Month: March 2020

Posted on

Sol Summary – March 06th

Crew 223 Sol Summary Report 06-03-2020

Sol: 5 Summary Title: Mid rotation is coming to fast

Author’s name: Aurélien Mure – Crew Commander

Mission Status: Everything’s fine

Sol Activity Summary:

The crew woke up at 6:50am. The sport session began at 7:00am. Our
training is made of different exercises repeated 3 times 20s on Monday
and Tuesday, twice 30s on Wednesday and Thursday and once 1min on Friday
and Saturday.
The one minute duration exercise is really exhausting for the muscles
and it was a little bit painful this morning!
During the EVA, the team has changed the batteries of the LOAC and
MegaAres and then explored North Ridge. They were truly happy about what
they saw considering their smile at the end. I think our communications
are getting better and better in EVA. That is why we worked with Luc on
a protocole enabling us to perform a non verbal communication EVA.
Florian has worked on his astronomy researches for a while. Then I
worked with Florian and Blandine on the solar oven that is ready to go
our tomorrow.
Clément and Valentin took care of some cress and radishes for our Music
for plants experiment.
Marion tried to unlock the code for our display panel.
Tonight, we realise that midrotation is arriving too fast. For me it is
a real difference as I was involved in a 3 weeks rotation last year, it
changes a lot!

Look Ahead Plan:

The non verbal EVA planned is really exciting, and the solar oven will
be set up

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Cloudy and Sunny alternatively, -2 at 7:00

Crew Physical Status: All crew members safe and sound.

EVA: LOAC and MegaAres batteries changed North Ridge exploration

Reports to be filed: Journalist Report, Operations report, EVA Request,
Green Hab report, EVA Report, Astronomy report

Support Requested: None

Posted on

GreenHab Report – March 06th

  


Crew 223 GreenHab Report - 06-03-2020 GreenHab Officer: Valentin
BELLEMIN-LAPONNAZ

Environmental control: Ambient with Door open

Average temperature: 22.5°C
Low temperature: 15°C
High temperature: 25°C

Hours of supplemental light: 4 hours (from 9P.M to 1 a.m.)

Daily water usage for crops: 12.6 gallons

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

Water in Blue Tank— 153.7 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 3 (1 only for tomatoes and radish)

Changes to crops: NA

Narrative: This morning, Aurelien MURE watered all the plants, as I were
on EVA. After lunch, I carried out the experience Music For Plants. I
decided to use both young and advanced radish plants. I mounted the UV
chamber and the speaker and did the first UV incubation and listening
for the batch of plants. For dinner, I harvested basil, oregano and
cilantro.

Harvest: 3g Basil / 3g Cilantro / 4g oregano

Support/supplies needed: NA 

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
EVA Report – March 06th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 EVA Report 06-03-2020

EVA #5

Author: Clément Plagne

Purpose of EVA: Change the batteries for MegaARES and LOAC.

Familiarising ourselves with the terrain and the hiking required for

exploration of the environment. Testing the recently repaired suits.

Start Time: 09:07

End Time: 11:04

Narrative:

We left the airlock at 09:12, a bit later than planned. Checks for rover

status and water level went nominally. Valentin was tasked with testing

the Honda ATV, that had failed to start previously – attempt was a

success and Valentin reached first gear to confirm ATV was running.

We reached the LOAC/MegaARES area at 09:20, and battery replacement

tasked went nominally as usual.

We took off for North Ridge and parked the ATVs near Stream Bed

Connector, heading west by foot. We witnessed a helicopter making a

close approach near us and kept going. We hiked through steep terrain,

trying to make our way to the top of the Ridge but stopping due to

safety concerns.

Our hike lasted for a bit less than an hour, going from hilly, red-hued

hills to rockier zones, to gray, nearly Moon-like zones. We decided to

leave earlier instead of attempting a tough looking climb in a rocky area.

We arrived back near the hab at 10:56, and were back in the airlock by

11:04. All suits worked perfectly.

Destination: North Ridge.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 518500 4250800 and 12S 518500 425000

EVA Participants: Clément Plagne (EVA Leader, Journalist), Blandine

Gorce (HSO), Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz (GreenHab Officer), Florian

Delpech (Astronomer)

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

Mode of travel: Driving (and walking when off-road)

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Rovers Deimos/Perseverance

and Curiosity

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Operations Report – March 06th
	


	
	

		
  




Crew 223 Operations Report 06/03/2020

SOL: 5

Name of person filing report: Luc FORTIN

Non-nominal systems: Nothing to report

Notes on non-nominal systems: Nothing to report

Thursday generator:
Off at 4:30am
On at 9:10pm SOC was 84%

Friday generator:
Off at 6:00am
On at 9:00pm SOC was XX%

Diesel Reading – 70%

Station Propane Reading – 75%

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 7 gallons

Water (loft tank): 47 gallons

Water Meter: 149721.59 units

Water (static tank) – 307 gallons

Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water in GreenHab – 153.7 gallons

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Perseverance rover used: yes
Hours: 149.7
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 98%
Currently charging: yes

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: Nothing to report
Beginning charge: Nothing to report
Ending charge: Nothing to report
Currently charging: Nothing to report

Spirit rover: no
Hours: 133.7
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: moved from campus to the shop to repair the brakes.
Hours: Nothing to report
Beginning charge: Nothing to report
Ending charge: Nothing to report
Currently charging: Nothing to report

Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 139.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 80%
Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: Nothing to report

ATV’s Used: yes (Honda, 1, 2 and 3)
Reason for use: Honda started during the EVA this morning, and we had no
problem with it. I started the 4 ATVs during the engineer EVA for
battery check.
Oil Added? no
ATV Fuel Used: Nothing to report
Hours the ATVs were Used today: 5 minutes
Notes on ATVs: Nothing to report

HabCar used and why, where? The HabCar is parked at the MDRS Campus.

CrewCar used and why, where? The CrewCar is in Grand Junction.

General notes and comments: Nothing to report

Summary of internet: All ok.

Summary of suits and radios: Suits 7, 8, 9, 10 were used during the EVA.
No problem.

Summary of Hab operations: One of the gaz button of the gaz stove is
broken (the one for the upper left).

Summary of GreenHab operations: Nothing to report

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report

Summary of RAM operations: Florian built the solar hoven.

Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report

Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report


	


	







		

		
Posted on 
Operations Report – March 05th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 Operations Report 05/03/2020


SOL: 4


Name of person filing report: Luc FORTIN


Non-nominal systems: Nothing to report


Notes on non-nominal systems: Nothing to report


Wednesday generator:

Off at 6:00am

On at 9:15pm SOC was 84%


Thursday generator:

Off at 4:30am

On at 9pm SOC was XX%


Diesel Reading – 70%


Station Propane Reading – 82%


Ethanol Free Gasoline – 7 gallons


Water (loft tank): 47 gallons


Water Meter: 149709.09 units


Water (static tank) – 319 gallons


Static to Loft Pump used – yes


Water in GreenHab – 166.4 gallons


Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons


Toilet tank emptied: yes


Perseverance (former Demos) rover used: no

Hours: 149.5

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes


Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours: Nothing to report

Beginning charge: Nothing to report

Ending charge: Nothing to report

Currently charging: Nothing to report


Spirit rover: yes

Hours: 133.7

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 86%

Currently charging: yes


Opportunity rover used: moved from campus to the shop to repair the brakes.

Hours: Nothing to report

Beginning charge: Nothing to report

Ending charge: Nothing to report

Currently charging: Nothing to report


Curiosity rover used: no

Hours: 139.3

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes


Notes on rovers: Nothing to report


ATV’s Used: yes (Honda, 1, 2 and 3)

Reason for use: 1 & 2 used during the EVA. We had trouble starting the

Honda, and finally thought the battery was flat. But during the engineer

EVA, Honda started without any problem (using the starter). So maybe it

was due to the cold weather… Crew members going in EVA tomorrow

morning will try to start it. If non working, we will probably take the

battery in the RAM to charge it. All ATVs were run during the engineer

EVA for battery check.

Oil Added? no

ATV Fuel Used: ~5%

Hours the ATVs were Used today: 20 minutes

Notes on ATVs: Nothing to report


HabCar used and why, where? Nothing to report


CrewCar used and why, where? The CrewCar is in Grand Junction.


General notes and comments: Nothing to report


Summary of internet: All ok.


Summary of suits and radios: Suits 4, 8, 9, 10 were used during the EVA.

Suit 7 is now fixed and perflectly working !


Summary of Hab operations: Nothing to report


Summary of GreenHab operations: The GreenHab officier switched the

working and non working neons of the halogen lamp in order to have more

light on tomatoes than on aromatics.


Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report


Summary of RAM operations: We successfully fixed suit 7 ! What we found

is a problem on the suit female plug : in a certain position, one of the

cables was in contact with one of the 2 free pins. And thus connecting

the electrical circuit to the ground. Our solution was to isolate those

2 pins with an heat-shrinkable sleeve. Cf the 2 pictures attached. We

did the same thing on suits 8, 9, 10 to prevent them from this.


Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report


Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report


Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Sol  Summary – March 05th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 Sol Summary Report 05-03-2020


Sol: 4 Summary Title: Fisrt routine day


Author’s name: Aurélien Mure – Crew Commander


Mission Status: Crew 223 Routine has begun


Sol Activity Summary:


The crew woke up at 6:50am and every. The sport session began at 7:00am.

It seems that the whole team is feeling more confident with the sport

session and is improving the performances. It is good to see.

Marion was the EVA leader for the first time, she was a little bit

stressed out but she managed the EVA prep without any problem. The ATV

Honda refused to start at the beginning of the EVA. Whe chose to pick

the ATV 3 instead. We explored Candor Chasma through Stream Bed Connector.

Marion’s spacesuit was not really well set so that she lost her

earphone. We found a lot of garages there and we tried to pick it up as

much as possible.

Once arrived at the Hab we tried to start the ATV Honda manually but

without success.

Good news for the end of the morning : The Spacesuit 7 is fixed and we

have found a possible weakness on the spacesuit design that we have

fixed on the three other suits. I worked with Luc 3 hours on it, we hope

that everything will be all right tomorrow.

Florian worked on his solar imaging, Blandine and Marion on their app

displaying the schedule. We continued with another cohesion activity in

Blandine’s program.


Look Ahead Plan:


The suits are going to be tested tomorrow, we hope to go further with

our solar oven.


Anomalies in work: None.


Weather: Sunny and warm all day (-6°C at 7:00am, about 9°C at 11:00am,

6:00pm) 0m/s of wind all day


Crew Physical Status: All crew members safe and sound.


EVA: LOAC and MegaAres batteries changed Candor Chasma exploration


Reports to be filed: Journalist Report, Operations report, EVA Request,

Green Hab report, Astronomy report, EVA report


Support Requested: None

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Astronomy Report – March 05th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 Astronomy Report Mar 05 2020


Name: Florian Delpech

Crew: 223

Date: 3/5/2020


MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14


Objects to be Imaged this Evening: NGC 1961 ; NGC 4490 ; NGC 4450 ; NGC

3368 ; NGC 3115 ; NGC 2403 ; NGC 4618 ; NGC 4559 ; NGC 3521 ; NGC 4569 ;

NGC 4725 ; NGC 3675. This is part of the research project aiming at

observing about 30 galaxies per week to try to find a supernovae.


Images submitted with this report: N/A


Problems Encountered: N/A


MUSK OBSERVATORY


Solar Features Observed: Granules


Images submitted with this report: A picture of the Sun


Problems Encountered: N/A

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
GreenHab Report – March 05th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 GreenHab Report – 05-03-2020 GreenHab Officer: Valentin

BELLEMIN-LAPONNAZ


Environmental control: Ambient with Door open


Average temperature: 23.2°C

Low temperature: 20°C High temperature: 26°C


Hours of supplemental light: 4 hours (from 9P.M to 1 a.m.)


Daily water usage for crops: 15.8 gallons


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


Water in Blue Tank— 166.4 gallons


Time(s) of watering for crops: 3 (1 only for tomatoes and radish)


Changes to crops: I planted green spinach to replace the ones that I

harvested two days ago.


Narrative: This morning, I watered all the plants as usual. I planted

spinach in the free pot under the strawberries. I also did the cleaning

and marked well all the plants with new tags. After lunch, I carried out

the experiment Music For Plants. The radish which were transplanted

yesterday didn’t grow well. I had to find another solution. I decided to

transplant other advanced plants of radish. I hope those ones will

recover from transplantation. For the dinner, I harvested basil to make

a soup and lemon balm for the dessert.


Harvest: 10g Basil / 5g Lemon Balm


Support/supplies needed: NA

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Journalist Report – March 05th
	


	
	

		
Crew 223 Journalist Report 05Mar2020

Author: Clément Plagne, Crew Journalist

Sol 4

Title: A matter of time

It’s sol 4 already! We’re just about a third of the way through our stay

in the station, which is honestly really hard to imagine. We’ve

experienced a lot already. The team has already changed from how it was

when we started, and we’ve grown as a unit more and more each day. Our

bodies are a bit leaner, bruised for a few of them, but feel stronger

and healthier – the all-American fast-food based diet we had before

arriving here is long gone. They’re also a whole lot dirtier. While no

one’s complained about smells, the days inside an enclosed, dusty

environment have taken a toll on us, and we’re all overdue for a shower.


Yeah, we sure have done a lot already. It’s hopeless to think we’ll

explore everywhere around us and do all the science we want, but we’ve

done a fair bit. Still, it feels like all those days have gone by like a

flash. Time goes by differently in the station. Saying “It’s sol 4!”

sounds fine to all of us, but “It’s Thursday!” just feels weird. Very

easily, you get into a rhythm. 7am wake up time, timed sports session,

breakfast, EVA Prep, check, check, check, 5 minutes of airlock

depressurisation, and on with the procedures. Everyone knows what

they’re doing every single minute of their morning. It’s doing work of

course, but also a lot of waiting for lunch. Lunch, as well as the

afternoon, is a lot freer. Where EVA mornings have us all focused on one

task, afternoons are for our own work. You get to take time to think.


When you’re in here, the rest of the world just stops to exist, and so

does everything with it. The days become simpler. No more social media,

no more advertisements on walks outside, no more commute to work.

Without distractions, you finally get to take time. Time for science,

time for ourselves and others. And, as things get the chance of going

slow and smooth, paradoxically, they go by without realising, and you

end up busy writing reports over a day you thought started instants

before. It’s a pleasure being so efficient and living so simply.


We’re only a third of the way through, but I’m already afraid it’ll be

over before I realise it. I’m enjoying every second of it while it lasts.

	


	



	
		

	

	





		


		

			

				

	

						
				

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