Month: March 2023

Posted on

Operations Report – March 6th

Crew 275 Operations Report 06Mar2023
SOL: 22

Name of person filing report: Quentin Royer
Non-nominal systems:
• Toilet
• Spacesuit n°9
• Robotic observatory
• Spacesuit n°4 and a helmet

Notes on non-nominal systems:
• Spacesuit n°4: When the helmet of the spacesuit was removed, as a Crew Member unscrewed the plastic tubes linking the helmet and the suit, the screw remained blocked, and the two parts are very firmly screwed (it was probably initially badly screwed). Therefore, we had to remove the plastic piece from the spacesuit, and it is now impossible to separate it from the plastic part attached to the helmet.

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: Yes
• Hours: 209.9
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: 73%
• Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Yes
• Hours: 113.9
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: 81%
• Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No
• Hours: 221.7
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: N/A
• Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: No
• Hours: 255.9
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: N/A
• Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: Nothing to report.

Summary of Hab operations: The Crew conducted routine operations.
$

• WATER USE: 12.87
• Water: 365.65 gallons
• Static tank pipe heater: On
• Static tank heater: On
• Toilet tank emptied: Yes

Summary of internet: Starlink (MDRSCampus-Guest) is used during COMMS and during the day for emails and to handle the medical emergency. MDRScampus is used for experimental purpose.

Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report.

Summary of GreenHab operations: The Crew botanist conducted routine operations.
• WATER USE: 12.68 gallons
• Heater: On
• Supplemental light: No
• Harvest: 808 g of tomatoes

Summary of ScienceDome operations: No operations were conducted in the ScienceDome.
• Dual split: Heat / From 10 pm to 7 am

Summary of RAM operations: No operations were conducted in the RAM today.

Summary of any observatory issues: The robotic observatory is non-nominal.

Summary of health and safety issues: None.

Questions, concerns, and requests to Mission Support: None.

Posted on

Sol Summary Report – March 6th

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 06Mar2023

Sol: 22

Summary Title: “The last week’s a smooth ride”, they said!

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

Another 4-hour EVA left three crewmembers very tired today. They went to Candor Chasma and successfully performed the photogrammetry EVA, based on a 3D render of the region. Only one crewmember could take part as a subject, since the other subject was injured. Before reaching Candor Chasma, they stopped to install the LOAC, and then to change the batteries and retrieve the data of the other atmospheric instruments. They noticed that MegaAres was off, as it ran out of battery. We have noticed that about 3 hours of recording are missing. This is due to the fact that we did not have enough time and enough chargers to completely charge the batteries of all the atmospheric instruments.

With the GreenHab officer in EVA, the Crew Astronomer watered the crops. We then spent some additional time in the GreenHab to perform a few cognitive tests, while the temperature there was very close to 100°F/40°C.

The injured crewmember is feeling slightly better, and we managed to get an appointment with a surgeon for her. We will drive her to Richfield tomorrow. However, the fact that a few crewmembers will not be at the MDRS required us to modify the schedule and to perform additional activities today.

Look Ahead Plan:

Today, we managed to get an appointment with a surgeon in Richfield. The injured crewmembers will have to be at the Sevier Valley hospital tomorrow (Sol 23) at 10:40 for a second X-ray and then to see the surgeon. We requested Mission Support to use the CrewCar to do so. The plan is to leave between 7:00 and 7:30 with the Crew Journalist, the Crew Scientist, and the Health & Safety Office, so that two drivers can accompany the injured crewmember. In the absence of the Health & Safety Officer, the Commander will take this role. The tasks of the Crew Scientist and of the Crew Journalist will be shared between the four crewmembers remaining at the MDRS.

A media visit is planned for tomorrow (Sol 23) with a crew from France Televisions. They will arrive at 9:00 and leave at 17:00. In the morning, we plan to have them following us during our EVA, first to change the battery and retrieve the data from the atmospheric instruments, and then to shoot nice videos at North Ridge. In the afternoon, we will show them the different buildings and the rest of our experiments.

We would also like to perform an exploration EVA on Thursday (Sol 25) and another EVA dedicated to the disassembling of the atmospheric instruments on Friday (Sol 26).

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Windy, low 1°C/34°F, high 12°C/54°F.

Crew Physical Status: One crewmember injured (broken collarbone / clavicula). Appointment with surgeon is planned tomorrow (Sol 23) at 11:10 in Richfield. Surgery should soon follow.

EVA: EVA # 18 dedicated to the photogrammetry experiment based on a 3D render was successfully performed. Some anomalies were observed regarding the batteries of the atmospheric instruments.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, EVA Request, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, HSO Report.

Support Requested: None.

Posted on

Journalist Report – March 5th

Sol 21 – Sunday Slumber

“They all came out and looked at the sky that night. They left their suppers or their washing up or their dressing for the show and they came out upon their now-not-quite-as-new porches and watched the green star of Earth there.”

– – Chapter 21 of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Our third Sunday in the MDRS started out as usual: with a little more sleep for the entire crew. After yesterday’s emotional rollercoaster, somewhat rested, we tucked into some more pancakes prepared by Alice. We watched and laughed as she tested AI4U’s joke functionalities; over the past week, Alexandre has continued running tests on the program to help the CNES researchers make the right changes to it, with future space missions in mind.

Our third Sunday in the MDRS continued not exactly as usual: two crewmembers were scheduled to go on an EVA. As Sol 20’s outing was cancelled, the batteries on all atmospheric instruments had not been changed and had been left in the cold; Alexandre had therefore requested a Sunday EVA. Despite the 20 mph winds, which the crew is now used to hear blowing around the station, Alice and Alexandre managed to change all three batteries and retrieve the data. Unfortunately, the LOAC had to be brought home once again to be fixed, as it has not been collecting any data for the past Sol…

With everyone back at the Hab for the afternoon, everything started to feel like a real Sunday at MDRS, and we were glad to have more time to rest after Friday night’s events. Naps were taken, movies were watched, books were read.

Despite not being able to work on his astronomy project due to a malfunctioning robotic observatory, Alexandre has taken up astrophotography. Along with Adrien, he set up a tripod and camera under the glass dome of the observatory to take advantage of the beautiful Martian skies. We have not yet been able to see Earth from up here, we are still actively looking…

Posted on

EVA Report – March 5th

Crew 275 EVA Report 05-03-2023

EVA # 17

Author: Alexandre VINAS (crew astronomer and EVA leader)

Purpose of EVA: Change of battery for all the instruments, as well as data retrieval.

Start time: 10:18

End time: 11:30

Narrative:

10:18 Airlock closed

10:28 EVA crew arrived at the destination.

MegaAres instrument was off. Its 12V battery had a level of 8.6V.

LOAC malfunctionned. Its battery was fully charged but the instrument was off (even if it was turned on during the last EVA). LOAC was removed.

11:02 Change of the batteries of PurpleAir and data retrieval.

11:18 Change of the batteries of Field mill and data retrieval.

11:25 EVA crew left the site of the instruments.

11:30 EVA crew back at the rovers.

11:45 EVA crew back in the hab.

Destination: Between the Hab and Marble Ritual near the road.

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4251000 E518500

Participants: EVA Leader: Alexandre VINAS (Crew astronomer), Alice Chapiron (Crew Scientist)

HAB COM: Quentin Royer (Crew Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive Cow Dung Road 0110 to a place just before Marble Ritual (see map on the attached picture)

Mode of travel: Curiosity

Posted on

GreenHab Report – March 5th

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 78.5°F

Average humidity: 28%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 9.51 gallons

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

Water in the blue tank: 99.35 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 10:45

Changes to crops: I finally harvested the last greens and then planted new seeds in this planter next to the blue tank

Narrative: I went to water and maintain crops as my daily operations.

Thankfully the dirt wasn’t too dry considering I only went once yesterday.

Apart from that, I harvested the greens located in the planter next to the blue tank and planted new seeds. That way both planters may give some good greens for next crews!

Harvest: 81g of greens

Support/supplies needed: N/A

Posted on

Operations Report – March 5th

Crew 275 Operations Report 05Mar2023
SOL: 21

Name of person filing report: Quentin Royer
Non-nominal systems:
• Toilet
• Spacesuit n°9
• Robotic observatory

Notes on non-nominal systems:

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: No
• Hours: 209.9
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: N/A
• Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: No
• Hours: 113.7
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: N/A
• Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: Yes
• Hours: 221.7
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: 94%
• Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: No
• Hours: 255.9
• Beginning charge: 100%
• Ending charge: N/A
• Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: Nothing to report.

Summary of Hab operations: The Crew conducted routine operations, and rested. The main Airlock door was secured because of the high winds.
• WATER USE: 12.87
• Water: 378.52 gallons
• Static tank pipe heater: On
• Static tank heater: On
• Toilet tank emptied: No

Summary of internet: Hughes Net was used during the day before the opening of COMMS for email purposes, and Starlink (MDRSCampus-Guest) is used during COMMS. MDRScampus is used for experimental purpose. Moreover, today the MDRSCampus-Guest is available to help us in case it is required for medical reasons.

Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report.

Summary of GreenHab operations: The Crew botanist conducted routine operations.
• WATER USE: 9.51 gallons
• Heater: On
• Supplemental light: No
• Harvest: 81 g of greens

Summary of ScienceDome operations: No operations were conducted in the ScienceDome.
• Dual split: Heat / From 10 pm to 7 am

Summary of RAM operations: No operations were conducted in the RAM today.

Summary of any observatory issues: The robotic observatory is non-nominal.

Summary of health and safety issues: None.

Questions, concerns, and requests to Mission Support: None.

Posted on

Sol Summary Report – March 5th

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 05Mar2023

Sol: 21

Summary Title: Sunday Slumber

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

With the high winds, we decided to limit our EVA to changing the batteries and retrieving the data of the atmospheric instruments. The weather bothered the two EVA crewmembers, but they still managed to conduct all the operations required. Onsite, they noticed that the LOAC and the Mega-Ares were both off. Apparently, the LOAC stopped working after being turned on during the last EVA, while the Mega-Ares worked for about 40 hours before it was out of battery. We are currently inspecting what may have caused the dysfunction of the LOAC.

It was definitely a strange Sunday. While they are usually dedicated to getting some rest and cleaning the Hab, this time we had to get back on track with all the activities that have been delayed due to the medical event of Friday night. The good point is that the station had already been fully cleaned prior to the arrival of the journalists on Friday.

Unfortunately, the weather was also too windy for astronomy activities to be conducted. The afternoon was then dedicated to other activities: some crewmembers watched a movie, while others did some physical activity, and others took a nap. We finally took some time to do some data processing and to train with AI4U, an AI tool aimed at assisting the astronauts in their daily tasks.

Look Ahead Plan:

All the EVAs involving the injured crewmember have been cancelled until the end of the simulation. The optimistic plan is to see the surgeon as early as tomorrow (Sol 22), so that they can potentially have surgery on Tuesday (Sol 23). We will know more about this plan when we can call the surgeon tomorrow at 9:00. We will make sure to keep close contact with Mission Support, to communicate all the information that may be relevant to the health of this crewmember as well as to the continuation of the simulation. So far, we plan to use the CrewCar to proceed with the transport of the injured crewmember.

Tomorrow, we are also planning to do the photogrammetry EVA that had to be postponed following the medical event of Friday evening. We will take this opportunity to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments, since they apparently have problems lasting even 48 hours.

A media visit is planned for next Tuesday (Sol 23) with a crew from France Televisions. They will arrive at 9am and depart at 5pm.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Windy, low 2°C/36°F, high 12°C/54°F.

Crew Physical Status: One crewmember injured (broken collarbone / clavicula), awaiting appointment with a surgeon early next week (Sol 22) in Richfield.

EVA: EVA # 17 was successfully performed, even though some anomalies were observed onsite.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, EVA Request, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, HSO Report.

Support Requested: None.

Posted on

Journalist Report – March 4th

Sol 20 – Safety first

“The sail fluttered down, folding unto itself, sighing. The ship stopped. The wind stopped. Travel stopped. Mars stood still as the majestic vessels of the Martians drew around and hesitated over him.”
– Chapter 20 of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Writing a journalist’s report with my right arm in a brace and sling isn’t easy…
Last night, I fell in the Upper Deck of the Hab and broke my collarbone. Although I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what happened, I know that things would have been radically different if the crew and Mission Support had not reacted the way they did: calmly, efficiently and with great care.
The crew truly worked like a dream, Quentin even said it looked like a ballet from afar.
Our Health and Safety Officer, Corentin, and I took a short trip to Earth during the night on an ambulance-starship to go to the hospital, and get my clavicula and shoulder examined. I’m fine, although exhausted and feeling somewhat responsible for disrupting the mission’s plotted course.
As Jérémy and Alice took us back to the Hab, our spirits were lifted by the breathtaking Martian landscapes we went through to return to MDRS. Adrien, Alexandre and Quentin welcomed us back to the MDRS, with anxious smiles, delicious blueberry pancakes, and cookies.
The afternoon was dedicated to resting, as most crewmembers had gotten very little sleep. We’re ready to get back to our daily activities as of tomorrow!
It feels very reassuring to be all together again at the MDRS after twelve very uncertain hours. Although we were all very shaken, I am amazed by our crew’s resilience and high spirits. Words cannot express how thankful I am to be a part of this team.

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