Crew 286 Sol 11 Summary Report 23-NOV-2023
Sol: 11
Summary Title: “A monster MASH success, followed by mashed potatoes”
Author’s name: Roger Gilbertson
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: In the morning, the EVA 11 crew loaded up the MASH vehicle with suits and equipment for their excursion. Guillaume completed another live media interview, then boarded with the three other MASH crew members: Don, Lizzy and Guillaume.
They detached from the docking portal next to the Science Dome at 9:15 am, backed out, then drove down Moon Walk Road, exited the campus and drove south on Cow Dung Road to Kissing Camel. There they performed a turn-around at the previously identified location, then parked.
All astronauts suited up, then the MASH depressurized its front section, and three astronauts exited. Ducky remained aboard as local Cap-Com. Lizzy and Gee walked along the base of the nearby ridge, with Liz piloting a drone scan of the magnificent geology, while Hugo captured images of the MASH operating in the the exotic terrain.
Unexpectedly, at about 10:55 am the MASH control panel showed a “check engine light” and the engine would not start. The crew contacted Cap-com and consulted with them about the situation. Cap-com informed Mission Support, and options were discussed. Ducky suited up, depressurized, and went out to check the fluids on the vehicle, remaining fully in-sim the entire time. Oil was added to the engine, and the vehicle then restarted properly.
Filmmaker Hugo was pleased to capture an actual unexpected situation, and though it did not develop into a full “emergency,” it provided some much-hoped-for moments of true drama and concern.
Once all had reboarded and repressuized, they were able to have a small snack, then returned to MDRS in the comfort of the pressurized MASH interior. Redocking at the portal occurred smoothly, and the vehicle doors were opened at exactly 12:00 pm.
Roger successfully modified the plaster mold, then melted down the failed third metal part, and recast it. He then trimmed the pieces, and performed a test assembly.
Guillaume performed another sampling and was pleased to find that the bacteria growth had reached a plateau in growth, indicating a successful completion of his experiment for this mission.
We gathered images and text for our Final Mission Report, then turned to the kitchen to prepare our much-anticipated Thanksgiving dinner.
EXIT PLAN: Tomorrow morning we plan to exit sim upon awakening, then pack our things, clean, do the food inventory, and load the Crew Car. Then we plan to borrow the Habitat Car and visit the Special Area to the north. We will return to campus by 4 PM so that we can depart in the Crew Car before sunset, and head for Grand Junction.
Anomalies in work: none
Weather: overcast
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 11 completed
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist report, Photos, Operations report, Green Hab report, EVA 11 report, Final Mission Report.
Support Requested: May we have the Crew Car delivered to the habitat by 10 AM or so, for loading? And we still hope to borrow the Hab Car to visit the Special Area before we depart, as time and weather allows.