November 24, 2023 – Page 2 – Mars Desert Research Station

November 24, 2023

Sol Summary – November 19th

Crew 286 Sol 07 Summary Report 19-NOV-2023

Sol: 07

Summary Title: “Rainy Mid-Mission Report Day.”

Author’s name: Roger Gilbertson

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Rain fell on and off throughout the night, causing the cancellation of both morning and afternoon planned EVAs. We performed interior tasks, monitoring bacterial growth, GreenHab work, and preparing and collating our Mid-Mission reports.

Look Ahead Plan: The science program will continue to monitor bacterial growth. Plaster mold preparation continues for test metal casting, as well as processing of LIDAR scans, photography and videography.

We will continue to monitor weather and surface conditions in hopes of revising our EVA proposals. Our visiting New York Times photojournalists plan to depart tomorrow morning, Sol 8.

Anomalies in work: none
Weather: rainy

Crew Physical Status: nominal

EVA: none

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist report, Photos, Operations report, Green Hab report, EVA 7 request, Mid-mission report.

Support Requested: none

November 24, 2023

Sol Summary – November 21st

Crew 286 Sol 08 Summary Report 20-NOV-2023

Sol: 08

Summary Title: “A Fine Day Sampling Mars.”

Author’s name: Roger Gilbertson

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: This morning’s EVA #8 to collect samples from three locations went smoothly. We prepared efficiently and exited the airlock at the planned time, driving out of the campus and south on Cow Dung Road. Gee used the iPhone GPS and directed us to stop on the road near the coordinates provided by the previous researchers. We trekked eastward, and located each sampling position with relative ease. The locations where the first two samples were previously collected appeared clearly on the ground, having only received minor erosion and filling in since their April sampling. The third sample, been in a stream bed, were not apparent, but we took samples at the indicated coordinates. At each location we collected and labeled samples, and photographed each before and after digging.

We returned to the vehicles with an hour remaining, and asked for a time extension so that filmmaker Hugo could continue to film content for his documentary, including shots taken by him standing at the roadside and filming as we drove past in the rovers. We continued northwards until we filmed rovers entering the campus, and astronauts entering the airlock.

We have cleaned both floors of the mud which entered after the rains. Science sampling continued, the purple bacteria continues to show steady growth. The second half of the metal casting mold was dried and trimmed. Then both halves were joined, and the first bismuth casting performed. It was removed from the mold successfully, and a second casting was performed prior to this report. Time permitting, a third cast will be made this evening, and then the three pieces can be assembled tomorrow into the final structure. Drone test flights were successfully performed in the tunnel between the habitat and RAM, in preparation for tomorrow’s EVA.

SOL 9 PLAN: Morning EVA #9, Afternoon EVA #10, completion of science and metal casting projects, begin drafting our Final Mission Report.

SOL 10 PLAN (Thursday, last full day of sim): The science program will continue to monitor bacterial growth. Plans have been made for our final sols, including our Thanksgiving dinner. Our EVA 10 proposal is in development and proposes three crew members driving the MASH vehicle southwards, parking at the Barrainca Butte road, then conducting a 2-person walking EVA in the vicinity with CapCom operating in the MASH. The EVA walkers will conduct comms test from nearby hilltops to hopefully reach the stations via the CH1 repeater, then return to the MASH vehicle. After a rest and recharge, a second brief demonstration EVA may be conducted before returning to the habitat. We estimate the entire excursion to be about 4 hours from exit to return. Then we will complete our Final Mission Report, and celebrate with a martian Thanksgiving dinner.

EXIT PLAN: At present we plan to exit sim after waking Friday morning. We will clean, inventory, pack, and load the Crew Car. Then, as time allows, we would like to borrow the Habitat Car and conduct an out-of-sim drive to the Special Area to the north. We will return to campus by 4 PM, then depart in the Crew Car for Grand Junction.

Anomalies in work: none
Weather: sunny

Crew Physical Status: nominal

EVA: EVA 8 completed, request for EVA 9 and EVA 10 submitted, EVA 11 outlined above

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist report, Photos, Operations report, Green Hab report, EVA 8 report, EVA 9 and 10 requests.

Support Requested: none

November 24, 2023

Journalist Report – November 21st

Sol 09 Journalist Report 21-NOV-2023

Liz Cole

The morning began with planning EVAs for the last few days of our mission.

The day’s only EVA ventured south of the MDRS campus to collect samples of three different kinds of soils from three locations, for use in a substrate comparison experiment for plant growth. MDRS 261 mission crew member Cécile Renauld began this work, and soil collection is meant to support the furthering of her experiments at the University of Mons in Belgium.

Roger Gilbertson (Crew Commander), Guillaume Gégo (Crew Scientist) and Hugo Saugier (Crew Documentary Filmmaker) used GPS coordinates provided by the previous researchers to find the location for collecting soil. The locations where the first two samples were previously collected were easy to visually identify as only minor erosion and filling in had occurred since the MDRS 261 crew took their samples at this site in April. The third sample had been taken from a stream bed and so was not as easy to identify visually. At each location the astronauts collected and labeled samples, and photographed each before and after digging.

The geologic features provided a great opportunity for Hugo to record content for his documentary. The stunning views and vistas south on Cow Dung road provided a great opportunity for filming the other astronauts traversing the landscape in rovers.

Roger continues his work on making plaster molds for medium complexity metal castings. The second half of the metal casting mold was dried and trimmed. Then both halves were joined, and the first bismuth casting performed. It was removed from the mold successfully, and a second casting was performed.

Liz Cole and Scott Beibin practiced flying a DJI Avata drone in the tunnels between the RAM and the Observatory in advance of taking the drone out on EVA to capture the campus.

In the Green Hab, Donald "Duckie" Jacques (Crew Executive Officer and Green Hab Officer) planted kale and transplanted peas. With the amount of sprouts rising from his planting work, he hopes to have a small harvest for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Crew Scientist Guillaume Gégo dried yesterday’s harvest of spirulina in the oven at 75 celsius, to measure the dry weight of the mass of spirulina growing in the bioreactor.

We got a head start on cleaning the mud from the recent rains out of the HAB, in preparation for the deep clean before departure.

November 24, 2023

GreenHab Report – November 21st

Crew 286 GreenHab Report 21-11-2023

SOL: 9

GreenHab Officer: Donald "Duckie" Jacques

Environmental control: Heater on, fan off, door closed

Average temperatures: 65 F at 6:30 am, 98 F at 10:30 am

Hours of supplemental light: Timer scheduled for 10 pm – 2 am for 4 hours

Daily water usage for crops: 4 gallons

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

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 160.6 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 1 gallon for transplanted items at 11 am, 3 gallons for all at 5 pm.

Changes to crops: Tan planter formerly housing peas received Kale. Peas were transplanted into blue tub with cucumber, and also into 3 black pots. (Photos attached)

Narrative: With the number of sprouts rising, I am hoping to be able to harvest a small amount for Thanksgiving.

Harvest: None

Support/supplies needed:

November 24, 2023

Operations Report – November 21st

Crew 286 Operations Report 21-11-2023

SOL: 9

Name of person filing report: Donald "Duckie" Jacques

Non-nominal systems: Suit #5

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Suit #5 – I noticed during suit prep today a small seam separation in the zipper at one corner. (Photo attached). The team has needle and thread available, if hand stitching is an acceptable repair.

Door knob of the toilet required only dry lubricant to free up operation. Door knob is good as new now. (Photo attached).

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: Yes

Hours: (before EVA) 234.8

Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100%

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging) 50%

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Yes

Hours: 144.8

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 57%

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: No

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: Nominal

Summary of Hab operations: Mud was cleaned out of the lower hab, stoop, and porch. Toilet door handle repaired, Liz successfully tested Suit 11, 2 persons took showers, Team Interviews continue with Hugo.

WATER USE: 39.2 gallons

Water (static tank): 184 gallons

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): On

Static tank heater (On or off) On

Toilet tank emptied: Yes

Summary of internet: Nominal

Summary of suits and radios: Suit 11 was charged and prepared for Team member Liz to test fit. After donning suit, her impression was positive, noting better fit of pack. She then took a walk via tunnel from Hab to Observatory and back, noting it did feel better, and would be satisfactory for next EVA.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Timer was initialized, and set. Peas in tan planter replaced with greens, and moved to Blue planter and some black pots.

WATER USE: 4 gallons

Heater: On or Off

Supplemental light: On or Off

Harvest: None

Summary of Science Dome operations: Guillaume’s work included harvesting Spirulina, Purple bacteria. Roger poured his casting.

Dual split: Heat or AC, Off

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done) Roger completed his final preparations of the mold for pour of casting in the Science Dome this afternoon.

Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report

Summary of health and safety issues: Liz and I are confident Suit 11 will be a better fit for the next EVA

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: put notes here

November 24, 2023

EVA Report – November 21st

Crew 286 EVA #8 report 21-NOV-2023

EVA # 8

Author: Roger Gilbertson

Purpose of EVA: To collect samples from three locations, which will be returned to the University of Mons in Belgium, for use in a substrate comparison experiment for plant growth. This is to support work begun by MDRS 261 mission crew member Cécile Renauld. Documentation of the experience was performed by Hugo using professional video and sound recording.

Destination and Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):

Sample 1: Sandy White Soil (518448.606, 4249652)

Sample 2: Volcanic Soil (518542, 4249696)

Sample 3: Old River Soil, plants close by (518395.702, 4249684)Start time for EVA: 2:50 pm

Start time for EVA: 10:00 am

End time for EVA: 12:30 pm

Narrative: We prepared efficiently and exited the airlock at the planned time, driving out of the campus and south on Cow Dung Road. Gee used the iPhone GPS and directed us to stop on the road near the coordinates provided by the previous researchers. We trekked eastward, and located each sampling position with relative ease. The locations where the first two samples were previously collected appeared clearly on the ground, having only received minor erosion and filling in since their April sampling. The third sample, been in a stream bed, were not apparent, but we took samples at the indicated coordinates. At each location we collected and labeled samples, and photographed each before and after digging.

Destination and Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):
Sample 1: Sandy White Soil (518448.606, 4249652)
Sample 2: Volcanic Soil (518542, 4249696)
Sample 3: Old River Soil, plants close by (518395.702, 4249684)

EVA Participants:
• Roger Gilbertson
• Guillaume Gégo
• Hugo Saugier

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: South via Cow Dung Road south to coordinates indicated above.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles used: Spirit, Opportunity

November 24, 2023

Crew Photos – November 21th

November 24, 2023

Crew Photos – November 20th

November 24, 2023

Journalist Report – November 20th

Sol 08 Journalist Report 20-NOV-2023

Last night Crew Inventor Scott Beibin (Ptelepathetique) performed an original music composition inside the Science Dome to demonstrate the way sound travels on through the Martian atmosphere.

This morning the crew rose before dawn, excited for the early morning’s adventure: an outdoor Ptelepathetique concert just after the glorious Martian sunrise.

It was also the most ambitious EVA our crew had enacted yet. Because this EVA included six people in sim suits and helmets, all carrying cameras, synthesizers, recording equipment and other gear, we used the RAM as a large airlock for the depressurization sequence and exit. This EVA also functioned as a practice scenario of an evacuation or a group migration to a new lander that has arrived nearby.

The RAM was the perfect size for our crew. Scott, Liz Cole (Crew Journalist), Hugo Saugier (Crew Documentary Filmmaker), Guillaume Gégo, Roger Gilbertson and Caleb Stein exited with no helmet bumping and then walked to an area by the science dome.

Don got us suited up quickly and we walked to the RAM, carrying our helmets in their cases, donned helmets in the RAM, performed a five-minute depressurization, and greeted the frosty sunny morning.

We walked to the beautiful red hills just north of the Observatory, where Scott performed another concert demonstrating the acoustics of Mars, this time for astronauts in sim suits. Scott Beibin collaborated with audio engineer John Knott to create a filter in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that simulates the way sound travels in the low-pressure CO2-dominated atmosphere of Mars, using data collected by the Perseverance Rover.

Later that morning, Liz captured NERFs of some geological features near the MDRS habitat.

In the Science Dome Guillaume sampled the prolific spirulina growth from Cécile Renauld’s (MDRS 261 scientist and PhD candidate at University of Mons) spirulina bioreactor.

Scott captured a LiDAR scan of the interior of the MASH. The MASH (Mobile Analog Space Habitat) is a converted mobile habitat with heating, cooling, food and water supply, and waste handling, designed and built by Donald Jacques, MDRS Crew 286 Executive Officer and Chief Scientist at Earthseed.