Month: April 2023

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Sol Summary – April 5th

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 4-5-23

Sol: 3

Summary Title: When the experiments come out of the box

Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin – Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

The day started well with a good smell of pancakes to wake us up after our evening team building on Sol 2. We made small games in order to reinforce the group spirit. The excitement to start the day was at its peak. It’s the big day to start the EVA experiments after the 2 training sessions. We did our first EVA of 3 hours to work on our experiment. It took place around the MDRS and we had 2 objectives for the expedition. Two members of the crew were working on the crew scientist experiment which consists in measuring the radiation with a scintillator at different predefined points. The rest of the group was working on a 3D mapping of the base with a drone for the GreenHab Officer experiment.
The first 3D printer tests in the RAM were a success. This marks the beginning of the astronomer’s experiment using the printer.
The rest of the crew continued to work on the experiments already underway in the base.
Look Ahead Plan:

In Sol 4 we will take an EVA to Kissing Kamel Ridge W and White Rock Canyon to perform a low-level mapping of the area with the drone. Augustin and Thomas will be able to start linking their experiments and matching the radiation measurements with the 3D mapping to create an interactive view.

Anomalies in work:
A headset needs to be repaired
Weather: Sunny and cold, low -3°C/27°F, high 8°C/46°F
Crew Physical Status: Optimal
EVA: See above
Reports to be file: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, Astronomer report

Support Requested: None at this time.

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Operations Report – April 5th

Crew 279 Operations Report 05-04-2023

SOL: 3

Name of person filing report: Ioana Dimitrova

Non-nominal systems: robotic observatory and suit number 8

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Robotic observatory: awaiting for a solution from the manufacturer

Suit number 8: Problem is being assessed by crew engineer (details in Summary of suits and radios)

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: no

Hours: 213.9

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no

Hours: 119.7

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: no

Hours: 226.9

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover used: no

Hours: 260.1

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

General notes on rovers: none

Summary of Hab operations: Music influence on stress experiment was conducted. Planning of all menus for all Sols to quantify correctly.

WATER USE: 9,77

Water (static tank): 422,6

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off

Static tank heater (On or off): off

Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: used from 14:00 to 21:00 for experiments and reports

Summary of suits and radios:

Following yesterday’s problems with helmet fogging up on Suit 8, Engineer tested voltage every 20 min, here are the results:

time

20 min

40 min

60 min

80 min

100 min

120 min

Voltage

13,6 V

13V

12,89 V

12,7 V

2,93 V

2,1V (left ventilator turned off)

The EVA’s could last 3h, so it is not normal to have this kind of power loss at one hour and 40 min. I think the battery needs changing. The suit will not be used until a solution is found for changing the battery.

Radios charging nominal. Headset number 5 plastic headband got detached from earphone during EVA, the plastic bond broke. Comms still worked, we were still able to communicate. Engineer reattached the two parts with superglue in the afternoon and the headset is now entirely functional.

WATER USE: 10.5

Heater: Off

Supplemental light: Off

Harvest: none

Summary of ScienceDome operations : 3D printer reconstruction finished. Bacteria was put in liquid environment culture to be able to be exposed to another environment soon.

Dual split: Heat or AC, Off

Summary of RAM operations: 3D printer tested and print of other test parts will be started tonight. Headset number 5 fixed in the RAM.

Summary of any observatory issues: see above for robotic observatory. Solar observatory not used for cloudy skies. The New Mexico observatory was not open so we got black pictures. See observatory report for more details.

Summary of health and safety issues: none

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

Is it normal that when you ignite the stove in the Hab kitchen only on one stovetop, the other stovetops also give out a spark?

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GreenHab Report – April 5th

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 05-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet
Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night
Average temperatures: 69.1 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 10.5 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A
Water in Blue Tank: 159.7 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 08:00, 17:30
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative: General watering and maintenance of plants and crops was done, no new planting was performed. The door was left closed all day due to the low sunlight. The GreenHab has been cleaned of the sand carried by the wind since yesterday. Another mouse has been caught last night, it could be the same as the previous one, so it will be released much further from the station this time. The mouse trap will be reinstalled this evening.
Harvest: N/A
Support/supplies needed: N/A

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EVA Report – April 5th

CREW 279 – Journalist Report – 05APR2023

Journalist Report – Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL 3: Mapping and radiation

This morning we had the chance to eat delicious pancakes with fruit and syrup! A real happiness to start the day!

The training ‘s EVA are over, we can get down to business. Two experiments were able to progress this morning.
The first one was our Crew scientist’s experiment. Thomas could start to take measurements of the radiation of the ground with his scintillator. With this instrument, he is looking for gamma emitting isotopes. He made a grid of points all around the base and he must go to every point and measure to complete his grid with data.

With his drone, Augustin started the mapping of the station. He was able to test two software programs to take images to see which one was best suited to the situation and the terrain. He then rendered these images in 3D via a process on another software.

After a long EVA, our 4 explorers were welcomed with a good plate of mac and cheese! A good way to refuel!

The afternoon was again reserved for personal experiments, Agnes was able to carefully select her colonies of bacteria, 6 colonies of each strain, which she put in a liquid culture medium before separating them into two groups.

The 3D printer is functional! We will be able to start printing tomorrow morning!

Unfortunately, the sun was not shining, and we could not observe it today, we cross our fingers to be able to see it soon.

In the evening each of us prepares his report to be ready to send it at 7 pm.
Ioana, our engineer, must check a series of measures for the good functioning of the station: water measurement, check of the walkie-talkies and the suits, management of the toilet…

Tonight, the kitchen team of the day will prepare a delicious omelet! After this good meal, the team will meet to share a board game all together to close the day.

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Journalist Report – April 5th

CREW 279 – Journalist Report – 05APR2023

Journalist Report – Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL 3: Mapping and radiation

This morning we had the chance to eat delicious pancakes with fruit and syrup! A real happiness to start the day!

The training ‘s EVA are over, we can get down to business. Two experiments were able to progress this morning.
The first one was our Crew scientist’s experiment. Thomas could start to take measurements of the radiation of the ground with his scintillator. With this instrument, he is looking for gamma emitting isotopes. He made a grid of points all around the base and he must go to every point and measure to complete his grid with data.

With his drone, Augustin started the mapping of the station. He was able to test two software programs to take images to see which one was best suited to the situation and the terrain. He then rendered these images in 3D via a process on another software.

After a long EVA, our 4 explorers were welcomed with a good plate of mac and cheese! A good way to refuel!

The afternoon was again reserved for personal experiments, Agnes was able to carefully select her colonies of bacteria, 6 colonies of each strain, which she put in a liquid culture medium before separating them into two groups.

The 3D printer is functional! We will be able to start printing tomorrow morning!

Unfortunately, the sun was not shining, and we could not observe it today, we cross our fingers to be able to see it soon.

In the evening each of us prepares his report to be ready to send it at 7 pm.
Ioana, our engineer, must check a series of measures for the good functioning of the station: water measurement, check of the walkie-talkies and the suits, management of the toilet…

Tonight, the kitchen team of the day will prepare a delicious omelet! After this good meal, the team will meet to share a board game all together to close the day.

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EVA Report – April 4th

Crew 279 EVA Report 04-04-2023
EVA #02
Author: Antoine de Barquin Crew Commander
Purpose of EVA: Training EVA + communication test with crew members and with the hab.
Start time: 9:00
End time: 10:28
Narrative:
This EVA was also the first for the rest of the crew and was therefore also used as training. The EVA area was Marble Ritual as the day before. The objective was to learn how to correctly perform the EVA which includes several exercises such as the depressurization process, driving the rovers, radio communication and EVA end report. And on the other hand, to test different means of communication such as the designation of an object in the distance to show a direction and the language of the signs used in diving.
The crew scientist took advantage of the mobility exercises in wetsuit to deposit a dosimeter useful for his experience.
The crew finally decided to come back to the rover and start the return to the base at 10:10 am after having explored the area well. The reports were well done before entering the decompression chamber and the crew came back in time.
Destination: Marble Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 519000 E ,4250500 N
Participants: 4: Antoine (Commander) (EVA Leader), Aglaé (Journalist), Ttele (HSO), Thomas (Scientist).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110
Mode of travel: First drive of Rover with spacesuits and accommodation with maneuver to the Marble Ritual then walk around no farther than 200 meters for communication check.

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Operations Report – April 4th

Crew 279 Operations Report 04-04-2023
SOL: 2
Name of person filing report: Ioana Dimitrova
Non-nominal systems: robotic observatory and suit number 8
Notes on non-nominal systems: Robotic observatory: awaiting for a solution from the manufacturer
Suit number 8: Problem is being assessed by crew engineer (details in Summary of suits and radios)

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: YES
Hours: 213.9
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 87%
Currently charging: YES
Opportunity rover used: YES
Hours: 119.7
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 89%
Currently charging: YES
Curiosity rover used: no
Hours: 226.8
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
Perseverance rover used: no
Hours: 260.1
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
General notes on rovers: none
Summary of Hab operations: Music influence on stress experiment was conducted. Teamwork exercise.
WATER USE: 52.28 (see note below)
Water (static tank): 432.37
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off
Static tank heater (On or off): off
Toilet tank emptied: no
Summary of internet: used from 14:00 to 21:00 for experiments and reports
Summary of suits and radios:
EVA crew reported a bit of fog forming in suit number 8 during EVA, not enough for the EVA to be dangerous or to be aborted. After testing, we noticed the suit ventilator’s airflow becomes less strong more rapidly than the others. The voltage of the battery also goes down quicker than the other two suits (suit type: helmet and suit combined type). The problem does not seem to be severe as the ventilator still works and clears the fog out but in a less optimal way than others. We suspect the battery is losing its condition. We will opt for other suits on the next EVA awaiting a repair on this one.
Radios charging nominal. Headset number 5 was replaced and labeled. It was tested and worked nominal, ready to use for the next EVA. Malfunctioning headset is in the RAM.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
WATER USE: 12.6
Heater: Off
Supplemental light: Off
Harvest: none
Summary of ScienceDome operations: extremophiles were put in culture again because of contamination. EVA communication training. 3D printer reconstruction.
Dual split: Heat or AC, Off
Summary of RAM operations: no activity
Summary of any observatory issues: see above + cloudy weather and high winds so cupola was not opened
Summary of health and safety issues: none
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:
A smell was detected on the lower deck. We located the smell coming from above the airlock that leads to the other parts of the station. We checked to see if the smell was coming from gas with the gas detector but the gas detector did not detect anything. We then tried touching and observing to see if there were any burnt cables or plastic caused eventually by a short circuit. After that, we called Mission Support who responded that this smell could occur, coming from the exhaust of the water heater when there are high winds.

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GreenHab Report – April 4th

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 04-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet
Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night
Average temperatures: 62.2 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 12.6 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A
Water in Blue Tank: 160.2 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 06:15, 18:00
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative: As part of the day-to-day activities of the GreenHab, general watering and maintenance of plants and crops was done, no new planting was performed. The door was left closed all day due to the strong wind and low sunlight.
Harvest: N/A
Support/supplies needed: N/A

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Journalist Report – April 4th

CREW279 – Journalist Report 04APR2023

Journalist Report : Aglaé Sacré, crew journalist
SOL2: Surviving Mars temperature

Second day on the planet Mars!
This morning, we had a breakfast based on freeze-dried fruits! A real treat!
The other half of the crew went to discover the Martian lands in very cold temperatures, it is sure, we are on Mars.

After discovering the surroundings, Thomas, our scientist, started his experiment with Be.Sure, which consists in measuring the radiation doses received, so he buried his dosimeter which will serve as a reference. Each of us also wears a passive dosimeter to be able to process all the data at the end of the experiment.

Short lunch break, today Agnès and Ioana have been busy preparing bread for us! A real success with a superb soup!

After having eaten well, our commander and our astronomer gave us a course of communication to help with the next EVA, in a first time we learned to direct ourselves with simple signals by pointing at a point and by giving its distance. We also learned some simple signals from the diving techniques.

This afternoon the experiments are fully launched, what a joy to be able to work with such a view! Agnes has started to cultivate her extremophiles, they have already found their place on the planet Mars, they are ready to take up the challenge of surviving under the environmental conditions of the red planet. Thank you to BCCM for helping with this incredible biological experiment.

After dinner, our safety and health officer proposed a little team building at the beginning of the mission in order to spend a nice moment all together! A nice evening to end this SOL 2.

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