Category: Sol Summary

Crew 203 Sol Summary Report 13-Jan-2019

Sol: 1

Summary Title: Country Roads, take me home…

Author’s name: Oscar Ojeda

Mission Status: Nominal, Starting simulation tonight.

Sol Activity Summary: We woke up at 7, along with the departing Purdue crew (Boiler up guys…!). We had our pictures taken, did a small change of command "ceremony", and then departed to a dinosaur walk, guided by director Shannon. We waved goodbye as the crew departed, and then started organizing groceries and rooms.

Today we finished the water runs, and should be ready for the entire length of the mission. We started our training with Atila, being it the first time it’s done in Spanish. We also were able to share breakfast and lunch, which I was able to cook (I love cooking on Mars). Finally, our remote astronomer did an amazing observation of M31, which we will share.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow crew 203 will send the Mission Plan, along with the initial HSO report, and biographies with official pictures. We will start our EVA plans with the first runs and to get to know better our routines within the station, planning to start later on our research projects.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and warm, low to no wind, disperse clouds.

Crew Physical Status: In good health

EVA: none

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report, EVA Request.

Support Requested: None

[end]

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 12-Jan-2019

Sol: 14

Summary Title: Back on Earth

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello and Oscar Ojeda

Mission Status: Nominal, the crew is back on Earth and met crew 203!

Sol Activity Summary: After breakfast, the crew began cleaning the habitat and the other facilities and got ready to meet crew 203. We had a short excursion with the Program Director and after dinner crew 203 is shadowing crew 202 for report training.

After a long trip, crew 203 was finally reunited in Grand Junction, had an amazing trip all the way to the station, and were warmly welcomed by crew 202. We joined the excursion and had our last dinner on Earth as we prepare for our mission

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow crew 202 will leave campus and crew 203 will receive field training

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and warmer

Crew Physical Status: In great health

EVA: none

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 11-Jan-2019

Sol: 13

Summary Title: I see Earth

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: Nominal, end of mission and ready to get back to Earth and outside of the habitat tomorrow

Sol Activity Summary: the crew started the day with some good stretching and a last, short EVA within walking distance from the habitat. In the afternoon, we began cleaning the various facilities, packing, and getting ready for our reentry, descent, and landing.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow the crew will open the airlock and leave the habitat, back on Earth and ready to welcome crew 203

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Crew Physical Status: In good health

EVA: The Executive Officer, Crew Journalist, Crew Engineer, and Crew Geologist went on EVA on the ridges west of the habitat

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report, Final Science and Outreach Report, Mission Summary

Support Requested: None

Sol: 12

Summary Title: Getting close

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: Nominal. The crew is ready to wrap up their projects and prepare their return to Earth

Sol Activity Summary: this morning after breakfast we had visitors from our pale blue dot. A few guests visited us, to learn about our research projects and the importance of analog missions for the exploration of Mars. The crew followed us during our work, in our daily life, and in our EVA. Due to the footage of our work at MDRS, the EVA started later than planned. Meeting earthlings was a little anticipation of the experience we will have once back on Earth. Until this visit, we did not fully realize how isolated we have been. After sharing some of our daily routine with our guest, we went back to our life as Martians, and spent the afternoon working and cleaning the habitat.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will have one last, short EVA to walking distance from the habitat, to pick the last geological samples. We will also wrap up our research projects, clean the whole campus, and prepare to meet crew 203

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and warm

Crew Physical Status: In good health

EVA: The Commander, Executive Officer, Crew Journalist, Health and Safety Officer, and one guest had an EVA in the area west of the intersection of Cow Dung Rd and Galileo Rd

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 09-Jan-2019

Sol: 11

Summary Title: Beyond the Dinosaurs

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: Nominal, the crew is working on the final touches of the part of their projects that has to be conducted at MDRS (some will have to study the data collected here once back on Earth)

Sol Activity Summary: this morning had a session of stretching for the back and shoulders. After breakfast, four crew members went on EVA towards Lith Canyon. Due to the safety protocol concerning the battery charge status of the rover, the crew walked the final part of the road, about 0.8 miles, to the west entrance of Lith Canyon. Walking around the special region (and “beyond the dinosaurs”), the crew studied the features of Lith Canyon from the northwestern wall. The condition of the west entrance did not allow the crew to hike down into the canyon.

After collecting radiometric data, the EVA crew walked back to the rover and drove the long road to the habitat, to join the remaining crew.

The afternoon was spent working, cleaning, making pizza dough, and resting. Tonight we are preparing a pizza and board games night.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will host a CBS crew that will grab footage of our work here. We plan to have an EVA, as well as work on our research projects

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Cloudy and warm

Crew Physical Status: Tired and in good health

EVA: The Commander, Executive Officer, Crew Geologist, and Crew Engineer had an EVA in the area of west Lith Canyon

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

[end]

Sol: 10

Summary Title: Take me home, muddy road

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: While our return to Earth is getting closer, the crew is in full activity with the final part of their data collection and research project.

Sol Activity Summary: this morning started with yoga and meditation, in view of a long EVA. After breakfast, due to the current conditions of the road and to the intended destination of the proposed EVA, the crew worked out the details of the EVA with the Program Director and Assistant Program Director. After receiving the "go, but be careful", three crew members departed on their ATV. I have never visited the Skyline Rim region, after giving up my place to a crew mate last year and have been craving this excursion into the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary for a long time. Unfortunately, even this year I was not able to reach the area (already planning for next year. Third is the charm, right?), after encountering a thick layer of mud along Copernicus Hwy 1574 south and deciding to abort the primary destination out of safety concerns. The ATV would probably have made it, but the risk of getting stuck due to muddy tires was a possibility, and since these layers have been there for 145 million years, there is a good chance that they will be there next time I am around! The EVA had a few intermediate stops on the way back home. In the meanwhile, the crew members in the habitat swept the science dome for the fourth time in the mission and began a deep cleaning of both the lower and the upper deck of the habitat. Luckily, the EVA crew managed to scrape most of the thick chunks of mud from their boots, and to clean their EVA suits and flight suits without destroying the great job made by the rest of the crew. After an afternoon of work and some rest, we are now ready for a relaxed evening.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will attempt an EVA in the area of Lith Canyon, pending condition of the area and behavior of rover batteries (they performed well since the temperature increased)

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and warmer, snow almost completely melted

Crew Physical Status: Tired and in good health

EVA: The Commander, Crew Geologist, and Crew Journalist rode the ATVs towards Skyline Rim, but turned around short of the final destination due to excessive amount of mud on the road. Stops on the way back provided insight into the late Jurassic / early Cretaceous layers

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 07-Jan-2019

Sol: 9

Summary Title: Some thoughts to home

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: Second week is proceeding according to plans, all research projects working as expected, with much data collected and some more work to do once back on Earth

Sol Activity Summary: After a cookies and movie night yesterday, strong wind caused a noisy night in the habitat, but the morning routine of stretching got all of us ready to go as usual. In the morning and early afternoon, three crew members performed a long EVA, while the crew astronomer worked in the Musk solar observatory and the crew geologist sorted and analyze the rocks collected in the last few days. The late afternoon and evening were also spent in working on research projects.

At the beginning of this week, a though begins to crawl in: we will be back on Earth and outside this habitat at the end of the week. However, there is still much more to do, and while we think of home, school, work, and ice cream, we are still Martians, ready to put our effort into the research we are doing and into the many daily activities that keep our habitat up and running.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will have an EVA towards Skylim Rim to study and collect samples from the Mancos shale layer

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Windy and sunny, with snow melting and muddy trails

Crew Physical Status: The expected amount of tiredness, but morning routines is helping with any soreness

EVA: The Executive Officer, Crew Engineer, and Health and Safety Officer had an EVA to Cactus Road and the Canyon area, where they collected samples for the crew geologist and measurements of radiation

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 05-Jan-2019

Sol: 7

Summary Title: Half-way

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: We are now half-way through our mission, and enjoying the warm habitat while expecting more snow overnight

Sol Activity Summary: To help recovering from the toughness of Mars, this morning we opted for yoga and guided meditation for our morning routine. Following the warmest EVA of the mission (temperatures still around freezing, but bright sun), today we had the coldest EVA of the mission, due to cloudy sky and cold wind. The EVA was intended to reach the areas of canyons at the end of Cactus Rd, but the snow made it difficult to recognize the trail in certain areas, so the EVA crew stopped along the way to work on their research project. After a hot lunch, the afternoon was spent watching a movie, working, and resting.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will have a short EVA if precipitation ends and conditions are acceptable. Mostly, we will enjoy a day indoor.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Cloudy, expecting snow tonight and tomorrow morning

Crew Physical Status: Some tiredness here and there, but generally very good

EVA: The Commander, Executive Officer, Crew Geologist, and Crew Engineer had an EVA to the East, along Galileo Rd and the initial part of Cactus Rd. Condition of the trail did not allow to go all the way to the canyons region (snow made it very hard to discern the trail, and the Commander decided to stop in a region of interest along the way).

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Sol: 8

Summary Title: School starts tomorrow

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: Despite waking up to a white Mars again, the mission is proceeding very well, and we also managed to have a short EVA

Sol Activity Summary: Today, Sunday on Earth, the sol started a little slow. We woke up 30 minutes later than the usual schedule and had some great stretching. After sweeping the tunnels and enjoying some personal time, we had a short EVA to gather measurements on radiation. Two crew members took a shower today. The struggle with alternating icy cold and scalding hot water is real, but the aftermath is amazing! The tired crew enjoyed a relaxed afternoon, thinking of students at Purdue who will start their classes tomorrow

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will try again to have an EVA towards the canyon area

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and warmer

Crew Physical Status: Two crew member are in perfect mood after the shower, four more crew members are doing good

EVA: The Executive Officer, Journalist, and Health and Safety Officer had an EVA along Galileo Rd and to Marble Ritual

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Crew 202 Sol Summary Report 04-Jan-2019

Sol: 6

Summary Title: Settling down

Author’s name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: All projects are moving forward, with some ups and downs. We are collecting plenty of data, and each of us is giving much contribution, both with our own research projects and as test subjects for our crewmates.

Sol Activity Summary: Our morning routine continues to be a varying mix of useful stretching and conditioning exercises. Today the crew members who stayed in the habitat yesterday went on EVA and vice versa. The physical and mental stress of the mission is beginning to creep through, but the crew is reacting very well. Time is flying, and it is already Sol 6 of our mission, we now feel this is "our" place, that we live in and that we take care of. It is a great view when coming back from EVA. The crew keeps having a great time together: before each EVA, the whole crew is involved in the preparation, and those who stay in the habitat are always ready to welcome the EVA crew with some hot meal. After the usual afternoon of rest and work on the projects, the crew is preparing for the evening (yesterday we had a movie night).

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we will have a geology EVA towards canyons, pending advice on practicability of roads.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Still cold but getting warmer. Some snow on the ground and on the north face of hills.

Crew Physical Status: Exercises and much work are giving us health and some soreness. Morale is high!

EVA: The Commander, Health and Safety Officer, and Crew Geologist had an EVA to Greenstone Rd and to the region North of Kissing Camel Range, to collect sand and shale samples.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report

Support Requested: None

Cesare
Commander, MDRS 202