Day: December 7, 2018

Posted on

Commander Report – December 7th

Crew 200

Commander Report

07-DEC-2018

Another mission is over. Three crew members will carry on an extended mission for a few days.

Short missions have different challenges compared to longer missions. Here, adaption to this environment is predominant to the effects induced by isolation, as more time is needed to manifest such effects in the crew dynamics. However, you can still get science out of it! An example. The leadership approach is completely different.

My crew has interestingly connected their projects where energy is the main topic. During this week, we have investigated energy in engineering, science, agriculture and arts!

Then, active conversations about the future of space exploration started when answering to kid’s questions about space. From one of this questions, it appears that a few kids think that only men can be trained as astronauts. I do not blame them, I guess it depends on the family.

I recognize the importance of out-reach and STEAM in education. However, parents or relatives should also be educated to recognize the current progress of science, otherwise all the investments in STEAM might not have a long-term impact in our society.

An example. Female astronauts exist. Female Commanders too! A good change can be produced investing in programs that teach to men how to work with women and vice-versa. Reminding the importance of women in our society is a bit limited, as it does not directly imply that a good interaction between employees or collaborators can be established.

Wishing the best to all, especially new mothers.
Ad Astra!

Commander IC

Posted on

Journalist report – December 7th

7-Dec-2018

Journalist Report:

It has brought me so much joy to be a part of this successful mission.
I will miss the uplifting team dynamics of this international crew.
There were countless times when I was reminded that the power of our
diverse team was more than the sum of its individual members.
Embarking on EVAs always comes with a risk and team members
continuously helped one other climb geographical features and cross
slippery areas. Even though each of us entered this mission with our
own research projects, neat interdisciplinary projects were formed
during the mission. A study investigating the strength of concrete
built from Earth sand versus Martian soil and a study examining the
heat transfer of the habitat using an infrared camera morphed into a
proposal to study the heat transfer properties of concrete built from
Earth sand versus Martian soil. Sharing our ideas and resources has
made this mission a success.

Today, we continued answering questions from school children from
Qatar. It was endearing to be asked by an eager student if there is a
school on Mars. While some questions were light-hearted, others were
more philosophical and we returned to discussions on the ethics of
terraforming another planet and how or whether resource management and
human rights could be improved today on Earth and one day on other
planets. As we prepare to conclude our mission, I cannot help but feel
inspired and impressed by the example of international collaboration
and volunteer efforts here at MDRS. Indeed, the MDRS represents
successful teamwork at a larger level than Crew 200. Thank you for
welcoming the seven of us crew members to be a part of this mission.

Lindsay Rutter

Posted on

Astronomy report – December 7th

Crew Astronomer: Andrew Foster

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested: MDRS-WF (05 DEC), hope to add further WF observations if conditions clear later this evening.

Requested objects – None.

Objects Viewed: None

Image attached: None.

Problems Encountered:

Poor weather conditions (Cloudy conditions continue today).

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: None.

Notes

Both observatories are clear of snow this evening.

Attached 3 x photos: Astronomy Laptop and Astronomy box (end of mission), plus photo of packaging for backup UPS battery left in Science Dome (empty packaging only, UPS battery is inside Dome).

Crew Astronomer departing station 12-08-2018

End report.

Posted on

Operations Report – December 7th

Crew 200 Operations Report 07-Dec-2018

SOL: 6

Name of person filing report: Antoine Bocquier

Non-nominal systems: generator autostart
Notes on non-nominal systems: None

Generator (hours run): From 6:00 pm last night to 7:45 am. On tonight at 4:00 pm.

Solar— SOC 81%
Diesel Reading – 25 %
Propane Reading – 39 %
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A gallons

Water (auxillary tank) – 0 gallons
Water (static tank) – 350 gallons
Auxillary to Static tank transfer – no
Gallons transferred: 0
Water in GreenHab – not noted gallons, low.
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 8

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: no, still not functional
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 73%
Currently charging: no

Sojourner rover used: No
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: no
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: no
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: Rovers were not used or moved since Sunday, in charge from Sunday afternoon.
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0
Notes on ATVs: ATVs were taken out of active service and are now parked away from the station

HabCar used and why, where? No
CrewCar used and why, where? No

General notes and comments: when switching on the generator, the transfer button in the Science Dome (to connect the generator on the power system) is not always working at the first try, I have to pay attention at the sound change and the positive voltage displayed on the scren.

Summary of internet: Nothing to report.

Summary of suits and radios: Suit 3 does not seem to work, there is also a charger that is blinking (I’m not sure it is charging well). I will investigate.

Summary of Hab operations: Regular activities, we are finishing our projects.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Regular activities

Summary of ScienceDome operations: regular activities

Summary of RAM operations: There is a little leak in the roof where the snow is melting, there a little bit of water on the ground. We put a container to avoid water on the ground.

Summary of any observatory issues: Musk Solar observatory – Nominal. Robotic Observatory – Nominal.

Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report.

Posted on

Greenhab Report – December 7th

Crew 200 Greenhab Report 07-DEC-2018

Greenhab Officer:
Makiah Eustice

Environmental Control:
Heating
40% Shade Cloth on

Average Temperatures:
Low: 19 C
High: 49 C

Hours of Supplemental Light:
5

Daily Water Usage of Crops:
2.5 gallons

Water in Blue Tank (lbs):
28%

Times of Watering for Crops:
1100

Changes to crops:
Planted 6 small areas of sunflower seeds
Planted 6 small areas of alfafa seeds
Harvested 69 g of mixed salad greens

Narrative:
Decided on format for outreach experiment, planted the sunflower seeds
and alfalfa. Last day with the full crew, so we are having a fresh
salad!

Harvest:
69g mixed salad greens

Support/Supplies Needed:
One of the raised beds of mixed salad greens is having some wilting,
while the one I harvested is thriving. I’ve been watering both the
same, but it seemed to be showing signs of this for the past week.
I also need a more accurate way to take the height of the water level.
It is hard for me (and even another crew member) to tell the level
just from tapping it. A level sensor or a pressure sensor would be a
good addition to the Greenhouse.

Posted on

Sol Summary – December 7th

Sol: 5

Summary Events: Final day of Sim for Whole Crew. Day focused on completing projects

Author’s name: Oakley Jennings-Fast

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Engineering check completed with Crew Engineer and Crew Astronomer. Each crew member focused on completing their projects. The crew members, who completed their projects, aided the others in their projects. Crew Astronomer taught two of the crew members who are staying for a second week of sim how to run the Solar Observatory. Fresh lettuce was harvested for the crews’ final meal all together on sim.

Look Ahead Plan: Midnight tonight, we will end sim. Tomorrow midday, 4 crew members will go back to Grand Junction to fly home on Sunday. Three crew members are staying an additional week and have coordinated with Shannon.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Cloudy, no precipitation

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: N/A

Support Requested: None

Copyright © The Mars Society. All rights reserved. | Main Site