April 5, 2019 – Mars Desert Research Station

April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Crew Photos – April 5th

Photo of the day: Crew 208 HSO Playing Space Chess + Displaying our 3D Printed MSF Land Cruiser.jpg

April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Astronomy Report – April 5th

Astronomy Report

Name: Amanda Manget

Crew: 208
Date: 05-APR-2019

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested: MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening (if weather permits): Crab Nebula, Whirlpool Galaxy, and Dumbbell Nebula

Objects Already Imaged: Pinwheel with MDRS-14 and MDRS-WF, Whirlpool Galaxy with MDRS-WF, Crab Nebula

Problems Encountered: In the Pinwheel and Whirlpool Galaxies as well as the Crab Nebula images, it is difficult to make out the objects, even after processing. Perhaps with the MDRS-14 they will come out clearer.

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Operations Report – April 5th

Crew 208 Operations Report 05-APR-2019

SOL: 8

Name of person filing report: Amanda Manget

Non-nominal systems: Generator

Notes on non-nominal systems: Radiator hoses and alternator need replacement on the generator. A contractor has been arranged to make these repairs within a few days.

Generator (hours run): 12

Solar – SOC 92% @ 1900 (before David turned on the generator for the night)

Diesel Reading – 44%

Propane Reading – 50%

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 2 gallons

Water (auxiliary tank) – 0 gallons (Note: Not in Use)

Water (static tank) – 110.64

Auxiliary to Static tank transfer – No

Gallons transferred: 0

Water in GreenHab – 194 gallons

Static to Loft Pump used – Yes

Water Meter: 0142475.3 gallons @ 1900

Toilet tank emptied: Yes

Deimos rover used: No, not functional

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: N/A

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: N/A

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: 86

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: No

Hours: 56.2

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: Yes

Hours: 87.9

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 77%

Currently charging: Yes

Notes on rovers:

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3)

Reason for use:

Oil Added? No
ATV Fuel Used: 0 Gals

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0

Notes on ATVs: None

HabCar used and why, where? Not Used

CrewCar used and why, where? Not Used

CrewCar odometer reading: 175109 miles

General notes and comments: Nothing to report

Summary of internet: Nothing to report

Summary of suits and radios: EV suits normal, all batteries read > 12.5 volts

Summary of Hab operations: Checked SOC of the electrical system as follows:

0700 SOC 100%, generator turned off by David

1400 SOC 96%, generator off

1900 SOC 92%, generator off

Summary of GreenHab operations: Nothing to report

Summary of ScienceDome 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: None

April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Greenhab Report – April 5th

GreenHab Officer: Erika Rydberg

Environmental control: Ambient with the door open at 08:30, door closed at 18:00

Shade cloth (80%) on

Average temperatures:

Average: 24.9 degrees Celsius

Low: 20.8
High: 28.8

Hours of supplemental light: 0

Daily water usage for crops: 4 gallons

Water in Blue Tank— 194 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 08:30 and 14:00

Changes to crops: None

Narrative: Turned fan setting down to 1.

Harvest: None

Support/supplies needed: None

April 5, 2019

Journalist Report – April 5th

[status draft

Crew 208 Journalist Report

April 5, 2019

Author: Erika Rydberg

The End is Near: Just for our Journey On Mars

Today was a day about completion. With much of our equipment departing tomorrow, we finished our 3D prints (including pieces to build your own mini-MDRS) and completed other projects. With the completion of many projects, we had a bit of time to experience the joy of some games we have around the Hab.

Whilst Dean and Julielynn finished their rides on our bicycle battery charging system, Amanda and David played a game of space chess, and it turns out at 12 years old, David was an provincial winning chess player in Canada (we’re still trying to figure out what he can’t do – not only is he an emergency room doctor, he plays the drums, taught us some dance moves today, just finished a masters in the UK, and performed some magic tricks while at the Hab – he is the exact kind of person you want on your trip to Mars). He came out the winner today in chess, but Amanda was ready for another challenge.

We completed some additional training and testing on our thoracentesis trainer. I think for us practicing the procedure with the trainer, we’re getting more and more familiar with this life-saving procedure. I admired the growth in the Greenhab today thinking of how amazing it can be to grow so many plants in such a harsh environment, where not much is growing beyond our little green space on Mars.

We were able to fit in some additional projects including, some brief fun filming in our electric vehicle today; with our time on Mars running out we’re trying to experiment as much as possible before we go. David and Amanda had a brief trip out to the reservoir at the end of the day.

We’ve become so familiar with the Hab and our landscape, it will be sad to leave, but we rest assured that the next crew will have important research ahead of them and make more important discoveries on the Red Planet.

April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Sol Summary – April 5th

Crew 208 Sol Summary Report 05-APR-2019

Sol: 8

Summary Title: Preparing for the Trip Home! (out of sim)

Author’s name: Julielynn Wong

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

Crew 208 continued 3D printing in the Hab and completed the data collection for our bike-powered 3D printing project.

XO is packing up most of our equipment tonight in his vehicle for the return trip home.

Look Ahead Plan: Continue data collection for the thoracentesis study this PM. Prepare for post-mission inspection on Sol 9. Plan to depart Hab on Sol 10 at 0800.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny with winds

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: n/a

Reports to be filed: Operations, Greenhab, Journalist

Support Requested: None

The Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert was established by the Mars Society in 2001 to better educate researchers, students and the general public about how humans can survive on the Red Planet. It is the second Mars analogue habitat after the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station was established in 2000.

Over 200 crews of six-person teams have lived in 1-2 week field visits at MDRS to simulate life on the Martian surface. Researchers and students alike have explored the Mars-like terrain in the area surrounding the station in full “spacesuits”, maintained the station’s systems, grown plants in the GreenHab to support themselves and even recycled their waste water.

Our activities at MDRS are not only about informing the public, but also conducting real research to bring humanity that much closer to the reality of human exploration on the planet Mars.

Annual field seasons at MDRS run approx. October through May. Anybody can apply to be on a crew, and we also need volunteers to help with the project.

Management Team

Mission Support