GreenHab Officer: Ryan DeAngelis
Environmental control: Heater on automatically. Turned fan on for 10 minutes around 4:50. Supplemental lights on, attempted to adjust the timing to 10 pm to 2 am. Door closed.
Average temperatures: 70 degrees Fahrenheit
Hours of supplemental light: 3.5 hours, possibly 4 hours tonight.
Daily water usage for crops: 4 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: None
Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): __176.5__ gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 4:55 pm
Changes to crops: None
Narrative: I removed the cardboard that I covered the peas with yesterday, as I noticed it was introducing a tiny amount of mold into the soil. I removed it immediately, will observe tomorrow as well. Two of the cucumber plants have yellowing leaves and one has a stalk that does not look particularly healthy. There are also three tomato plants that are drooping more than I would like. I just heard back from an ecology expert, and I will attempt to let the soil on both dry out and see if that improves the plants.
Harvest: No harvest today.
Support/supplies needed: None.
EVA Report – December 13th
EVA # 3
Author: Riley McGlasson
Purpose of EVA: EVA to obtain radar transects of two flat areas 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 Ryan and Jillian. The crew took Perseverance and Curiosity rovers south on Cow Dung Road. Perseverance started with 100% charge and 279.4 hours. Curiosity started with 100% charge and 260.9 hours. The crew drove south until the rovers hit 55% charge just shy of Watney Road, where they unloaded equipment and walked northeast to the river bed at the Watney Road turnoff. There they set up a small training area where Hunter and Riley tested out GPR and sampling protocols with Ryan and Jillian. Then the crew set a larger 3D GPR acquisition grid that covered the riverbed and the abutting bank, as well as collected spectra and samples from areas of geological variability. At ~1315 the team loaded equipment back in the rovers and drove back towards the HAB, stopping at Kissing Camel Ridge on the way back. There, Hunter led the gathering of spectra and samples at 4 geological sites on the north side of the east camel. Follow up 2D GPR transects were collected from the 3 accessible sample sites. The team made it back to the HAB with Perseverance at 37% charge and 279.9 hours and Curiosity at 40% and 261.5 hours. They began the reentry process for the HAB at 1520.
Destination: Aonia Terra, Kissing Camel Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N520500, E4248500
Participants: Riley McGlasson (Executive Officer), Jilian Welshoff (Health and Safety Officer), Ryan DeAngelis (Green Hab Officer), Hunter Vannier (Crew Geologist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road and park at intersection with Watney. Then walk northeast ¾ km or less. On return, will stop at Kissing Camel and conduct second set of measurements along the northern base of Kissing Camel Ridge E within ¾ km of road.
Mode of travel: driving and walking (Perseverance and Curiosity)
Astronomy Report – December 13th
[category
astronomy-report]
Name: Cesare Guariniello
Crew: 288
Date: 13 Dec 2023
MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one): cloudy weather at MDRS. Will check MLC.
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: cloudy weather, working on imagery from previous night
Images submitted with this report: M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) imaged with MDRS-WF. 40 captures of 30 seconds each in R, G, B, and Lum.
Problems Encountered: None, but M31 captures with the MLC telescope were flat
MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: None
Images submitted with this report: None
Problems Encountered:
Telescope had wrong home location: fixed. Now the home location is the same as the switch location (aligned with the pier, facing North).
Telescope seem to have been abused a little:
The whole section with the prominence tuning knob was loose and “rotating”. Tightened.
Prominence tuning knob was unscrewed almost entirely (one inch of the golden part showing).
Blocking filter/diagonal pushed too far inside, with the silver line invisible. Pulled out and put in proper order.
Eyepiece thumb screws insanely tight. Never happened before. We tried to unscrew one of them with pliers and it snapped before it began unscrewing (photo attached) which, according to the crew engineer, can happen only if it is bound at the collar. This means that someone tried to screw it very hardly, so that it became embedded in the collar. We can try to remove the remaining piece, but it will likely require drilling. The other screw was holding enough that I used the eyepiece and the CCD, but ONLY with the diagonal pointing up, for safety.
On closing the dome, the bottom shutter did not close. We troubleshot with the Program Director, tried various batteries, tested the wires, until attaching a battery directly to the motor. The fuse works, other connections work, the top shutter works. After excluding everything else, we think it is the motor. Since it is raining, we uncoupled the ball screw from the motor, closed the bottom shutter manually and secured it with ropes. We will run more troubleshooting tomorrow.
Crew Photos – December 12th
Operations Report – December 15th
Crew 288 Operations Report 12-15-2023
SOL: 5
Name of person filing report: Jeus Meza-Galvan
Non-nominal systems: All systems nominal.
Notes on non-nominal systems: No non-nominal systems.
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: 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: Rovers were not used today.
Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: 16 gallons
Water (static tank): 406 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:
WATER USE: 4.5 gallons
Heater: On
Supplemental light: On
Harvest:
Basil: 5 g
Arugula: 7 g
Kale: 15 g
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Science dome used to do office work today.
Dual split: Heat or AC: On
Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): RAM was not used today.
Summary of any observatory issues: Observatory was not used today. All systems are nominal.
Summary of health and safety issues: No health or safety issues.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None.
Journalist Report – December 15th
Lipi Roy, Crew 288 Journalist
12.15.2023
Sol 05
With Hunter’s spam fried rice for breakfast, my potato parathas for lunch, and Cesare’s pizzas for dinner, seems like this crew has found their salvation in isolation. In a long, four-hour walking-EVA, it is important to be fed well – before AND after!
Today, Cesare (Commander), Hunter (Geologist), Jilian (HSO), and Jesus(Crew Engineer) walked up to Skyline Rim to collect more geology samples. In the vast expanse of the red planet, the group walked up to Hab Ridge first, where we could spot their tiny faces from the commander’s window. A friendly wave to our friends; awaiting their safe return. We could intermittently hear them play ’20 questions’ to spice up the walk. Great idea, crew!
We welcomed them back with another round of kitchen experiments (which, thankfully, did not go wrong this time). Everyone seemed to enjoy the Indian parathas I made; hope they helped satisfy the exhausted astronauts.
The best part would still be the assortment of four pizzas by our commander – basil/mushroom, meat lover’s, pineapple/spam, and Nutella. Topped up with freshly harvested herbs from the Greenhab (thanks to our GHO, Ryan), what more could someone ask for?
GreenHab Report – December 15th
GreenHab Officer: Ryan DeAngelis
Environmental control: Turned fan on for half an hour today to cool down the GreenHab. The heater was on automatically, and the door was kept closed.
Average temperatures: 85 degrees peak, 75 degrees on average
Hours of supplemental light: 10 pm to 2 am (4 hours)
Daily water usage for crops: 4.5 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: None
Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): __169__ gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 4:00 pm
Changes to crops: Harvested a few crops, but no other changes
Narrative: The tomatoes were doing better today. I may have to put a cage on one of the tomato plants soon, I will likely do that tomorrow. The two cucumber plants I was worried about aren’t doing worse, but they aren’t doing better per se. Will observe and look at it tomorrow. I harvested a little bit of fresh basil today and it made our pizza tonight delicious.
Harvest: Basil: 5 g, arugula: 7 grams, kale: 15 grams. Total: 27 grams
Support/supplies needed: None
EVA Report – December 15th
EVA # 5
Author: Cesare Guariniello
Purpose of EVA: Scouting EVA for accessibility and location for drone experiments on HAB ridge, and searching for kaolinite at the bottom of skyline ridge.
Start time: 1100
End time: 1428
Narrative: This EVA is dedicated to our friends at Nanohmics, Inc. The EVA began at 1100 led by Hunter and Cesare and joined by Jesus and Jilian. The crew prepared a limited amount of equipment for the long walk (GPS units, rock hammer, flags, sample bags, notepad with paper and ruler, a map, and the outdoor first aid kit). The crew walked north of the habitat, while observing the emplacement of various layers, then identified the intersection with 1103, Sagan Rd, and began ascending to Hab Ridge. This part of the EVA also had an exploratory function, to assess whether the gentle ascend is easily accessible (it is), and to identify a suitable location for an experiment of transportation of small samples with our drone. We also took panoramic context photos for past EVAs. After a brief stop to collect Gryphaea fossils, the crew began the long walk (about 2 miles) to Skyline Rim. A few stops along the way occurred when interesting examples of gypsum made their appearance. Once at the foot of Skyline Rim cliff, the crew identified a location with diverse samples from the various overlying layers, established a station and collected samples under the direction of our crew geologist Hunter. Two and a half hours into the EVA, the crew began its long and satisfied walk back to the habitat. During the walk back, they picked some old trash and played some MDRS-themed game of 20 questions. They began airlock re-pressurization at 1453.
Destination: Hab Ridge + Skyline Rim
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N516000 E4251500
Participants: Jilian Welshoff (Health and Safety Officer), Hunter Vannier (Crew Geologist), Cesare Guariniello (Commander), Jesus Meza (Crew Engineer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Walk north and then east from HAB on 1103 up Hab Ridge to the base of Skyline Ridge.
Mode of travel: walking
Crew Photos – December 14th
Sol Summary – December 14th
Sol: 4
Summary Title: A Mystery on Mars and a Disaster 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 pancakes made by Riley (XO) and Ryan (GHO). They came up with some fun toppings and mix and matched to make the perfect pancake. The crew got heated in a few rounds of Bananagrams to get energy high for another long day of EVAs and Hunter (GEO) lead some group stretches to get our bodies prepped. After popping and locking, 4 crew members, Cesare (CMD), Hunter (GEO), Jesus (ENG), and Lipi (JOU) prepped to go on EVA #4 to Kissing Camel Ridge and Barainca Butte to collect more geology spectrum data. The crew found abundant volcanic rocks of multiple types on the EVA and collected more spectrum data.
The crew that stayed behind had a good time learning proper form for pushups, FINALLY taking showers, and harvesting some parsley and sage for lunch, while remaining responsive and attentive COMs. They (Ryan) attempted to make Carrot cake but created a sugar mass instead induced by an error in the recipe book.
After returning from EVA, the crew got to enjoy the cooking/baking efforts from the rest of the crew and got to take their showers too. Ryan went to the Greenhab to harvest more greens for a salad and dinner. The EVA crew had a debrief to figure out how to execute data collection more efficiently after today’s attempt. While we completed reports and uploaded photos, we had a delicious redemption dinner made by Ryan (GHO) of Pad Thai and await a proper carrot cake in the oven.
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. Start Greenhab research
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Beautiful day outside, started out cloudy then sunny in the afternoon.
Crew Physical Status: Feeling squeaky clean and ready for a new day of EVA
EVA: Successfully performed EVA #4 to Kissing Camel Ridge and Barainca Butte
Reports to be filed: Eva Report, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Sol Summary, Eva Request, Astronomy Report, Photos
Support Requested: None
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