Month: February 2020

Posted on

Astronomy Report – February 17th

Crew 222 Astronomy Report Feb 17 2020

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/17/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: as many as possible among NGC 772, NGC 5248, IC 342, NGC 2775, NGC 4449, NGC 4254, NGC 4038, NGC 4125, NGC 3338, NGC 2683, M 100. This is part of the weekly observations of select galaxies as per the submitted research proposal on supernovae.

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: the observatory was first used today. Attempts have been made to visually observe solar features according to the quick guide, but no special phenomenon was to be noted. This should not be an issue of the telescope but most certainly due to the weak solar activity.

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Posted on

Journalist Report – February 17th

Crew 222 Journalist Report 17Feb2020
Author: Marie Bochard, Crew Journalist
Sol 1
Title: Problem-solving

Here on Mars, every small problem can take incredible proportions. Consider this: what if one life-support system fails? The entire mission is at stake, so everyone has to chip in and help repair the problem. Thankfully, this rarely happens, but minor problems still occur.

This morning was our first EVA, and there were two important experiments to get ready. The LOAC is used to measure air particles, which will be necessary to analyze the atmosphere on Mars, and the weather station can help predict dust storms that will be frequent on the red planet. Both experiments were assembled before leaving the Hab, because when we are on EVA we wear big gloves that really impair on our ability to manipulate tools. Once the setup was done, the four crew members leaving for EVA got ready in their spacesuits. These backpacks are designed specifically to enable humans to walk on Martian soil even though the environment is hostile: there is no oxygen on the surface of Mars, so us humans cannot breathe. This is an example of a life-support system that can need repair, since we cannot leave the station without it!

After a (very) spicy lunch, it was time for everyone to focus on their experiments. Valentin, the engineer, was tasked with finding a way to power a data collector for the weather station. This proved to be more difficult than we thought: after trying to solder batteries together to provide enough power to the data collector, which took us a few hours, we settled on using a powerbank. Problem-solving isn’t always about trying to make an idea work, it’s also about finding new ideas, and today was a proof for that.

Enough problems for now, today was also filled with crew moments. Meals are always a great way of communicating between us, since we all eat together. There moments are crucial for crew cohesion, because we are going to be living together for two weeks, so being honest and understanding everyone’s concern is fundamental. Cohesion is about sharing our favorite moments from every day, but also about making sure everyone feels at home and is their best self.

As the day winds down, we are all happy to smell the delicious blueberry tart that Bleuenn baked this afternoon. This has been an incredible first sim day, and we are looking forward to tomorrow!

Posted on

Operations Report – February 17th

Crew 222 Operations Report 02/17/2020

SOL: 1

Name of person filing report: Valentin PRUDHOMME

Non-nominal systems: N/A

Notes on non-nominal systems: N/A

Generator: yes
Hours run: 11 hours
From what time last night: 7pm
To what time this morning: 6am
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: N/A

Solar—SOC 93% (Before generator is run at night)

Diesel Reading – 78%

Station Propane Reading – 41%

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 0.5 gallons

Water (loft tank): 46 gallons

Water Meter: 149275.24 units

Water (static tank) – 441 gallons

Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water in GreenHab – 138 gallons

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: yes
Hours: 143.7
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 100
Currently charging: yes

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: N/A

Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 131.7
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge:96
Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 69.9
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 137.9
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 91
Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: N/A

ATV’s Used: N/A
Reason for use: N/A
Oil Added? no
ATV Fuel Used: N/A
Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0
Notes on ATVs: N/A

HabCar used and why, where? N/A

CrewCar used and why, where? N/A

General notes and comments: N/A

Summary of internet: used for the com

Summary of suits and radios: Suits 7, 8, 9, 10 used and radio tested for the first EVA. All ok.

Summary of Hab operations: N/A

Summary of GreenHab operations: N/A

Summary of ScienceDome operations: N/A

Summary of RAM operations: Repaired the hygrometric captor of the weather station (finished). Working on the experiment of the backpack (not fully done).

Summary of any observatory issues: N/A

Summary of health and safety issues: N/A

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: N/A

Posted on

Greenhab Report – February 17th

Crew 222 GreenHab Report – 16/02/2020

GreenHab Officer : Bleuenn ROIRON

Environmental control : Ambient with door open

Average temperatures: 22°C

Hours of supplemental light: NA

Daily water usage for crops: 11,6 Gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 5 gallons

Water in blue Tank: 138,4 gallons

Time(s) of watering crops: 2

Changes to crops: NA

Narrative: Today, I watered plants before my first EVA and then asked to our journalist to take care of the greenhab,
This afternoon I went there to start my spiruline experiment, first i prepared the aquariums with the right components
and then I looked after plants. Nina, our crew scientist planted her plants(swiss chard, raddish, spinach, peas) that will be next planted in our culture
tower and we planted our first flower(zinnia) to add some colors in our simulation! Finally, tonight after having watered plants again I did injected spirulina in
the aquariums and my first experiment have started. I also harvested some aromatic herbs to cook tonight and make
our meals be more tasty!

Harvest: 5g lemon balm/ 4g basil/ 5g chives

Support/supplies needed: don’t have the real amount of water in the blue tank since i don’t know the real amount
that were in this tank at the beginning.

Posted on

EVA Report – February 17th

Crew 222 EVA Report 17-02-2020
EVA # 1
Author: Benjamin Auzou
Purpose of EVA: Install weather station and aerosol counter, then find a place the installation of an other experiment, The electric field measure. Start time: 9:37am
End time: 11:33am
Narrative:
First of all this EVA was followed by a journalist, who filmed the activities on the field.
After the first steps on Mars for three of us, we checked all rovers status and the static tank level. Then we moved to the place we needed to set the experiment, which needs to be a plane area.
The installation was successful for both parts of the experiment. At 11:10am, the installation was finished and then we had some minutes to study the area to find a location for MegaAres, the experiment that we will deploy tomorrow.

Destination: plane area approximately 500m away from the Hab, along Cow Dung Road
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518483 4250677
Participants: Benjamin Auzou (CO), Bleuenn Roiron (GHO), Valentin Prudhomme (ENG), Nina Sedbon (SC)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Driving (needed for material transport)

Posted on

Sol Summary – February 17th

Crew 222 Sol Summary Report 17-02-2020
Sol:1
Summary Title: And so the science begin
Author’s name: Benjamin Auzou
Mission Status: Crew settled and Beginning of the first experiments Sol Activity Summary: In the morning, the crew woke up with a matinal workout session. Then four crewmember went on the first EVA of the mission to install a field experiment.
The afternoon were dedicated to the launch of scientific experiments : Spirulina in the Green Hab, Human factors, preparation of the water consumption monitoring.
Between 8:30am and 5pm, the crew were followed by a journalist for a French TV channel. The journalist were respectful of the place and of our work.
Look Ahead Plan:
Tomorrow, we will go on a similar EVA to this morning, in order to set up an electric field mesure, MegaAres. Also we will continue the activities launched today.
Anomalies in work: none
Weather: cloudy in general, clearer in the afternoon
Crew Physical Status: all members safe and sound
EVA: LOAC and Weather station installation success
Reports to be filed: Journalist report, Mission Plan, Crew bios, GreenHab Report, Astronomy Report, EVA Report, EVA Request, Science report, HSO Pre Mission Checklist
Support Requested: Food Inventory to be reviewed by Shannon

Posted on

Operations Report – February 16th

Crew 222 Operations Report 02/16/2020

SOL: 0

Name of person filing report: Valentin PRUDHOMME

Non-nominal systems: N/A
Notes on non-nominal systems: N/A

Generator: yes
Hours run: 13
From what time last night: 6 pm
To what time this morning: 7 am
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: N/A

Solar—SOC 75% (Before generator is run at night)

Diesel Reading – 80%
Station Propane Reading – 42%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A

Water (loft tank): 43 gallons
Water Meter: 149275.24 units
Water (static tank) – 455 gallons
Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water in GreenHab – 170 gallons
Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: yes
Hours: 143.6
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 99
Currently charging: yes

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: N/A

Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 131.6
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 90
Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 69.6
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 137.7
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 86
Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: N/A

ATV’s Used: Honda, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3
Reason for use: training
Oil Added? no
ATV Fuel Used: N/A
Hours the ATVs were Used today: 30 minutes
Notes on ATVs: N/A

HabCar used and why, where? Used this morning for getting water and used by the Station Director to go to town.

CrewCar used and why, where? Return to Grand Junction for crew 221.

General notes and comments: N/A

Summary of internet: wifi set on all computers and working correctly

Summary of suits and radios: 11 radios in the Hab with 9 of them for the outside. There are 4 radios without batteries. The other 7 are operational. Suits tested by 4 crew members.

Summary of Hab operations: N/A

Summary of GreenHab operations: N/A

Summary of ScienceDome operations: N/A

Summary of RAM operations: N/A

Summary of any observatory issues: N/A

Summary of health and safety issues: N/A

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: N/A

Posted on

Greenhab Report – February 16th

Crew 222 GreenHab Report – 16/02/2020

GreenHab Officer: Bleuenn ROIRON

Today, Greenhab was operated by the station director

Environmental control: NA

Average temperatures: NA

Hours of supplemental light: NA

Daily water usage for crops: NA

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0

Water in blue Tank: 150 Gallons

Time(s) of watering crops: 2

Changes to crops: Tomato plants were separated in different pots

Narrative: Today, Greenhab was operated by the station director

Harvest: 200g of spinach

Support/supplies needed: more water in the blue tank

Posted on

Journalist Report – February 16th

Crew 222 Journalist Report 16Feb2020
Author: Marie Bochard, Crew Journalist
Sol 0
Title: Welcome home!

As we woke up on the red planet this morning, it felt like we were finally home. The sun was up before us and shone brightly on the hills. The Hab was hectic as everyone woke up, and the previous crew was getting ready to leave. After saying our goodbyes, we settled into our rooms. It’s hard to believe we are finally here, after a whole year of preparation! It seems so unreal.

To start off the day, the Director gave us a briefing on the station, and then we prepared our first meal. On the menu: rice with dehydrated green peas and sweet potatoes!

A delicious introduction to Martian cuisine.

But before our mission can truly start, there are still some things to be done.

Today is ‘training day’.

Everything has to be ready to start the sim tonight. This means doing the food inventory, ensuring the suits all work, and most importantly (or at least most fun), this means learning how to drive the rovers and ATVs! We went for a drive on both to get the hang of the vehicles. When we will drive on EVA, it will be harder to maneuver with the suits so everyone got to try. Even our seasoned commander took the wheel!

As the day started to wind down, we started working on our reports.

Clicks of keyboards were the only sounds we heard for an hour. The astronomer sent his photos, the commander wrote his Sol Summary, the engineer went on his last non-sim check of all life-support and transportation systems… and I wrote down these very words.

Tonight, the simulation starts. Tonight, our mission begins. Tonight, we dine on Mars!

Copyright © The Mars Society. All rights reserved. | Main Site