Journalist Report – December 29th
Crew 201 Journalist Report – 28DEC2018
The Martian Chronicles
[SOL 14] – Whatever it takes
Our Martian mission is coming to an end and with it the adventure of a lifetime. It comes as no surprise that all the hard work has paid well. We turn back to reflect to life before Mars and what comes next to each one of us. We are explorers and today we have moved a step further into a larger world of exploration. Into reaching the stars and going where none has boldly gone before.
MDRS Crew 201 – MEx-1
Space has been the final frontier for the latter days of humankind and we have had the chance to go where only a few have seen before. We are called Martians and we are a family who takes care of each other and looks after whoever is coming after you. Today MEx-1 received the next explorers that will take care of our home: Martian Makers. They will carry on some of our experiments and will continue the dreams of so many that have visited the station before us.
Yesterday before bed, we had the time to bond as a team and reflect on the ups and downs of our mission. We had the chance to look back and understand the challenges that will come after we get back to Earth and how will our lives change. We came as a crew and we leave as a family.
Our last day on Mars was as you would expect a last day at a home would be. We cleaned the rooms, we cleared all the shelves, we shoveled Martian snow and we worked to receive a new crew at our base. We had the place ready for the next explorers to begin their adventure like Crew 200 did for us. A brief tour of the hab, life support systems check, report check and all of the regular tasks done at the station. It was a hard moment because we knew our time was about to pass.
We are now readying our way back to Earth, our ship is refueling and our spirits are high. We are coming back home as Martians and we are preparing ourselves for longer missions, harder activities, more training and to do all what is needed to get back to Mars and support the idea of becoming a multiplanetary species.
We will work hard. We will teach the people about the stars. We will prepare the next generation of explorers to go larger lengths than what we have done in our first mission. We will do whatever it takes to get back to Mars and continue exploring.
Ad Astra!
MEx-1 continuará.
Genaro Grajeda, MDRS Crew 201 Co-Journalist
Operations Report – December 29th
Crew 201 Operations Report 29-Dec-2018
SOL: 14
Name of person filing report: César Augusto Serrano Baza
Non-nominal systems: Generator Autostart
Notes on non-nominal systems: None
Generator (hours run): 17:05 yesterday until around 09:40. Today started at 19:00.
Solar— SOC 78%
Diesel Reading – Around 75%
Propane Reading – 61%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A gallons.
Water (Axillary tank) – 0 gallons
Water (static tank) – Around half of the tank (around 175 gallons).
Auxillary to Static tank transfer– no
Gallons transferred: 0
Water in GreenHab – Medium level (80%)
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 01396602
Toilet tank emptied: YES
Deimos rover used: no, still not functional
Hours: 0
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: no
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging X
Spirit rover used: NO
Hours: 63
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES
Opportunity rover used: NO
Hours: 44.8
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES
Curiosity rover used: NO
Hours: 61.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES
Notes on rovers: Nothing to report.
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: Nothing to report.
Notes on ATVs : Nothing to report.
HabCar used and why, where? Yes, Refill the water of the static tank.
CrewCar used and why, where? Yes, to pick up the crew 202.
General notes and comments: We cleaned the whole station and also we welcome the crew 202.
Summary of internet: Nothing to report.
Summary of suits and radios: We figured out again that the 2-piece suit still has the airflow problem. We did the troubleshooting of the last time and we know that the battery is still working but the air is not flowing inside the helmets as it has to flow.
Summary of GreenHab operations: – Nothing to report.
Summary of ScienceDome operations: – Nothing to report.
Summary of RAM operations:We cleaned the RAM at 100%
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: We are going back to Earth! Thanks MDRS for the support!
Thank you!!!
Greenhab Report – December 29th
Astronomy Report – December 29th
Astronomy Report
Name: Federico Arturo Martinez Espinoza
Crew: Crew 201 MEx-1
Date: Dec 29 2018
During our time on MDRS, as astronomer my main job was to make observations of different space bodies using the MDRS-WF telescope, the observations were focused on astrophotography of the next bodies:
| Object | Filters | Exposure | Images taken |
| 46P Wirtanen | RGB | 60s | 3 |
| Andromeda Galaxy | H alpha | 210 | 5 |
| Andromeda Galaxy | RGB | 60s | 3 |
| NGC7000 | RGB | 45s | 3 |
| Messier 101 | RGB + Halpha | 60s | 4 |
| Horsehead nebula | RGB + Halpha | 60s | 4 |
| NGC2024 | RG + Halpha | 60s | 3 |
| PGC21396 | RGB + Halpha + Lum | 45s | 5 |
| * Horsehead nebula | RGB + Halpha | 300s | 4 |
| * M1 | RGB + Halpha + Lum | 300s | 5 |
| * PGC27077 | RGB + Halpha + Lum | 120s | 5 |
*Pending
The filters used to process the images were on most of them RGB and some of them the Halpha filter with a time of exposures between 45 and 300 seconds, after calibrating the images on AstroimageJ I proceed to give the color using photoshop based on the steps the quick guide had gave me.
The results were varied depending on the time of exposure and the filters used, but many of the images were great and I am getting experience and exciting about astrophotography.
Sol Summary – Dec 29th
Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 29-Dec-2018
Sol: 0/14
Summary Title: Goodbye crew 201, hello crew 202
Author’s name: Carlos Mariscal, XO
Mission Status: Sol 0 for crew 202.
Sol Activity Summary: New crew got trained, crew 201 checked out. Water tanks filled up and received new supplies and food.
Look Ahead Plan: Briefing with MDRS Director, training and unpacking.
Anomalies in work: Suit number 4 still does not work properly.
Weather: Cold, calm winds.
Crew Physical Status: New crew seems to be healthy both physically and mentally.
EVA: Shannon’s trailer.
Reports to be file:
– Sol summary
– Commander report
– Operations report
– Astronomer report
– GreenHab report
– Photos of the day
Support Requested: None.