Crew Photos – April 27th
Sol Summary – April 27th
Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 27-04-2023
Sol: 11
Summary title: The Final Countdown: Earth is in sight
Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.
Mission status: Nominal
Sol activity summary:
Yesterday, at the stroke of midnight, the Hypatia I crew sang “Happy Birthday” to Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Commander and Astronomer). Mariona was not expecting this surprise, so she was moved by the thoughtfulness of her fellow crew members. Today, the birthday festivities will continue at night, when the crew will cook one of Mariona’s favorite dishes from Earth: pasta with pesto, and a homemade apple crumble for dessert –a much-awaited feast on Mars.
During the day, the crew has been busy with various activities. Two EVAs took place at Robert’s Rock Garden, where different teams participated in a Martian navigation exercise, designed by Ariadna Farrés (Scientist and HSO) in collaboration with Cesca Cufí (Engineer). Back in the habitat, everyone started to pack up their experiments and equipment in preparation for their imminent return to Earth.
As the mission is coming to an end, Hypatia I look back on the past two weeks with immense pride and satisfaction. The opportunity to conduct Martian-related research in a simulation environment has been a unique experience that has taught the crew invaluable lessons, particularly about teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance.
Upon their return to Earth, the crew will embark on their next mission: to share the results of their scientific research with the general public, and to promote STEAM vocations among the next generation. Their ultimate goal is to pass the torch to a second Hypatia crew –one that can carry on their legacy and work, both on Mars and beyond.
Look ahead plan: We will enjoy a Martian morning before flying back to the Earth after lunch. There will be no EVA tomorrow.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Sunny. Low 38F/High 66F.
Crew physical status: Nominal.
EVA: There were two EVAs to Roberts Rock Garden (see EVA Report).
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.
Support Requested: None.
Operations Report – April 27th
Crew 280 Operations Report 27-04-2023
SOL: 11
Name of person filing report: Cesca Cufi Prat (Crew Engineer)
Non-nominal systems:
Robotic Observatory
Notes on non-nominal systems: Replacement parts of Robotic observatory are scheduled to be installed during crew 261 rotation.
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 220.1
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 84%
Currently charging: no
Opportunity rover used: yes
Hours: 122.4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 84%
Currently charging: yes
Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 232.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 86%
Currently charging: yes
Perseverance rover used: yes
Hours: 262.4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 68%
Currently charging: no
General notes on rovers: none
Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: 20.4 gal (from 6PM Sol9 to 6PM Sol10)
Water (static tank): 244.2 gal (at 6:00PM)
Static tank pipe heater: off
Static tank heater: off
Toilet tank emptied: no
Summary of internet: used from 18:00 to 21:00 for personal communication and reports.
Summary of suits and radios:
Suits: 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8.
Radios: nominal
All radio and spacesuit batteries checked before EVA: Yes. All nominal.
Summary of GreenHab operations: a mouse was found in the cage. Mission Support came to pick it up.
WATER USE: 14 gallons (+1 gallon for Science Dome)
Heater: Off
Supplemental light: Off
Harvest: 159 g tomatoes, 15 g micro beet greens, 104 g salad mix sprouts (from crew)
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Laia Ribas, Neus Sabaté and Cesca Cufí have performed the last activities of their experiments and started dismounting the setups.
Dual split: Heat or AC, Off
Summary of RAM operations: none
Summary of any observatory issues:
Robotic observatory: Not working. Replacement parts are scheduled to be installed during crew 261 rotation.
Summary of health and safety issues: none
Summary of other system’s issues: none
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:
Questions: none
Requests:
Kitchen: knobs replacement – expected this week
Journalist Report – April 27th
Crew 280 Journalist Report 27-04-2023
Author: Núria Jar, Crew Journalist
Journalist report – SOL 11
Hypatia I – Crew 280
Núria Jar, Crew Journalist
Today is a special day on Mars. The Crew Commander of Hypatia I, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, is celebrating her birthday. Curiously, she is the youngest member of the crew, although she is leading a female-led mission to the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS). She is an inspiration for the next generation of space explorers, especially for young girls who are interested in pursuing STEM-related careers.
Hypatia I is preparing a special dinner for tonight. Pasta with pesto is a tasty pleasure from Earth that will satisfy all the crew members. They will also bake a homemade cake to celebrate that Mariona has completed another orbit around the Sun, but from Mars.
The crew members are enjoying the last hours at the base, as well as the last extravehicular activity (EVA), the last dinner, the last sprouts from the GreenHab, the last dehydrated food from the provisions, the last shower… They will miss their lives on Mars. It’s not easy to leave behind an experience that has been so life-changing and memorable.
Actually, they are wrapping up all their experiments to prepare for their return home, where they will share all their findings and results with the general public. In addition to their research, they have also gained personal learnings that they will take with them.
By the way, Hypatia I is making the most of their last few hours at the MDRS by engaging in some leisure activities. The Crew Scientist, Ariadna Farrés Basiana, in collaboration with the Crew Engineer, Cesca Cufí i Prat, designed a Martian navigation exercise that proved to be quite challenging and left the crew exhausted.
The Crew Commander, Mariona Badenas-Agustí, and the Crew Journalist, Núria Jar, drove to Roberts Rock Garden with the Perseverance rover. What made this moment even more special was that Badenas-Agustí and Jar first met at an interview at the Catalan public radio station, Catalunya Ràdio, to talk about Mars when the rover landed on the Martian surface.
GreenHab Report – April 27th
Crew 280 Green Hab Report 27-04-2023
SOL 11 Greenhab Report
GreenHab Officer: Laia Ribas
Environmental control: Open during the day and heater during the night
Temperatures: 85.7 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 14 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 1 gallon
Water in Blue Tank: 49 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 08.00, 18:00 h
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative:
The general watering of plants and crops was done. The door was open in the morning until 16.00 when closed due to high wind. The temperature was very high 95.7F at 14.00h. A small mouse was found in the GreenHab and Mission Support released it.
Harvest: 159 g tomatoes, 15 g micro beet greens.
104 g of Salad Mix sprouts belonging to the project named “Seed for the Crew” led by the Green Hab Officer was harvested. These seeds are growing in an independent box with wet tissue paper.
Support/supplies needed.
EVA Report – April 27th
Crew 280 EVA Report 27-04-2023
EVA #11
Author: Ariadna Farres (HSO & Scientist)
The EVA had one goal:
Navigation exercise (aka. “Rescue Googly Mission”). Ariadna Farrés (Crew Scientist & HSO) and Cesca Cufi (Engineer) designed a treasure hunt competition for the Hypatia I crew. The crew was divided into two groups with the goal of finding 4 beacons and a final treasure in the shortest amount of time.
The first group was formed by Neus Sabate (Mission Specialist) and Laia Ribas (Green Hab Officer & Biologist) who performed the navigation exercise while Arianda Farres (HSO & Scientist) was supervising.
Start time: 9:35 AM
End time: 11:05 PM
Narrative:
This morning the first group was given the instructions for this navigation exercise, which consisted of two maps (one of the Hill at 518800E 4249100N, and the other of the entrance to Roberts Garden at 518400E 4249200N) and a pdf file with the instructions for the navigation challenge (see pdf attachment).
After performing 5 minutes of depressurization in the front airlock, the EVA team took Opportunity and Spirit rovers and headed towards Robert’s Rock Garden. Once they arrived there and parked in the designated area the time started to count. The team had to perform 3 different tasks:
Establish communications with the base from a designated area.
Head to 518800E 4249100N (which we called Hippo Hill) and find 4 beacons around the Hill
Get back to the parking area and rescue Googly (our cactus friend) that was hidden inside a small cave.
The group formed by Neus Sabate and Laia Ribas completed the three tasks in 38 min. After taking a couple of pictures to immortalize the moment the EVA crew headed back to the base. At 11:05 AM the team returned to the MDRS, before entering the Hab, they followed the 5-minutes pressurization protocol.
Destination: Roberts Rock Garden
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518000 E, 4249000 N
EVA participants: 3: Neus Sabate (Mission Specialist) (EVA Leader), Laia Ribas (Green Hab Officer & Biologist) and Ariadna Farres (HSO & Scientist).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110.
Mode of travel: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110 to Robert’s Rock Garden then walking around no farther than 1000 meters for sampling.
EVA #12
Author: Ariadna Farres (HSO & Scientist)
The EVA had one goal:
Navigation exercise (aka. “Rescue Googly Mission”). Ariadna Farrés (Crew Scientist & HSO) and Cesca Cufi (Engineer) designed a treasure hunt competition for the Hypatia I crew. The crew was divided into two groups with the goal of finding 4 beacons and a final treasure in the shortest amount of time.
The second group was formed by Mariona Badenas (Commander & Astronomer), Carla Conejo (Executive Officer & Biologist), Núria Jar (Crew Journalist) who performed the navigation exercise while Cesca Cufi (Crew Engineer) was supervising.
Start time: 3:05 AM
End time: 4:05 PM
Narrative:
This morning the first group was given the instructions for this navigation exercise, which consisted of two maps (one of the Hill at 518800E 4249100N, and the other of the entrance to Roberts Garden at 518400E 4249200N) and a pdf file with the instructions for the navigation challenge (see pdf attachment on EVA#11 Report).
After performing 5 minutes of depressurization in the front airlock, the EVA team took Perseverance and Spirit rovers and headed towards Robert’s Rock Garden. Once they arrived there and parked in the designated area the time started to count. The team had to perform 3 different tasks:
Establish communications with the base from a designated area.
Head to 518800E 4249100N (which we called Hippo Hill) and find 4 beacons around the Hill
Get back to the parking area and rescue Googly (our cactus friend) that was hidden inside a small cave.
The group formed by Mariona Badenas, Carla Conejo and Núria Jar completed the three tasks in 31 min. After taking a couple of pictures to immortalize the moment the EVA crew headed back to the base. At 4:05 PM the team returned to the MDRS, before entering the Hab, they followed the 5-minutes pressurization protocol.
Destination: Roberts Rock Garden
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518000 E, 4249000 N
EVA participants: 4: Mariona Badenas (Commander & Astronomer) (EVA Leader), Carla Conejo (Executive Officer & Biologist), Núria Jar (Crew Journalist) and Cesca Cufi (Crew Engineer).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110.
Mode of travel: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110 to Robert’s Rock Garden then walking around no farther than 1000 meters for sampling.
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