Photo of the day: IMG-20190129-WA0013.jpg
Crew Photos – January 30th
Journalist Report – January 29th
Journalist Report
Author: Sonal Baberwal
Hello from Mars!
Have you ever traveled to an unknown destiny? Yes, maybe or no! Our life is a journey to another unknown destiny in cosmos! isn’t it?
Then why not start with some small steps towards exploration? Like how we landed on Moon and this time on Mars. Crew 204 (Nix Olympica) is stepping towards future Mars settlement with following the footprint of analogue simulation organized by the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS).
The journey has never been easy! But it’s worth pursuing a simulation mission that teaches discipline with an interdisciplinary aspect. Yes, that’s what we’ve thought and found in MDRS.
Well, let’s come to the actual journey that brought us to the destiny that we’ve always been dreaming of. Yes this day was well deserved after huge efforts to reach the destination. We invite you to join our journey and to get to know about our experiences. We really miss our crews as they couldn’t make it due to diplomatic complications, however after great efforts we four could make it out of eight!
This was a really interesting journey. Like someone said, ‘One never gets the desired destination without having obstacles’. Myself, Sonal Baberwal traveled from India to France followed by San Diego, USA and an on-road journey towards Utah. Kunal traveled from Italy to New York to Salt Lake city Utah, where I met him and we left towards Grand Junction where we met Avishek who traveled from United Kingdom to Las Vegas and further Grand Junction. However, after confirmation, we all traveled from Grand Junction towards Mars Desert Research Station. Our crewmate Cosmos Patil had arrived today that made it more valuable.
The biggest challenge was to receive the lost baggage that had valuable research things like the rover. After efforts of 6 days, the bag was received at the Hollow Mountain.
The Crew had a very warm welcome by the mission support members Atalia and David and the Martian Dog Pub. What if we could take these lovely animals (dogs) with us to Mars? The day had been exciting as we had the training for the simulation.
Note: Photos will be sent through separate email.
Sol Summary – January 29th
Crew 204 Sol Summary Report 29-01-2019
Sol: 01
Summary Title: The Beginning
Author’s name: Kunal Naik (Space_Bot)
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The day starts with the welcoming our final crew member Pranit Patil who is our XO. We had a crew meeting over first Martian breakfast. We discussed about our plans, our projects, learning outcomes, desired outcomes and about our crew’s roller coaster journey to MDRS. After our breakfast we initialized our training which went till evening. The training was quite important to carry out our mission. We assigned ourself the roles and task after the training session. So far our crew is super enthusiastic and motivated to carry out the mission.
Look Ahead Plan: Everyone has been assigned their task, we have 2 EVA’s scheduled for the mission, one in the morning and later by the eve. The crew will initiate their project along with their daily habitat assigned activities.
Anomalies in work: None Encountered
Weather: Cloudy, with a high of 7
Crew Physical Status: Everyone is healthy but our crew member Pranit Patil who arrived today morning from India is suffering from jetlag.
EVA: Galileo (Training Session)
Reports to be file: Curiosity and Spirit are operational, Opportunity is non Operational due to brake issues.
Support Requested: None
Operations Report – January 29th
Crew 204 Operations Report 29-01-2019
SOL: 01
Name of person filing report: Kunal Naik (Space_bot)
Non-nominal systems: None
Notes on non-nominal systems: N/A
Generator (hours run): Not Known (It stopped running between the night), turn on at 1840.
Solar— SOC % Turned on (28th January) 97%, Turned on (29th January) 85%
Diesel Reading – 1/2 Tank
Propane Reading – 75%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – 10 gallons
Water (Auxillary tank) – Not in use gallons
Water (Static tank) – 40%, 200 gallons
Auxillary to Static tank transfer – No
Gallons transferred: Not Applicable
Water in GreenHab – About 40%,120 gallons
Water (loft) – 12 marked level
Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 01406097 units
Toilet tank emptied: No
Deimos rover used: No, still not functional
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: N/A
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: Not Applicable
Beginning charge: Not Applicable
Ending charge: Not Applicable
Currently charging: Not Applicable
Spirit rover used: For Training purpose
Hours:70.6 hours
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: Not checked while training
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: For Training purpose
Hours: 72.7 hours
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: Not checked while training
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: Brakes not functional
Hours: 46.2 hours
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Notes on rovers: None
ATV’s Used: None
Reason for use: N/A
Oil Added? N/A
ATV Fuel Used: Nope
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: N/A
Notes on ATVs: N/A
HabCar used and why, where? For water
Crew Car used and why, where? Off Campus
General notes and comments: Nothing to Report
Summary of internet: N/A
Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report.
Summary of Hab operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of Green Hab operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of Science Dome operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of RAMM operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report.
Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report.
Greenhab Report – January 28th
Greenhab Report 29-Jan-2019
Intern:
David Mateus
Environmental Control:
Heating
Cooling w/ ambient air (5 hrs)
40% Shade Cloth on
80% Shade Cloth on
Average Temperatures:
Low: 16°C
High: 34°C
Hours of Supplemental Light:
5
Daily Water Usage of Crops:
11 gallons
Water in Blue Tank (gallons):
16.33%, 49 Gallons.
Times of Watering for Crops:
11:34
16:08
19:50
Changes to crops:
None
Narrative:
None
Harvest:
None
Support/Supplies Needed:
None
Operations Report – January 28th
Operations Report 28Jan2019
Name of person filing report: Atila Meszaros
Non-nominal systems: HabCar
Notes on non-nominal systems: Habcar’s left rear wheel got a cut from a barbed wire on CowDung Road. David and I replaced the wheel using a back up.
Generator (hours run): 13hr 30min; Turned on last night (28Jan2019) at 18:00; Turned off this morning (28Jan2019) at 07:30; Turned on today (28Jan2019) at 18:00.
Solar SOC – Turned on (26Jan2019) 85%; Turned off (26Jan2019) 85%; Turned on (26Jan2019) 97%.
Diesel Reading – 1/2 Tank
Propane Reading – 79%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – 10 gallons
Water (auxiliary tank) – Not in use.
Water (static tank) – 20%, 100 gallons.
Auxiliary to Static tank transfer – No
Gallons transferred: Not applicable
Water in GreenHab – About 5%; 15 gallons
Water (loft) – Not checked
Static to Loft Pump used – Not checked
Water Meter: Not checked
Toilet tank emptied: No.
Deimos rover used: No, still not functional
Hours: Not applicable
Beginning charge: Not applicable
Ending charge: Not applicable
Currently charging: Not applicable
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: Not applicable
Beginning charge: Not applicable
Ending charge: Not applicable
Currently charging: Not applicable
Spirit rover used: Not used.
Hours: 70.3
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: Not used.
Hours: 46.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: Used for transportation to replace the Habcar wheel.
Hours: Not checked
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 80%
Currently charging: Yes
Notes on rovers: Brakes on Opportunity still not working properly.
ATV’s Used: 350.1 and 350.2
Reason for use: Used for transportation to replace the HabCar wheel.
Oil Added? No
ATV Fuel Used: None
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 40 minutes
Notes on ATVs: None
HabCar used and why, where? To Hanksville, to get the food for the Crew’s rotation, to get water, and to go to the storage room.
CrewCar used and why, where? Off campus.
Summary of the internet: Nothing to report.
Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report
Summary of Hab operations:
We will begin training tomorrow. Pranit, the last crewmember, will be joining us tomorrow morning.
Summary of GreenHab operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report.
Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report.
Mission Summary – Jan 26th
Journalist Report – Jan 26th
Title: Across the Universe
Author: David Mateus
With the last days full of Latin American music it is evident that we miss our home, the green of the Colombian mountains, the taste of our fruits, the voice of our relatives and dance with the rhythm of salsa brava.
By getting involved in a trip to other worlds we do not stop being human, we will always need a hug and it will be inevitable to shed some tears from time to time. Mars teaches us that difficulties on land were only part of a training, that we always have something more to learn and that we do not advance just by ourselves.
I will never forget his great sense of humor, your ability to cook exquisite dishes with dehydrated food, your disposition in the maintenance of the habitat systems, your resistance in the EVAs, your professionalism, your companionship, your tolerance, your happiness. I hope to see you soon and to continue working for this beautiful dream. I still have a lot to do on Mars, a lot to learn and I’m happy to stay a little longer, but I’m sad that I will not be with you tomorrow enjoying the beautiful scenery on the way to Grand Junction.
The 204 crew receives the immaculate RAM and science dome, a greener Greenhab, an observatory where our remote astronomer followed the most amazing images and a cozy main Hab where for two weeks our laughers were heard. We hope you have an excellent stay in this that was our home and be aware of the great responsibility that remains in your hands.
Operations Report – January 26th
Crew 203 Operations Report 26-JAN-2019
SOL: 14 (The final one for us here)
Name of person filing report: Freddy Castaneda
Non-nominal systems: Nothing new to report.
Notes on non-nominal systems: None
Generator (hours run): 15hr 55min; Turned on last night (25Jan2019) at 16:45; Turned off this morning (26Jan2019) at 8:40; Turned on today (26Jan2019) at 18:55.
Solar SOC – Turned on (25Jan2019) 91%; Turned off (26Jan2019) 100%; Turned on (26Jan2019) 85%
Diesel Reading – Under 1/2 tank.
Propane Reading – Over 79%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – Nothing to report.
Water (auxiliary tank) – Not in use.
Water (static tank) – About 25%; 130 gallons
Auxiliary to Static tank transfer – No
Gallons transferred: Not applicable
Water in GreenHab – About 29%; 85 gallons
Water (loft) – At level marker 12
Static to Loft Pump used – Yes; At 8:00, 17:05 and 19:10 to refill tank
Water Meter: 01405365
Toilet tank emptied: No.
Deimos rover used: No, still not functional
Hours: Not applicable
Beginning charge: Not applicable
Ending charge: Not applicable
Currently charging: Not applicable
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: Not applicable
Beginning charge: Not applicable
Ending charge: Not applicable
Currently charging: Not applicable
Spirit rover used: Not used.
Hours: 70.3
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: Not used.
Hours: 46.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: Not used.
Hours: 72.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Notes on rovers: Brakes on Opportunity still not working properly.
ATV’s Used: None (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3)
Reason for use: None
Oil Added? No
ATV Fuel Used: None
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: None
Notes on ATVs: None
HabCar used and why, where? Used to get crew to town for Hamburgers 🙂
CrewCar used and why, where? Used to get crew 204 from Grand Junction to MDRS
General notes and comments: Nothing to report.
Summary of internet: Nothing to report.
Summary of suits and radios: Suit #10 and Suit #6 batteries still don´t charge.
Summary of Hab operations: It was a very hard cleaning day with a delicious Hamburger as reward. Nothing new to report.
Summary of GreenHab operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report.
Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report.
Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report.
Our last day on Mars, it was a real pleasure for me to be here as part of crew 203, thanks for the support, I hope my work has contributed to the program. Thanks to all.
Freddy Castaneda
PS. A special greeting to my daughter, I’ll see you soon. 🙂
Greenhab Report – January 26th
Crew 203 Greenhab Report 26-Jan-2019
Greenhab Officer:
Hermes Bolivar
Environmental Control:
Heating
Cooling w/ ambient air (5 hrs)
40% Shade Cloth on
80% Shade Cloth on
Average Temperatures:
Low: 16.1°C
High: 25.4°C
Hours of Supplemental Light:
5
Daily Water Usage of Crops:
13 gallons
Water in Blue Tank (gallons):
31%, 93 Gallons.
Times of Watering for Crops:
9:37
12:30
15:40
19:15
Changes to crops:
* I use the spray for keep under control the population of gnast.
Narrative:
* In the last day the greenhab has crops of diffefent greens growing, the tomatos are be ok, the sugar peas are recover, some pots are avariable for culture. I apply the spray for reduce the population of gnast.
Result of experiment
percentage of germination of sugar peas on matian regolith
experiment (martian regolith with potting mix)
Pot 1 =20%
pot 2 =50%
Pot 3 =10%
control (potting mix only)
Pot 1 =100%
pot 2 =90%
Pot 3 =70%
Harvest:
NONE
Support/Supplies Needed:
NONE
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