GreenHab Report – December 16th

Crew 288 GreenHab Report 16-12-2023
GreenHab Officer: Ryan DeAngelis
Environmental control: Heater on automatically, turned fan on for about an hour. Door was kept closed, supplemental lighting turned on 10 pm to 2 am.
Average temperatures: 75 degrees
Hours of supplemental light: 4 hours
Daily water usage for crops: 4 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: None
Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): __165__ gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 1 pm and 5 pm
Changes to crops: Moved a couple tomato plants around to see if it was too hot for them next to the heater.
Narrative: Didn’t do much in way of harvesting and clipping plants today. Mainly just ran the fan to cool down the greenhab at peak warmth.
Harvest: None
Support/supplies needed: None

EVA Report – December 16th

EVA # 6
Author: Riley McGlasson 
Purpose of EVA: EVA to obtain a large GPR survey and assess hydration content paired with geologic characterization and sampling.
Start time: 1100
End time: 1530
Narrative: EVA began at 1100 led by Hunter and Riley (out of sim due to broken leg) and joined by Cesare and Lipi. The crew took Spirit and Opportunity rovers north on Cow Dung Road. Spirit started with 100% charge and 238.9 hours. Opportunity started with 100% charge and 149.7 hours. The crew drove north on Cow Dung Road until turning East on Galileo road, which they drove until reaching Compass Rock. At this point the rovers had between 60% and 65% charge, so it was clear that they would not be able to reach Somerville Overlook. On the NW side of Compass Rock they set up a 100 ft by 100ft survey side with 10ft grid spacing for GPR acquisition. After testing that the GPR survey wheel issue was fixed (it was!), the team took an excellent GPR grid that Riley is very much looking forward to analyzing. After taking the GPR survey, Hunter led sampling and spectra collection at 6 sites within the survey region. The team then started to head back to the HAB, pausing whenever Hunter (crew geologist) saw a cool rock or distant rock formation. The team made it back to the HAB with Spirit at 43% charge and 239.4 hours and Curiosity at 51% and 150.4 hours. They began the reentry process for the HAB at 1520.
Destination: Compass Rock and Somerville Overlook (only made it to Compass Rock)
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N522000 E4253000 (planned), N520000 E4252000 (actual)
Participants: Riley McGlasson (Executive Officer), Lipi Roy (Crew Journalist), Cesare Guariniello (Crew Commander), Hunter Vannier (Crew Geologist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive North on Cow Dung Road until turning east onto Galileo Rd 1104 and driving that until Compass Rock. Walk less than ½ a km to get to GPR site.
Mode of travel: driving and walking (Spirit and Opportunity)

Astronomy Report – December 16th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Astronomy Report
Name: Cesare Guariniello
Crew: 288
Date: 16 Dec 2023

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one): MDRS-WF.
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M42
Images submitted with this report: B33 (Horsehead Nebula) and NGC2023, imaged with MDRS-WF.
Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: None
Images submitted with this report: None
Problems Encountered: None

Sol Summary – December 15th

Sol: 5
Summary Title: A Long Walk to Geo Samples
Author’s name: Jilian Welshoff
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Crew 288 started the day off at 7:45AM for a breakfast of spam fried rice made by Hunter (GEO). We shared some music recommendations and jammed out while doing dishes. The crew then prepped for another long EVA, including 4 crew members, Cesare (CMD), Hunter (GEO), Jesus (ENG), and Jilian (HSO) who were going on EVA #5 to Skyline Rim to collect more geology samples. They walked to Hab Ridge first to spot the HAB from a bird’s eye view and then continued to their destination. The walk their took about an hour and they collected about three bags of samples, picking up shell fossils and gypsum along the way.
The crew that stayed behind had a day of work and cooking experimenting, with research papers, security backgrounds, and Lipi who tried out some new recipes and made a Hab-friendly paratha recipe, which should definitely be added to the MDRS recipe book.
After returning from EVA, the crew got to enjoy leftovers and Lipi’s creation from the rest of the crew and snacks and tea. Ryan went to the Greenhab to harvest more greens for a salad and garnish for dinner. The EVA crew had some time to relax and read, grade work, and download photos. Later we enjoyed a pizza dinner made by commander Cesare and had some pizza crust with Nutella, peanut butter, and assorted dried fruits for dessert!
Look Ahead Plan: EVA #6 to collect GPR data, continue maintenance on the Greenhab plants
Anomalies in work: Our inflatable Baby Yoda will not inflate anymore
Weather: Beautiful day outside, sunny overall and great temperature for EVA
Crew Physical Status: Morale is high, and everyone physically is well just sore from EVAs
EVA: Successfully performed EVA #5 to Skyline Rim and Hab Ridge
Reports to be filed: Eva Report, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Sol Summary, Eva Request, Photos
Support Requested: None

Sol Summary – December 13th

Sol: 3
Summary Title: An Adventure on Mars and in the Kitchen
Author’s name: Jilian Welshoff
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Crew 288 started the day off at 8:00AM for a breakfast of biscuits and gravy made by Commander. The crew got a lesson in Spectroscopy and roles for the geology EVAs from Hunter (Crew Geologist). After listening and learning, 4 crew members, Riley (XO), Hunter (GEO), Ryan (GHO), and Jilian (HSO) prepped to go on EVA #3 to Kissing Camel Ridge and Aonia Terra to collect GPR data and Spectroscopy data.
The crew that stayed behind had a good time exploring some new recipes in the kitchen and baked some fresh bread, while remaining responsive and attentive COMs. They attempted to take pictures of the sun from the Solar Telescope but were cut off by the incoming clouds.
After returning from EVA, the crew got to enjoy the cooking/baking efforts from the rest of the crew and analyzed/organized the data they collected. Ryan and Lipi went to the Greenhab to check up and water the plants and the EVA crew had a debrief to figure out how to execute data collection more efficiently. Before reports could be completed, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of chickpea curry made by Crew Journalist, Lipi.
Look Ahead Plan: Continue to go on Geology EVAs to collect more data, CO2 continue soldering, begin EVAs for other research, continue collecting data for overall research.
Anomalies in work: Toilet reading level is oscillating
Weather: Good temperature, partly cloudy in the morning, very cloudy in the afternoon.
Crew Physical Status: Little sore from a long EVA day but all is well and morale is high!
EVA: Successfully performed EVA #3 to Kissing Camel Ridge and Aonia Terra
Reports to be filed: Eva Report, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Sol Summary, Eva Request, Astronomy Report, Photos
Support Requested: None

Operations Report – December 13th

SOL: 3
Name of person filing report: Jeus Meza-Galvan
Non-nominal systems: Musk Telescope
Notes on non-nominal systems: Musk telescope had two issues. The first issue is that the set screws holding the eye piece in place seem to be locked in place, possibly cross threaded. One of the set screws was broken while attempting to loosen it. The second screw remains in place. The second issue with the telescope is that the bottom half of the dome is not closing. The relay inside the switch box seems to be engaging, but the motor that pulls back the bottom shutter is not responding. Both issues were reported to Peter for advice on how to proceed.
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: No
Hours: (before EVA)
Beginning charge: (Before EVA)
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: No
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: Yes
Hours: 260.9
Beginning charge:100 %
Ending charge: 40 %
Currently charging: No
Perseverance rover used: Yes
Hours: 279.4
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 37 %
Currently charging: No
General notes on rovers: Parking brake on perseverance may not be functioning properly. After engaging the parking brake, the Rover continues to roll a short distance before stopping. May be a non-issue but worth reporting.
Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: 23 gallons
Water (static tank): 459 gallons
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): On
Static tank heater (On or off): On
Toilet tank emptied: No
Summary of internet: Internet is nominal.
Summary of suits and radios: Suits and radios are nominal.
Summary of GreenHab operations: Adjusted supplemental lights to come on at 10pm. Turned fan on for ~10 minutes for ventilation.
WATER USE: 4 gallons
Heater: On
Supplemental light: On
Harvest: No harvest today.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Science dome was used for EVA debrief and organizing samples. No equipment was used.
Dual split: Heat or AC: Off
Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): No work was done in the RAM today. Replacement comms headset was picked up.
Summary of any observatory issues: Musk telescope had two issues. The first issue is that the set screws holding the eye piece in place seem to be locked in place, possibly cross threaded. One of the set screws was broken while attempting to break it loose while the other remains in place. The second issue with the telescope is that the bottom half of the dome is not closing. The relay inside the switch box seems to be engaging, but the motor that pulls back the bottom shutter is not responding. Both issues were reported to Peter for advice on how to proceed.
Summary of health and safety issues: No health or safety issues.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None.

Journalist Report – December 13th

Lipi Roy, Crew 288 Journalist
12.13.2023
Sol 03

“The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.” Today, in what marked our first actual EVA, our crew tried to play a small part in understanding what lies beyond this cradle.
The crew woke up to the refreshing beats of ‘Captain Fantastic by Elton John’ and a breakfast of freshly cooked biscuits and creamy mashed potatoes – a courtesy of our commander. Excited for the first major mission, we listened intently to Hunter (Crew Geologist) and Riley (XO) as they explained how geological sampling and GPR acquisition is done.
Following the debrief, we bade goodbye to Hunter, Riley, Jilian (HSO), and Ryan (GHO) who commenced their four-and-a-half hour-long EVA to Watney Road. The data that they collect would be extremely useful in the geological mapping of the area, in hopes of proving that these techniques could be used by future Martian astronauts. Doesn’t it feel great to be a part of something much larger than yourself?
Back at the Hab, we were up to another adventure of freshly preparing bread and mayo from scratch. Free time demands creativity! Our commander also cooked spaghetti and tuna-based tomato sauce to support our crew who would come back exhausted from the EVA. We continued our hab adventure in the solar observatory, where we learnt about setting up the telescope and focusing on the Sun, thanks to our commander. Sadly, the clouds disrupted our session in-between, but I’m positive Cesare won’t say no to another class!
The evening paced down, as the successful EVA crew relaxed a bit (except for Ryan who relaxed a lot). I prepared a protein-rich chickpea curry in hopes of rejuvenating them; I hope they liked it as much as they said they did!

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