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April 15, 2023April 25, 2023

Journalist Report – April 14th

CREW279 – Journalist Report – 14APR2023

Journalist Report : Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL12: the last day

This morning the team woke up with a heavy heart. The night was short and this morning we had to say goodbye to one of the crew members.
Goodbyes are difficult but the ARES team is known for its good mood, and we started the day with the very last EVA of the mission.

The day was punctuated by the total tidying up of the station, time for us to look back on all the moments spent in each room of this place.
It was also time to write our last reports, they often gave us a little stress at the end of the day but today we are already nostalgic to fill them in.

We wanted to take the time to thank you, for having followed us during these two weeks; thank you to our sponsors for allowing us to live this incredible project.

BUT the adventure doesn’t stop here, we will enjoy a few days of travel before returning to Belgium and be ready because we will not stop there. We have some great conferences, moments of sharing planned but most of all… the recruitment of the next team!

See you soon!

April 15, 2023April 25, 2023

Sol Summary – April 14th

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 14-04-2023
Sol: 12
Summary Title: Last sunset on Mars
Author’s name: Ioana Dimitrova, Crew Engineer
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
After a difficult night, the team had to say goodbye to one of its crew members a little bit early. We can’t wait to reunite after the end of the mission!
Our astronauts had a hard time waking up after a short night, but were motivated as ever to complete the last EVA. Three of us took the rovers out to Charitum Montes. Augustin was able to map out the plateau and Ttele and Ioana used the scintillator. Suddenly, they lost sight of the drone and then realized it probably went back to land at its departure point. Augustin had to sprint back to retrieve Ingenuity and make it to base on time. It was pretty intense! They enjoyed the magnificent martian views one last time before coming back to base and eating with the rest of the crew.
The afternoon was dedicated to cleaning, packing and making sure the station is ready for the next crew. We will enjoy a last meal with good company and reminiscence over what a good time we had here. Mars is unforgettable. Time passed so fast during this mission, but at the same time we feel at home here like we’ve lived here forever.
Look Ahead Plan:
The crew will finish packing and cleaning the station. Tomorrow, they will end the simulation and take the CrewCar back to Grand Junction to continue their adventures elsewhere.
Anomalies in work: nun-functional robotic observatory, the battery wires of Opportunity need to be replaced.
Weather: sunny, low -2°C/28°F, high 16°C/61°F

April 15, 2023April 25, 2023

Operations Report – April 14th

Crew 279 Operations Report 14-04-2023

SOL: 12

Name of person filing report: Ioana Dimitrova

Non-nominal systems: robotic observatory, Opportunity

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Robotic observatory: awaiting a solution from the manufacturer.
Opportunity Rover : see rover section

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 216,4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 73%
Currently charging: yesc
Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 120,5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 229,4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 77%
Currently charging: yes
Perseverance rover used: no
Hours: 260,9
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
General notes on rovers: one of the battery wires on the driver side of Opportunity is corroded out and needs to be replaced.

Summary of Hab operations: Music influence on stress experiment was conducted. 3D printer was dismounted.
WATER USE: 38,48
Water (static tank): 230,52
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off
Static tank heater (On or off): off
Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: used from 14:00 to 21:00 for experiments and reports.

Summary of suits and radios: Radios charging nominal. Suits charging nominal.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
WATER USE: 16,9
Heater: On
Supplemental light: Off
Harvest: 284 g tomatoes, 994 g cucumber
Summary of ScienceDome operations : cleaning, bacteria prepared for trip
Dual split: Heat or AC, Off

Summary of RAM operations: cleaning
Summary of any observatory issues: none
Summary of health and safety issues: none
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

April 15, 2023April 25, 2023

GreenHab Report – April 14th

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 14-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet

Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night

Average temperatures: 80.3 F

Hours of supplemental light: N/A

Daily water usage for crops: 16.9 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A

Water in Blue Tank: 87.1 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 07:15, 14:30, 20:00

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: As usual, general watering of plants and crops was done today. The sun was intense today, the door was then left open in the afternoon. The plants have been watered again in the evening with 4.2 gallons. Some zucchini and tomatoes have been harvested. The GreenHab has been swept away in the afternoon.

Harvest: N/A

Harvest: 284 g tomatoes, 994 g cucumber

Support/supplies needed: N/A

April 15, 2023April 25, 2023

EVA Report – April 14th

Crew 279 EVA Report 14-04-2023

EVA: #14

Author : Augustin Tribolet, Crew GreenHab

Purpose of EVA: For the EVA, we wanted to map further away from the station. This was to help us to complete the global map of the region which will be useful for future teams. This was Augustin’s last mapping, it is interesting for him to scan a region that has a rather flat relief compared to the previous ones that were more relevant.

We also wanted to measure radioactivity in that part of the region and collect some samples of a place we haven’t been to yet for analysis. Thomas briefed Ttele on how to use the scintillator before the EVA and this was to give information on how easy of use the scintillator is for a non-physicist. This information will be useful for our sponsor BeSure to help them make better instruments in the future. In the case that on the terrain the device turned out to not be intuitive enough to use by our astronauts, they were to collect samples to be analyzed upon return by a lab in our university. Ioana was there to assist Augustin by keeping eyes on the drone and to help Ttele with her measurements and collections. She was also to be useful for timekeeping and experiment coordination.

Start time: 9:40am

End time: 12:01pm

Narrative:

The 3 crew members took the rovers and arrived at their destination at 09h40. During this EVA, Charitum Montes was mapped for photogrammetry purposes. Ttele and Ioana used the scintillator successfully. At the end of the EVA, the drone’s connection was lost, which caused the drone to automatically retreat to its landing point. The team had to return to the launching point to retrieve Ingenuity. EVA ended at 12:01.

Destination: Charitum Montes

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518500 E, 4248250 N

EVA Participants: Augustin (EVA Leader) (Green Hab Officer), Ttele (HSO), Ioana (Crew Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110 to Zubrin’s Head then walking to Charitum Montes no further than 400m

April 13, 2023April 25, 2023

Crew Photos – April 13th

April 13, 2023April 25, 2023

Journalist Report – April 13th

CREW279 – Journalist Report – 13 APR2023

Journalist Report, Aglaé Sacré, Crew journalist
SOL11: Happy birthday Agnès

Today is Agnes’ birthday!
This morning part of the crew left for 2 missions; the first one is to go and look for the bacteria of Agnes which stayed in the Martian environment for several days to be able to analyze them later. The second mission was to finalize the data of Thomas to have identified the radiation rate of all his maps.
We then had a call with the Mars Society Belgium to discuss our project and our experiences.
After a good meal, the team prepared a surprise for Agnes, while Thomas occupied Agnes elsewhere, we put the cakes on the table to wish her a happy birthday and enjoy a delicious dessert.
In the afternoon a second part of the team went to EVA, we came back to Candor Chasma to find the cavities that Augustin had found while doing his mapping. A superb outing in an incredible setting.
We finished our last evening of simulation all together, very tired but very happy of this incredible project. Stay tuned, tomorrow will be our last report for our last day in the station.

April 13, 2023April 25, 2023

Sol Summary – April 13th

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 13-04-2023

Sol: 11
Summary Title: Roller Coaster
Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin , Crew Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Today was a very productive day for us! We managed to complete two experiments with great success. Agnes ventured to the top of the North Ridge to collect her bacteria, and everything went smoothly. During the excursion, we even had the opportunity to capture some stunning images with a drone. Once back at the Hab thanks to the rovers, we made the last measurements for Thomas’ experiment right next to the Hab. All in all, a job well done!
The second EVA of the day was at Candor Chasma for the rest of the team. This expedition was important to confirm the presence of a cave identified upstream by Augustin’s mapping of the area. We found the cave ( cfr photos of the day ) which confirms the operating protocol of Augustin’s experiment. The four members of the crew stayed in the Hab to prepare the end of the simulation and their experience.
Look Ahead Plan:
For our last Sol on Mars, an EVA is planned in the region of Charitum Montes to finish the Augustin’s mapping. While the rest of the team will finish its experiment in the morning. The afternoon will be reserved for the tidying of the station.
Anomalies in work: nun-functional robotic observatory, the battery wires of Opportunity needs to be replaced.
Weather: partly cloudy, low 10°C/50°F, high 20°C/68°C

April 13, 2023April 25, 2023

Operations Report – April 13th

Crew 279 Operations Report 13-04-2023

SOL: 11

Name of person filing report: Ioana Dimitrova

Non-nominal systems: robotic observatory, Opportunity

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Robotic observatory: awaiting a solution from the manufacturer.
Opportunity Rover : see rover section

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 216,2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 67%
Currently charging: no
Opportunity rover used: yes
Hours: 120,5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 89%
Currently charging: no
Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 229,2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 69%
Currently charging: no
Perseverance rover used: yes
Hours: 260,9
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 87%
Currently charging: no
General notes on rovers: one of the battery wires on the driver side of Opportunity is corroded out and needs to be replaced.

Summary of Hab operations: Music influence on stress experiment was conducted.
WATER USE: 22.9
Water (static tank): 269
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off
Static tank heater (On or off): off
Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: used from 14:00 to 21:00 for experiments and reports.

Summary of suits and radios: Radios charging nominal.
Suit 2 battery was changed and suit 2 is nominal now. Faulty one is placed in RAM along with the other one.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
WATER USE: 13,7
Heater: On
Supplemental light: Off
Harvest: none
Summary of ScienceDome operations : bacteria that were recuperated this morning were taken out of the liquid environment and put in agar medium cultures to be able to analyze them tomorrow by CFU.
Dual split: Heat or AC, Off

Summary of RAM operations: none
Summary of any observatory issues: see above for robotic observatory. Tracking error at New Mexico observatory. See Observatory report.
Summary of health and safety issues: none
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

April 13, 2023April 25, 2023

GreenHab Report – April 13th

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 13-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet
Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night
Average temperatures: 79.5 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 13.7 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A
Water in Blue Tank: 104.0 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 12:30, 19:30
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative: As usual, general watering of plants and crops was done today. The GreenHab has also been swept away this evening. The sky was very cloudy today with a lot of wind, thus the GreenHab was closed. Last night, an additional mouse was taken out from the GreenHab. The mousetrap will be reinstalled tonight.
Harvest: N/A
Support/supplies needed: N/A