Month: January 2022

Posted on

Commander Report – January 7th

Sol 05 Commander Report

Sionade Robinson
Crew 238 Commander

Crew 238 Sol Summary Report 07 Jan2022

Sol:5

Summary Title: Crossing the ocean means leaving the shore

Author’s name: Sionade Robinson

Mission Status: Ongoing

Sol Activity Summary: Group and individual research projects
continuing. Scheduling in review and adjustment. Great teamwork,
meals and mutual support. Construction of a tool needed for exercise.
Cleaning and maintenance chores. Two EVAs successfully completed.

Look Ahead Plan: Continuation of research activities into future
astronaut wellbeing. Two EVA requests to complete labyrinth walk
facilitated by crew mate Dr Sandor.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Clear, sunny and warmer than expected. Adjustments necessary
to EVA clothing.

Crew Physical Status: Nominal. Two minor injuries assessed by HSO and
reported to Mission Support.

EVA: Morning EVA to Candor Chasma (Robinson, Marcellino and Werner)
afternoon EVA to Kissing Camels (Turner, Pokrywka). See reports.

Reports to be filed: Sol, Operations, two EVA Reports, Journalist and
HSO report.

Support Requested: Approval for two EVAs (detailed in EVA Request forms)

Posted on

Operations Report – January 6th

Crew 238 Operations Report 06-01-2022
SOL:4

Name of person filing report: Simon Werner

Non-nominal systems: 1 CO- Sensor, lower deck, replacement (Atila),
spacesuits, radio, see below.

Notes on non-nominal systems: Spacesuit’s issues/ radio battery, see below

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: (taken today): 149.9

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: Yes

Hours: 80.2

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 97%

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: yes

Hours: 159.8

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 99%

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover used: no

Hours: unknown

Beginning charge: unknown

Ending charge: unknown

Currently charging: unknown

General notes and comments: none

Summary of Hab operations:

WATER USE:

Water (static tank): 424

Water (loft tank): 30 gallons, filled to 55 gallons

Water Meter: post pumping 01544750

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:.

Spacesuit Nr. 2:

Battery charged to 12.7V, unit back at HAB, switched on for ~1h,
normal airflow, plugged in for re-charge

Spacesuit Nr. 4: Still down, will remove battery tomorrow for charging

One charger seems to be broken, no LED on when connecting to power socket and spacesuit, tested with 3 suits.

All other Spacesuits are nominal and connected to the chargers.

Radio issues: Atila, issue with the one broken battery remains –>
replacement by Outpost possible?

All other radios are nominal and connected to the charger.

Summary of GreenHab operations:

WATER USE: 12 gallons

Heater: On, T=82°F

Supplemental light: No(t) yet

Harvest: Yes, Tomatoes 0.65oz, Mint 0.35oz

Note: inner door handle was loose (screws) –> fixed

Summary of Science Dome operations: Aga investigated the rock samples
collected on our EVA today with the microscope in the middle.

Dual split: Off

Summary of RAM operations:

Used for fixing Spacesuit Nr. 2 (battery installed, re-assembled unit)

Summary of any observatory issues: none

Summary of health and safety issues: none

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

Found a can of Quakers oats in the RAM this morning – thanks a lot.

Posted on

EVA Report – January 6th

Crew 238 EVA Report 06Jan2022

EVA #3

Author: Sionade Robinson

Purpose of EVA: Geographical sampling and ground vibration data
collection using an underground microphone.

Start time:12.47

End time: 15.30

Narrative: We completed our mission to collect geological samples from
the Special Region Rock samples and landscape features were
photographed, small rock samples collected and identified subsequently
at the Hab. Non vertebrate fossil identified. Vibration data to be
analysed.

Destination: Special Region

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518250 by 4656000 UTM NAD27

Participants: Engineer Werner, Commander Robinson, Artist Pokrywka

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Moon Walk Rd. to Cow Dung Rd.,
bearing North on Cow Dung past Gateway to Lith Rd. and entering
Special Region within Area C. Walking into Area C and toward Area B.

Mode of travel: Opportunity and Curiosity Rovers, by foot.

Posted on

Sol Summary – January 6th

Crew 238 Sol Summary Report 06 Jan2022

Sol:4

Summary Title: A Long Day’s Journey into Night
Author’s name: Sionade Robinson
Mission Status: Ongoing

Sol Activity Summary: A busy day for Crew 238 with individual and group research projects underway including a briefing on fire fighting for Mars (and Earth); crew research comparing with latency generated messaging vs a new method to solve for latency, and an afternoon data
collecting EVA. We rounded off with a workshop on the wellbeing benefits of lavender (both ingested and inhaled). After dinner we’ll be continuing with a briefing to prepare for further group exercises.

Look Ahead Plan: Continuation of research activities including two EVA requests for tomorrow subject to approval by Mission Support.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Sunny and warmer than expected on the EVA

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: A long and successful EVA to Special Region for Robinson, Werner
and Pokrywka. Left at 12.47 and returned at 15.30.

Reports to be filed: Sol, Operations, EVA Report and Journalist report.

Support Requested: Mission Support – having searched our equipment we believe we left an important instrument in Crew Transportation. It looks like a hoe. We would be grateful if it could be located and arrangements made for its return.

Posted on

Journalist Report – January 5th

Crew 238 Journalist Report 05Jan2022

Submitted by Sionade Robinson, Commander, Crew 238.

A serene day of planning, research, and gardening in the Greenhab draws to an end with the shared preparation of our evening meal. I’m looking forward to it. We have had a small harvest.

It seems curious to me that many anticipations of life on Mars
emphasise its potential for strangeness, danger, and deprivation. I suppose this is because for more than a hundred years, explorers have peppered their ripping yarns with accounts of peril, cold, hunger, and if they really wanted to hit the top of the bestseller charts, an imminent and grisly death.

But there’s another perspective, that’s surely much more relevant to the potential of humanity to become, one day, an interplanetary species. It focuses on the positive aspects of life in an extreme and unusual environment, because for many a visit to such a place is a cherished and important part of their life, an impetus to growth, for deepening personal resources and relationships, and always to be remembered with pride and enjoyment.

Decades of research show the return rate of those who have had such experiences to polar regions, to space, and, for that matter, to the MDRS, is high. The disappointment among those who are frustrated in their desire to go back can be profound.

Entering a novel and engrossing situation, such as an analogue Martian habitat calls to something deep inside many people. Human beings are ‘‘active organisms that seek challenges and engage in activities for their own sake’’ and people who choose to go into such experiences are those who like challenges, learning, and, frankly, proximity to other human beings in confined spaces.

Our XO (and Crew Journo) PJ Marcellino embodies these valuable qualities. His energy effervesces, his project management skills abound, and the headache of scheduling our ambitious and overlapping research plans has yet to make a dent in his good humor. We hope! (Seriously, how much patience can one person have?).

But far beyond the capacity for organization, the outcome of our work on the wellbeing of future space-farers will depend on our shared and individual storytelling, and in this area, PJ is a master. We are each underway, in our own way. He will shape our impact.

One further positive outcome of experiences in extreme environments is that members of crews often come back with a less superficial set of values, more tolerance and affection toward other people, and higher self-confidence (Suedfeld 1998). I have a feeling that’ll be something, thanks to PJ’s success in both his roles, each of us will also be able to claim too.

Posted on

Sol Summary – January 5th

Sol: 03

Summary Title: Rest, Recharge, Regroup

Author’s name: P.J. Marcellino, XO

Mission Status: Underway, Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Crew 238 took Sol 03 to reassess our research and logistical priorities and to reorganize and maximize the remainder of our time on Mars, taking into account what we now know about the physical demands of the interior and exterior space/activities.

All crew stayed on-site, but Eng. Werner spent much of his day in the RAM, while others set up an upcoming activity in the GreenHab and the Science Dome.

This was Day 2 of our Braided Communications study through City Univ. of London, the first of its kind, observing the effects of latency communication in feelings of connection with loved ones — an essential tool for further long-distance exploration.

Look Ahead Plan: Looking forward to implementing Crew 238’s planned activities, starting on Sol 04.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, Clear Sky, Crisp

Crew Physical Status: Nominal, if slightly exhausted (recovering)

EVA: N/A today. The request will be sent for Sol 04

Reports to be filed: Operations Report, Journalist Report, EVA Request

Support Requested: Final resupply with oatmeal (this AM). Thank you for the coffee filters. We couldn’t survive without them.

Posted on

Research Report – January 5th

Crew 238 Astronomy Report Jan 05 2022

Name: Agnieszka Pokrywka

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested: Montana Learning Center

Objects Viewed: M 101

Problems Encountered: The night before, I stayed up late to download between 2 am and 6 am the FITS files using Hab internet. It turned out to be not a very good idea: I was neither well-rested the next day, neither I managed to download all the needed files. If an astronomy laptop is not available I can use my own computer. In such a case: should I use for the download of the files the observatory internet? If so I would like to request access to it.

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Not used.

Posted on

Operations Report – January 5th

Supplemental Operations Report 3 5JAN2022

Name of person filing report: Shannon Rupert

Reason for Report: Routine

Non-nominal systems: Nothing to report

Action taken for non-nominal systems: n/a

Generator: Total run time 283.4 hours. We changed the oil today and reset the maintenance warning. Removed all sand from the interior. Still being manually run at night.

ScienceDome Dual Split: Off

Solar—Nominal, charge controllers off at night. We are turning the generator on before the SOC reaches 70% as much as possible.

Solar— VDC Last daylight hours:

Average 51.11

Minimum 46.60

Maximum 59.20

Notes on solar: Nothing to report

Propane Reading, station tank – 45 %

Propane Reading, director tank— 49 %

Propane Reading, intern tank— 50 %

Propane Reading, generator— not checked %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 2 gallons

Water (Outpost tank) – 250 gallons

Perseverance rover used: yes

Hours: not checked

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: not checked

Currently charging: no

Sojourner rover used: yes

Hours: not checked

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: The dump stabilizer bar on Percy broke and I have ordered a replacement. We aren’t sure if it broke because of the accident, so it should be looked over carefully once it is back in service for any additional breakage the first few times it is used.

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 350.1, 350.2, 300): none

Reason for use: n/a

Oil Added? No

ATV Fuel Used: 0 gallons

# Hours the ATVs were Used: 0

Notes on ATVs: 300 moved into place at the Outpost

HabCar used and why, where? Yes, to town for water and packages

CrewCar used and why, where? Yes, to town for errands

Luna used and why, where? Yes, to town for errands

Business internet: Nothing to report

General notes and comments: Nothing to report.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why? Nothing to report

Summary of general operations: We cemented the two signs on Cow Dung Road into the ground so they would not blow over anymore. We attempted to replace the toilet in the Hab but had very little time to complete the work and the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor were stuck and we did not have time to unstick them before the crew asked if they could just use the broken one until the end of their rotation. We removed the old diesel overflow berm and releveled the area.
Summary of Outpost operations: Shed was cleaned and organized. Outflow on the water tank was replaced as it had been stripped. Intern Trailer was leveled. Greywater tank control appears to be failing on the intern trailer and may need to be replaced.

Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report

Posted on

Operations Report – January 5th

Crew 238 Operations Report 05-01-2022

SOL:3

Name of person filing report: Simon Werner

Non-nominal systems: 1 CO- Sensor, lower deck, replacement in progress
(Atila), spacesuits, radio, see below.

Notes on non-nominal systems: Spacesuit’s issues/ radio battery, see below

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: (taken SOL:2): 149.4

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: No

Hours: 79.2

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours: 158.8

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover used: no

Hours: unknown

Beginning charge: unknown

Ending charge: unknown

Currently charging: unknown

General notes and comments: none

Summary of Hab operations:

WATER USE:

Water (static tank): 449

Water (loft tank): 24 gallons, filled to 55 gallons

Water Meter: post pumping 01544462

Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on

Static tank heater (On or off) installed, on

Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: nominal

Summary of suits and radios:.

Spacesuit Nr.8:

Opened it, checked cable connections with multimeter. One cable was
broken between plug (V+ in) and switch. Removed the cable and soldered
a new one to replace it. Cable shoe was recycled. Battery was low,
5.1V, reinstalled all, currently charging, check tomorrow if charging
was successful.

Spacesuit Nr. 2:

Battery was low 5.6V, checked cables and connections to PCB with
multimeter, no obvious problems. Took the battery out and connected to
Battery charger as suggested by Scott. Check tomorrow again. Unit
currently in the RAM, Battery in HAB.

Spacesuit Nr. 4: Still low, fans slow rapidly down, not checked the
internals yet. Note: the LED of the charger is off. Tested the charger
in different power sockets, no change. Before I go for opening the
unit, shall I crosscheck with a different battery charger or open Nr.
4 first and check connections inside, suggestions?

Spacesuit Nr. 5: After charging overnight nominal again.

Spacesuit Nr 11: After charging overnight nominal again.

All other Spacesuits are nominal and connected to the chargers.

Radio issues: Switched the low radio battery to another radio as
suggested by Atila, the issue remains so the battery is broken –>
replacement by Outpost?

Summary of GreenHab operations:

WATER USE: 200 gallons (guess)

Heater: On

Supplemental light: On

Harvest: Yes, see Green Hab report/ notebook in Green Hab

Summary of Science Dome operations: Aga checked the microscope in the
middle for functionality will be used tomorrow.

Dual split: status unknown, operated by outpost

Summary of RAM operations:

Used for fixing Spacesuit Nr. 8 and 2, Soldering iron was used and
several tools. Cleaned up as possible.

Summary of any observatory issues: none

Summary of health and safety issues: none, see HSO report

Questions, concerns, and requests to Mission Support:

Question: is there any cable for repairing the spacesuits available in
general? Also, heat-shrinking insulation tubes and cable shoes could
not be found. Is there something stored in the Outpost? If so, please
provided some, thanks.

Coffee filter re-supply delivered – very important, thank you.

Simon

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