Month: November 2022

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Commander Report – November 22th

Sol: 9
Summary Title: Trouble on Mars
Author’s name: Dr. Jenni Hesterman, Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Commander Report:

The crew was up early today to discuss the day ahead. Sadly, we only have 3 more days on Mars and endeavor to maximize opportunities to hone skills for operating in a remote, austere environment with limited resources.

First up was a local walking EVA for the XO and Health and Safety Officer (HSO) to the Gateway to Candor area. Upon arrival, the crew notified the station that the XO injured her ankle and then lost communication. Two of the remaining four crew members in the station quickly donned their gear and entered the airlock within minutes to respond. They took two rovers and headed to the last known position of the crew with a first aid kit and a leg splint.

Once the crews made contact, they splinted the XO’s leg and she was loaded into a rover. After all crewmembers were safe in the station, the XO and HSO informed us this was a drill and we spent an hour discussing the strengths and weaknesses in our response.

After lunch, three crew members set out with two rovers on a biological mission to Cowboy Corner. We were surprised to find several areas with ice, despite the mild temperature and sunny day. The Crew Biologist took samples and photographed several species of lichens. We spotted an unreachable lagoon in the distance, surrounded by green plants and a tree. The Crew Engineer successfully accomplished a carry capacity test with the Pleiades Anchor, which will help astronauts easily retrieve rock and soil samples without having to bend over or squat. She deliberately pushed the robot to the breaking point to test its ability to function with an accumulation of debris and on different surfaces.

Following a dinner of cheesy pasta with a ham or tuna topping, the crew accomplished mission planning for the rest of the week. We have one long EVA tomorrow, then the American crewmembers will host an early Thanksgiving celebration for their international colleagues.

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Sol Summary – November 21th

Sol: 8
Summary Title: Hiking on Mars
Author’s name: Jas Purewal
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Spent the morning doing training, which included crisis management and VR first aid. The crew engineer categorized her rocks for a carry capacity test for her Pleiades anchor. In the afternoon the EVA crew headed out to the sea of shells, parking the rovers near the overlook on Brahe Hwy and walking the rest of the way. Today’s EVA was by far the most strenuous yet, but well worth it for the biological samples that were collected.
Look Ahead Plan: Two EVA’s planned for tomorrow. A morning EVA on foot to nearby Gateway to Candor. Afternoon EVA for engineering demo and biological sample collection at Cowboy Corner.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Rather nice. Sunny, clear. No rain.
Crew Physical Status: Good
EVA: EVA 8 – XO, HSO and Biologist went to the Sea of Shells via the Overlook on Brahe Hwy for biological sample collection. Curiosity and Spirit were driven on Cow Dung Rd and Brahe Hwy, stopping just before the Overlook. Once at the overlook, the rovers were parked and the crew headed out on foot to The Sea Shells. Samples collected included: ice; mud next to ice; 3 plant samples; 1 salty rock; 3 samples of dirt from roots of three plants; 3 plant samples.
Reports to be filed:
Commander’s report
GreenHab
EVA report
EVA request
Operations report
Sol Summary report
Journalist report

Support Requested: none

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Operations Report – November 21th

SOL: 8
Name of person filing report: Jas Purewal
Non-nominal systems: NA
Notes on non-nominal systems: NA
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: Yes
Hours: (before EVA) 199.0
Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging) 47%
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: NA
Beginning charge: NA
Ending charge: NA
Currently charging: NA
Curiosity rover used: Yes
Hours: 211.7
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 51%
Currently charging: NA
Perseverance rover used: No
Hours: NA
Beginning charge: NA
Ending charge: NA
Currently charging: NA
General notes on rovers: All good.
Summary of Hab operations: put notes here
WATER USE: 50 gallons
Water (static tank): 200 gallons
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on
Static tank heater (On or off) on
Toilet tank emptied: Yes
Summary of internet: Good
Summary of suits and radios: optimal
Summary of GreenHab operations: None
WATER USE: 6.66 gallons
Heater: On
Supplemental light: Off
Harvest: 85g radish microgreens; 45g Kale; 10g Dill.
Summary of ScienceDome operations: None
Dual split: (Heat or AC, On or Off) Heat, Off
Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done) Pillows received from the RAM. Thank you.
Summary of any observatory issues: NA
Summary of health and safety issues: One crew member feels dizzy. Two crew members sustained minor injuries on the stairs.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Whilst we are conserving water, at our current rate of use we predict that we will be down to our last 50 gallons by Sol 11.

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Journalist Report – November 21th

Sol: 8
Title: Just Another Martian Monday
Author: Izabela Shopova, Crew Journalist
The weekend is over and our second week on Mars begins fast-paced and busy. We get up at 7, skip breakfast (we all feel that the social isolation and the challenges of our new environment have made us crave, cook and eat too much food) and start our morning operations meeting – what have we achieved so far, what are our goals for the rest of the mission and what are we doing today. The meeting is followed by another informative and inspiring to tears training session with Commander Jennie – this time on the topic of crisis response. We all spend some time filling in our various emotions study forms, yogurt evaluation questions, journals and calendars, before jumping straight into a VR First Aid training session – our challenge today is to practice immobilizing and securing a broken finger with whatever materials we have at hand in the Hab. It is only 10 AM and we are so deep into our working routine – watering plants, testing astronauts’ diet app, collecting feedback, adding info to our daily reports, planning dinner meals, doing dishes, studying and uploading photos.

The one hour of scheduled break before lunch comes as a relief. It is just what we all need to wind down after a busy morning. The lucky 3 crewmates who have taken over the responsibilities for our Paros can cuddle the adorable balls of fur. The rest of us who no longer have access to the cute robots are trying to keep busy and pretend we don’t envy them.

The afternoon was all about the planned 2-and-a-half-hour EVA. 3 of our crew members went on an EVA to the Sea of Shells with ‘Cury’ and ‘Oppy’. Back at the Hab we had two long hours after they went out of comms range, waiting anxiously to hear the familiar call signal again. Meanwhile, the crew engineer Judy worked on preparing the mechanical arm Pleiades anchor for a carry capacity test tomorrow.

The sunset found us debriefing over cups of hot chocolate, the EVA crew still buzzing with the energy and excitement of their experience in the field. More reports and assessments writing, photo uploading, Paro cuddling, studying, planning, ‘combat showers’ and food preparation filled in our time till dinner.

Pizza, oven-baked chips and a fresh salad – we are eating better than some kings!

And we have new pillows! Everyone on Mars is happy tonight.

Thank you Mission support.

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GreenHab Report – November 21th

Sol 8
GreenHab Officer: Caitlyn Hubric
Environmental control: (heater, fan, door open?) heater on, door closed, 20% humidity
Average temperatures: 43.3ºC/13.5ºC
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 25.2 L ≈ 6.66 gal
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gal
Water in Blue Tank ~258.34 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: twice, morning and night, 9am-5pm
Changes to crops:
-I harvested the assorted kale microgreens from the orange planter on the shelves, 75% of the dill growing in the big blue bin, and the remainder of the radish in the blue bin with beans.
-The tomatoes on the wood pallet are starting to produce true leaves and are looking very healthy. The tomatoes in the big blue planter and the single pots in front of it are growing a lot slower.
-The snow peas on the wood pallet are looking very happy and using the wood stakes to grow taller. I think they will need to use the wood stakes for more time before they are tall enough to switch to the metal cages.
Narrative:
-Today I harvested radish, kale, and dill microgreens to make a salad for my crew. We used the dill to infuse olive oil as a dressing and saved a little bit to top it. It was delicious!
-Tomorrow I plan to replant more radish in the blue bin to replace the radish I have harvested. I have decided to replant more after doing research, the plant does not contain enough energy to regrow itself after harvest.
Harvest: (include which crop and mass in grams)
-Radish microgreens: 85g
-Assorted kale microgreens: 45g
-Dill microgreens: 10g
Support/supplies needed: N/A

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EVA Report – November 21th

EVA # 8
Author: Elizabeth Balga
Purpose of EVA: Biological sample collection.
Start time: 1:30 PM
End time: ~4:15 PM
Narrative:
XO, HSO, and Biologist went to the Sea of Shells via the Overlook on Brahe Hwy for biological sample collection. Curiosity and Spirit were driven on Cow Dung Rd and Brahe Hwy, stopping just before the Overlook. Once at the overlook, the rovers were parked and the crew headed out on foot to The Sea Shells. Samples collected included: ice; mud next to ice; 3 plant samples; 1 salty rock; 3 samples of dirt from roots of three plants; 3 plant samples.
Destination: Sea of Shells with stop at Overlook
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84):
Overlook: 516000, 4254000
Sea of Shells: 516000, 4255000
Participants: XO, BIO, HSO
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map:
North on Cow Dung Rd (0110) to Brahe Hgwy (1572 W)
Stop at Overlook
Brahe Hwy (1572 N) to Sea of Shells
Return
Mode of travel: Rover, Walking (Curi, Spirit)

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Commander Report – November 21th

Sol: 8
Summary Title: Monday on Mars
Author’s name: Dr. Jenni Hesterman, Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Commander Report:

The crew was up early today for first aid training using the Oculus VR goggles, then practiced splinting fingers and thumbs. The commander led a training and education session on crisis leadership and communication, presenting theory, case studies and her personal experiences. Two crew members suffered minor injuries today, another wake up call we must fight complacency during a risk-laden mission.

After lunch, three crew members set out with two rovers on a biological mission to the Sea of Shells, with a stop at the Overlook. The Crew Biologist took samples of ice, salty rock and dirt from the roots of plants, searching for microbial life that is helping them retain water.

The Crew Engineer spent the day preparing for carry capacity tests with the Pleiades Anchor. She will also put the device through weather and debris tests. The instrument will help astronauts easily retrieve rock and soil samples without having to bend over or squat.

Following a dinner of pizza and salad made from fresh kale, radish and dill from the GreenHab, the crew participated in an emergency response tabletop exercise to hone our crisis leadership and communication skills. Tomorrow will be a full day with two EVAs, training and research activities, so the crew is having a quiet evening and will turn in early.

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Sol Summary – November 20th

Sol: 7
Summary Title: Biologist down
Author’s name: Jas Purewal
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Read about lichen and did research on how to identify lichen. Planted 18 plants. Commander, Communications officer and Engineer did a walking EVA at 2:45pm to Hab Ridge Rd N. Searching for hydrous minerals. Conducted an emergency exercise that simulated a crew member fainting. The crew performed admirably.
Look Ahead Plan: Morning crisis communication education and VR first aid training and scenario 3. 1:30pm to 4:30pm EVA to Sea of Shells via the Overlook on Brahe Hwy 1572.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Rather nice. Sunny, clear. No rain.
Crew Physical Status: Good
EVA: EVA 8 – Commander, Communications officer and Engineer did a walking EVA at 2:45pm to Hab Ridge Rd N. Searching for hydrous minerals. Found many sea shells, they were not collected but rock samples were collected.
Reports to be filed:
Commander’s report
GreenHab
EVA report
EVA request
Operations report
Sol Summary report
Journalist report

Support Requested: none

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