yes

Hours: 6.6h

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: –

Currently charging: Yes

HabCar used and why, where? No

General notes and comments: None

Summary of internet: All nominal

Summary of suits and radios: All nominal

Summary of Hab operations: All nominal

Summary of EVA operations: All nominal

Summary of GreenHab operations: All nominal

Summary of Science Dome operations: All nominal.

Summary of RAM operations: Not Operational.

Summary of health and safety issues: All nominal

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Request: More water for the next crew.

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