Day: November 19, 2023

Nov 16

Journalist Report 16-11-2023 Crew 286 by Liz Cole

SOL: 4

The morning began with Crew Documentarian capturing the beautiful Martian sunrise from the observatory once the clouds parted.

Just after 9 AM we welcomed our visiting photojournalists, Andrea and Caleb, who will be with us for four nights.

In the science dome, the Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 purple bacteria are growing well. Samples were taken and tested, and turbidity (measurable optical density) increased in all 5 photobioreactor bags, on average from .12 to .25., an approximate doubling in 12 hours. This is a good sign for the future of space food production. Samples were taken one for each bag, separated into pellets in a centrifuge, and stored in minus 20 degrees celsius.

In other positive news, a shipment of Rhodospirillum rubrum SH1 inocula arrived. Looking ahead to the week’s progress with the experiment, the plan is for the Rhodospirillum rubrum SH1 to be inoculated in 5 photobioreactor bags, and fed freshly generated hydrogen.

Our Crew Commander started plaster mold creation in the RAM, with the intention of demonstrating the use of in-situ resources (local gypsum for plaster), in support of metal component casting.

Afternoon:

As we now have eight people in the habitat, we were able to include four people in today’s EVA 4. All four astronauts suited up quickly with help from the Crew Commander and XO and exited the airlock on time.

The first phase of the EVA involved washing the exterior windows on the habitat and the science dome. The XO prepared a washing setup that would be appropriate for the challenges working in spacesuits and gloves in Martian gravity using available components in the habitat, including an extra – long squeegee and pole system, and a squeeze bottle of washing fluid. Our crew Artist and Inventor added fabric to the pole to wipe off heavy amounts of dirt and residue.

As expected, the sim suits and helmets made moving the squeegee over the high window of the Hab difficult. The astronaut moving the squeegee had limited visibility due to difficulties with tilting his head back while in the suit and helmet. This made window washing into a two person job requiring good communication. One astronaut moved the long squeegee, while the other observed from far enough away to observe the cleanliness of the window, and provided feedback and directions. Our improved radio communications skills from yesterday’s scenarios helped this process immensely. The windows of the Science Dome being at ground level were much easier to clean.

Following the cleaning, the EVA crew split into two groups. Crew Artist and Inventor and Crew Journalist began LIDAR scanning geological features and taking soil samples along a stream bed to the east of the science dome. The samples were geotagged with GPS coordinates. The soil samples will be processed into 3D printed objects intended for durability and ecologically minded disposability, using a 3D plotter/printer designed and built by Crew Artist and Inventor (Mandelbot Ecotech SURFA2 Goostruder). Some of the objects created from the collected samples will include planters for the Green Hab.

Crew Scientist and Crew Documentarian walked to the north of the observatory dome and conducted a memorial service for founding member of the Belgian Mars Society, Étienne Lefebvre, who passed away recently. Our Crew Scientist was personally acquainted with Étienne Lefebvre, and the memorial service was a touching gesture.

During the EVA, the visiting photographers documented the activities from within the habitat, the science dome, and observatory dome area.

Evening:
Dinner was the mission’s first group meal prepared Martian – style. All courses were cooked using mostly freeze dried ingredients and dehydrated shelf – stable ingredients provided in the HAB.

Journalist Report 15-11-2023 Crew 286 by Liz Cole

SOL: 3

Morning:

The bacterial growth experiment started in the science lab early in the morning.

Over the crew’s morning meeting, we reviewed yesterday’s activities, stated what we wished to accomplish today, and began planning the day’s activities.

Following breakfast we reviewed videos on the EVA communications protocol. The crew members who have knowledge of and working experience with radio communications protocols such as are used in military, fire, aviation and law enforcement gave a thorough review to the rest of the crew, including points on vocabulary and proper operational behavior for radio communications in the field.

Afternoon:

After lunch the crew divided into two teams and enacted different scenarios of issues that EVA crews might encounter in the field. Taking positions in the science dome and the observatory, crew members alternated positions as EVA team members, EVA leaders, CapCom, and Missions Support, and improvised scenarios over live radio that demonstrated appropriate radio communication protocols for nominal circumstances and problem scenarios. These exercises prioritized clear communication and brevity. Overall the crew enjoyed engaging in these exercises and concluded them with enhanced knowledge of proper communication protocols.

Evening:
Our crew scientist successfully took his first bacterial samples from the bag photobioreactors where the purple bacteria are being grown. More hydrogen gas was produced from the water electrolysis system the crew scientist set up, which will be used as an electron source for the growth of the bacteria. The photobioreactors are an exciting proof of concept of the possibility of mass-production of space food in altered gravity, as well as in terrestrial applications.

We then planned EVAs for the next day, and continued work on our projects to be attempted and completed during the rest of the mission. We also discussed how to receive video from the planned Starship launch later in the week.

Sol 05 Journalist Report 17-NOV-2023

Nov 17

Morning:

In the science dome, the Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 purple bacteria continue to grow at a good pace as indicated by increases in turbidity. Their numbers have essentially doubled in the past 24 hours. The shipment of Rhodospirillum rubrum SH1 inocula that arrived on Sol 4 were prepared to be put into their own photobioreactor bags and fed freshly generated hydrogen.

In the RAM, plaster mold fabrication continued with clean-up of the first half cast yesterday.

Afternoon:

Yesterday’s coordination exercises required communicating between our visiting photographers who did not yet have radios, capcom, mission support and the astronauts. The communication process in the end worked out very well, and the desired tasks on the EVA were successfully completed on time. Yesterday proved to be good training for today’s afternoon EVA. EVA 5 began with us escorting the visiting photojournalists, Andrea and Caleb, on their first EVA to Marble Ritual. After completing radio training with Andrea and Caleb, Raj and Lizzie suited up and drove two rovers north on Cow Dung Road to Marble Ritual with Andrea and Caleb. The team conducted a photography session as the astronauts climbed the stunningly colored dunes in the landscape of Marble Ritual in the late afternoon light. The photography session and the climb went well without incident, aside from the temporary loss of two head coverings. The team located these items after briefly retracing their steps from the rover. The team returned to the habitat and captured additional photos in the vicinity of the Observatory, before returning to base on time.

Evening:

Over dinner we discuss logistics for the planned EVAs for the coming few days.