Sol Summary – February 29th

Crew 293 Sol Summary Report 29-02-2024

Sol: 11

Summary Title: It’s not a problem if there’s a solution

Author’s name: Marie Delaroche, Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

At morning’s close, the entire crew could breathe a little better: the source of the atmospheric instruments issue was found by the Crew Engineer and Crew Astronomer, and after analyzing the data gathered during the troubleshooting EVA, they concluded that all instruments were finally up and running!

An eventful morning gave way, as always, to a studious afternoon: the HSO and I have maybe found a solution to the technical issue that has been plaguing our EchoFinder sessions. This solution may or may not include tape and cardboard… Spirits lifted by our ingenious find, both of us started preparing tomorrow’s photogrammetry EVA using a 2D map, during which we will only have access to our notes and a few sketches of the checkpoints’ locations.

In anticipation of a potential final fix of the Solar Observatory next week, the Crew Astronomer was given access to the facility in order to start familiarizing herself with the instruments.

Look Ahead Plan:

We are looking to perform our third and final EVA at North Ridge on Sol 12, to test the effectiveness of a 2D map in preparing for an exploration EVA. On Sol 13 is scheduled a short EVA to change the atmospheric instruments’ battery, which will be paired with a food resupply. We are aiming to send the food inventory tomorrow during the Coms Window.

Anomalies in work: EVA suits 3,4,5,7,9

Weather: Sunny, Low -8°C, High 13°C

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: Atmospheric instruments troubleshooting

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist’s Report, GreenHab Report, Operations Report, Photos (6-8 pics), EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested: See incoming email from GreenHab Officer

Journalist Report – February 27th

SOL 9: Draw me a mountain!

«Thus you can imagine my amazement, at sunrise, when I was awakened by an odd little voice. It said: "If you please–draw me a sheep!"

"What!"

"Draw me a sheep!" » – The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The day started with a sports session, as usual. But this time, the workout was more focused on stretching. Indeed, after more than a week of intensive sports, we were glad to have a more restful session to stretch our muscles!

During the morning, Mathurin, our GreenHab Officer, spent a lot of time in the greenhouse. He goes to the GreenHab various times during the day to water, but this morning he spent time planting new plants, and moving the ones that had not enough space to grow well. For example, he planted basil because we like to add some in our dehydrated food! Every Crew member likes to go with Mathurin to the GreenHab from time to time: it is the brighter module of the station. Contrary to other modules, the GreenHab’s walls are kind of transparent, so sun rays filter through them. It is very hot sometimes in there, but the sensations remind us of Earth! Plus, being surrounded by plants and greens is very pleasant in our confined environment! During this time in the Hab, Yves continued working on the 3D maps for the photogrammetry EVAs of the week, while Léa and Marie started writing outreach articles about space missions. Lise was busy collecting our sensors’ data, it is very long: indeed, there is about 8 Go of data per Crew member just for the first week of the mission! For me, with Leo, we went through the different modules to shoot videos, in which each Crew member presents a part of the station.

For lunch, we had again a MELiSSA lunch: leek muffins! While they were cooking them, Lise and Leo did not find any muffin tin, so they made them with aluminum foil. But finally, during the afternoon, Lise was baking cookies and Yves opened a drawer below the oven and… found a muffin tin! This problem enabled us to learn that the Crew knows how to adapt and find solutions!

At the end of the afternoon, Léa and I prepared our EVA for tomorrow. With the 3D map generated thanks to photogrammetry, we identified checkpoints we will have to find tomorrow. In 45 minutes, we took notes, drew the landscape, and thought about our itinerary. The purpose is to compare our performances with the ones of another team, Marie and Lise. They will have to find the same checkpoints with a 2D map in a future EVA!

Sol Summary – February 27th

Crew 293 Sol Summary Report 27-02-2024

Sol: 9

Summary Title: Draw me a Mountain

Author’s name: Marie Delaroche, Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

A particularly studious Sol for everyone, especially for our Crew Scientist, who worked incessantly to find and place all virtual checkpoints on the generated 3D map, before giving it to the team designated to go out on EVA tomorrow. The Crew Journalist and HSO had one hour to study the map, take notes and try to situate the checkpoints which they will have to reach on-site, during their EVA.

As a crew, we filmed a series of videos to present the station and our experiments, as part of our outreach initiative for middle and high-schoolers. The Crew Astronomer and I also spent our morning drafting scientific outreach articles for our website!

Routine operations included data handling for the HSO, GreenHab maintenance for our GreenHab Officer, and an EchoFinder session for myself. And to the entire crew’s delight, the HSO took it upon herself to bake cookies for the entire crew, just in time for a mid-afternoon snack; they were delicious!

Look Ahead Plan:

Tomorrow, the first EVA team, composed of the Crew Journalist, Crew Astronomer and Crew Scientist, is scheduled to go to North Ridge to find the previously established checkpoints. This will be done using the 3D map, generated on Sol 8, while the second team will use the 2D map on Sol 12.

Anomalies in work: EVA suits 3,4,5,7,9 ; Solar observatory offline

Weather: Sunny & windy, low 5°C, high 20°C

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: NA

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist’s Report, GreenHab Report, Operations Report, Photos (6-8 pics), EVA Request

Support Requested:

Regarding the GreenHab water tank resupply, the GreenHab Officer discussed it with the crew, and we have decided it was not necessary for us to participate in the resupply.

However, regarding the food resupply, we were wondering if it was possible to do it during a short EVA? The food boxes could be left near the Hab, 3 crew members could suit up to retrieve the cartons, place them in the airlock, and reenter the station through the RAM airlock (for example). Would something like this be possible?

Thank you!

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