Category: Sol Summary

Sol: 1

Summary Title: Science in Sim

Author’s name: Jen Carver-Hunter and Jordan Chaves

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: This morning the crew was all up and gathered for breakfast at 8:30. Commander Jen and Jordan made breakfast (freeze dried eggs were weird). It was a bright sunny morning, and the sunrise colors made the sky pink and orange. In the morning we heard a presentation from an aerospace engineer, which also inspired good conversation about applications on mars and mars rovers. Afterwards, we did a training on spacesuit set up and usage, chose our style and got prepared for afternoon EVA. We took a short break followed by a weird lunch of canned ham and ketchup (aka soggy tomatoes).

After lunch we prepped for EVA. We bundled up in order to be warm and packed waters and cameras. We went through the airlock and exited the hab in 2 groups.

When we came back from EVA the hab smelled like shit because the toilet had just been cleaned/emptied and everyone had to pee. We took another break before going to the science dome to sort rocks and set up a lab. We collected beginning data for our selenite samples, and each put one in moving water and one in the oven. This evening we ate Italian for dinner, followed by funfetti cake for dessert. Games tonight for those of us who can stay awake.

Look Ahead Plan: Lab Continuation of fieldwork lab, biosignature identification EVA, Education + MDRS roundtable discussion

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, calm

Crew Physical Status: good physical status for all

EVA: Geologic sample collection at Road to Barranca Butte and near Kissing Camel Ridge

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Request, EVA Report

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 0

Summary Title: Welcome Spaceward Bound Cohort 4

Author’s name: Jen Carver-Hunter

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Today we set sim expectations and trained the crew on all facets of the upcoming sim. Crew begin conducting research for the lab activity they will conduct later this week and write up for future indicators.

Look Ahead Plan: First day of sim, geology EVA, introduction to field work

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, windy

Crew Physical Status: good physical status for all

EVA: Training EVA to Brahe Hwy to collect Gypsum

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Request

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 12
Summary Title: Can You Bring Pets to Mars?
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: Broke simulation at dawn.
Sol Activity Summary: Live STEM outreach and Q&A event with 1000+ K-12 students.
Look Ahead Plan: Final cleaning and departure.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout under brilliant sunshine.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: None.
Reports to be filed: Operations, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 11
Summary Title: Winds Aloft
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Inventorying station supplies, high altitude balloon flight, final mirror inspection.
Look Ahead Plan: STEM outreach event.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout under brilliant sunshine.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 15 with the Commander, XO, and GreenHab Officer to launch the high altitude balloon and to retrieve the mirror experiment. 2 1/2 hour duration.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 10
Summary Title: Snow Day
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Brief excursion to flip and reset the mirror experiment, drafting final report, adjusting plant supports in the GreenHab.
Look Ahead Plan: Balloon flight, cleaning, preparation for STEM outreach event.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Snow early, transitioning to drizzle for much of the day.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 1 led by the Crew Engineer, with Health and Safety Officer, traveled by foot to the mirror experiment. 1 hour duration.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 9
Summary Title: Colorful Buttes
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Photogrammetry of mirror experiment location and along Cow Dung Road, excursion to Barrainca Butte to collect a soil sample, and dry-run of balloon flight procedure.
Look Ahead Plan: Flip and reset mirror experiment, local EVA for Project Phantom.
Anomalies in work: EVA headset #3 transmission issue.
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Cloudy skies early, sunshine briefly in the afternoon before clouds returned by dusk.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 1 led by the XO, with Technology Officer and Health and Safety Officer, traveled in the local area by foot with a single rover to transport gear. 3 hour duration. EVA #2 with Commander, Crew Engineer and GreenHab Officer traveled South to the intersection with route 1101, and then proceeded on foot to Barrainca Butte, 2 1/2 hour duration by rover and foot.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 8
Summary Title: Two Paths to Hab Ridge
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Excursions to Hab Ridge, second interim mirror inspection.
Look Ahead Plan: Drone flight for planning EVA follow-up, soil sample at Somerville Overlook.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Cloudy skies early, clearing in the afternoon, with warm temperatures.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 1 led by the Commander, with XO and Health and Safety Officer, traveled by rover to Kissing Camel Ridge, then by foot up Hab Ridge. 2 ½ hour duration. EVA #2 with Crew Engineer and GreenHab Officer returned the mirror sample, then over to North Ridge and ascended Hab Ridge. 2 hour duration on foot.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 7
Summary Title: Full Power to the Suit Fans
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Resolve EVA suit battery anomaly, excursion in local area to complete drone surveys and to deploy the HAM radio antenna.
Look Ahead Plan: Soil sample from Southern quadrant, second interim mirror inspection.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Largely clear skies with moderate temperatures.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA led by the Technology Officer, with Commander and GreenHab Officer, traveled around the HAB and out to the mirror experiment location. 1 1/2 hour duration on foot.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 6
Summary Title: Stretching our Legs
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: EVA excursions to the Northern quadrants in search of diverse soil samples and to map the radiation environment.
Look Ahead Plan: Second drone flight, deploy HAM radio antenna.
Anomalies in work: EVA suit batteries.
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Early overcast skies slow to clear, largely clear by mid-afternoon with moderate temperatures.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA #1 led by the Commander, with XO and Crew Engineer, traveled to the special interest region. 2 1/2 hour duration using Spirit and Opportunity rovers EVA #2 led by the Health and Safety Officer, with support from the GreenHab Officer, traveled to an area flagged by EVA#1 for follow-up sampling. 2 hour duration using Curiosity rover.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 5
Summary Title: Taking Flight
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: EVA excursions in the local area for the first drone flight, to retrieve the mirror experiment for interim examination in the Science Dome, and, finally, to re-deploy the mirror experiment.
Look Ahead Plan: EVAs to conduct soil samples, working from Somerville Overlook and Cowboy Corner.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: High winds in the morning, with warmer than typical temperatures. Winds slowly eased throughout the day, making for a calm sunset under clear skies.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA #1 led by the XO and Crew Engineer on foot to retrieve the mirror experiment, 1 hour duration. EVA #2 led by the Technology Officer, with support from the Commanding Officer and Health and Safety Officer. 2 1/2 hour duration using Spirit and Perseverance rovers.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A