Buenas noches Sebastián and Mission Support Team!
You can see our daily photos for SOL 5 showing some activities done during EVA, some things harvested from the Green Hab, our lunch, and other activities done in the Science Dome and the Hab.
Best regards,
Carlos Salazar
Crew engineer crew 226
SOL:5
Name of person filing report: Carlos Salazar
Non-nominal systems: none
Notes on non-nominal systems: none
Spirit rover used: No
Hours: 153.4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: 82.9
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: No
Hours: 165.1
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
Perseverance rover used: no
Hours: 226.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
General notes and comments: none
Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: 18 gallons
Water (static tank): 400 gallons
Water (loft tank): 27 gallons
Water Meter: currently 0154999.6
Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on
Static tank heater (on or off) on
Toilet tank emptied: no
Summary of internet: nominal
Summary of suits and radios: One of the spacesuit chargers seems to not be working well, but further testing is required.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
WATER USE: 10.6 gallons
Temperature: 89.6 °F
Heater: On
Supplemental light: Yes
Harvest: Lettuce 46g, Cilantro 4g, Banana Pepper 17g, Green Onion 6g
Potted: Lettuce, Microgreens, Chives
Summary of Science Dome operations:
SOC: 91%
Summary of RAM operations: A multimeter from the RAM was used to check voltage of the spacesuit chargers
Summary of any observatory issues: none
Summary of health and safety issues: none
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: none
Crew 226 EVA Report 22-01-2022
EVA # 4
Author: Felipe Torres, Crew Scientist
Purpose of EVA: Recognition of the lithology of the zone. We would recognize the area to identify the convenience of collecting geologic samples in this zone. Additionally, our crew geologist would train our other crew members so that they would also able to collect samples needed as followed by our mission plan; this in case she is not able to go out on an EVA for some reason so that she’s not the only one capable of fulfilling this activity but that any crew member could do so.
Start time: 9:10 am
End time: 10:25 am
Narrative: The crew prepared the necessary tools to collect our clay samples: hammer, shovels, zip-lock bags. Also, we brought out a small rodent we captured last night so we could free him outside during the EVA.
While we were getting the crew members into their spacesuits right before leaving the Hab, we realized that the ventilation for one of the suits was not working and decided to switch for another spacesuit while we resolved the issue for the other one. We tried charging it for a while which was unsuccessful and then tried changing the charger and finally it started working. This will be discussed further by the Crew Engineer in our Operations Report for today.
Due to the short distance from Hab to Phobos Peak, we decided the best mode of travel would be by foot. So, our commander, crew HSO and crew engineer went ahead to explore this zone in search of our clays of interest.
The location was pretty easy to find as it was even visible from the Hab. Different types of clays of different colors could be observed, and what seemed to be white clay from a reasonable distance, happened to be just snow. We collected our clays, for which we decided to collect two different samples, one was a red clay and the other one was a gray/white clay. These samples will be studied at a laboratory in Colombia, in an instrument that identifies the material’s mineralogy, to then compare these techniques with those of the instruments that Perseverance on Mars has on one of its robotic arms.
Our commander explained to the other crew members a little about clays, and why these were of interest for our Mission plan. Also she showed them examples of clays and which ones would be most interesting to collect.
Crew came back to Hab with no anomalies and before the stipulated time, as the scientific purpose was accomplished on time.
In general, this was a pretty successful EVA.
Destination: Phobos Peak
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519300, 4250300
Participants: Yael Mendez, Carlos Salazar, Cristian Acosta
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: by foot
Sol: 5
Summary Title: Mars continues surprising us!
Author’s name: Yael Méndez- Commander
Mission Status: The crew has adapted well to the routine of the station.
Sol Activity Summary: The activities were carried out within and outside the HAB. We were in Phobos Peak, we explored for an hour and a half in the EVA. We collected some clays. We cooked Martian Style Tacos and worked on projects.
Look Ahead Plan: Continue exploring and discovering the wonders of Mars, while we carry out our Science projects. We await a visit from a Japanese spacecraft (Japanese newspaper).
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Sunny in the morning and partially cloudy in the afternoon
Crew Physical Status: Nominal
EVA: One EVA realized to Phobos Peak
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, HSO report, EVA Request, Daily photos, Journalist report.
Support Requested: None 😊
Journal Report Sol 5 – 22Jan2022
Maria Paula Bustos Moreno – Crew Geologist/ Green-Hab Officer Crew 226
DAY 04 OF SIMULATION
Dear Martian Diary,
Being far away from home has never been easy, I miss my hometown Bogotá, and my new home in Berlin (where I currently live). Those gigantic green mountains and rivers, everything full of life. What is the thing I miss the most? My private space. I’ve always loved to be alone, sit down in my room, listen to music, look through the window, and meditate about how grateful I am to be alive at this moment of human history, at which dreaming about becoming an astronaut is not unrealistic anymore. As I was telling you, I was not able to find this lonely place in the hab and I shared this concern with my crew members who told me that the place I was looking for was the science dom. The science dom? Of course! How could I not think about it before? Thank you Crew Scientist Felipe for the advice, here I go …..
I am heading to the Science Dom… These tunnels are cold, it is a complete experience to walk on them, the cold air, the rocks on my feet and the view, this view from the corner of the hab….” the camera shutter makes a sound”. Wow, look at this picture! It’s impossible to resist not taking a picture from here every day.
I just arrived in the Science Dom, this place is breathtaking, I come close to the rectangular window in front of the desk, and this view… The view from this window is making me feel an electric shock that comes out of my heart and flows to the rest of my body, suddenly my heart starts beating faster. “Boom, boom, boom”. I could stare here for hours looking at those red and brownish sedimentary rocks. Which forms of past life could have lived there some millions of years ago? It’s still a mystery… Can you imagine the first E-U-R-E-K-A! of the first scientist or group of scientists who discover the first sign of past life on Mars? I hope we unveil this enigma very soon.
Undoubtedly the science Dom was the place I was looking for. The smell of wet rock here makes this place such a perfect environment to study, to reflect, and have the boost of energy I was looking forward to having. …” Maria, Maria, are you there?” – the radio makes some noises
“Yes, here I am! Do you need something?” – I answer
“Can you please bring some Cilantro, Pepper, Onion, and Lettuce?” – Felipe asks
I’m the Green-hab officer of the crew. I take care of harvesting everything that we need, I spend an hour every morning in the hab, watering the plants, cropping, singing, and telling sweet words to them.
“Sure! Give me some minutes, I’ll be right there with the veggies” – I answer Felipe
“By the way, that sounds like you are preparing some tacos?” – I ask him in a very excited manner
I love tacos, I used to eat them a lot on Earth.
“You got it! Come with the veggies and let’s enjoy our Tacos lunch.” – He replies
The green-hab is our most “Earth-like” place here in the station. It’s so hot, that I feel I am in the middle of the Amazonas Rainforest as soon as I cross the door. Everything smells wet and fresh around here, my favorite plants are the cherry tomatoes. They are so sweet and grow very fast, I harvest them every day. I am starving and can’t wait to eat tacos!
“…Und egal was kommt, wer geht und bleibt, ich weiss. Du hältst mit mir Schritt..” – a german song wakes me up from a short sleep I took after lunch.
I take my headphones off. I still feel the delicious flavors of the lunch we cooked in my mouth: pico de gallo, ají, and chili with meat. Was the best Mexican lunch on Mars… obviously because it’s the only one hahaha.
I forgot to tell you that last night we had our first dance night in the hab. We listened to Colombian music for hours and danced like we were at a real party, it was very funny. Carlos is the funniest one around here, his dance moves were from another planet, we all laughed so much. What I love the most about this crew is that no one judges anyone, each one has its own personality and I feel we complement each other very well.
Well, it’s getting late here and I have some tasks to do. See you tomorrow again!
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