Day: April 24, 2024

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EVA Report – April 23rd

Crew 297 EVA 13 Report 23-04-2024    

EVA # 13

Author: Pawel Sawicki

Purpose of EVA: We plan on continuing tests of Case’s abilities with a local EVA. A ground station will be set up inside of the ScienceDome, with Case maneuvering in the surrounding outside area. While one crew member monitors (and if needed, controls) Case from the inside of the ScienceDome, another (Pawel) will follow Case around to locally monitor and help troubleshoot any problems. The operator of the ground station in the ScienceDome will not be involved in the EVA.
Within the vicinity (and LOS) of the Case operation, Sarah will take gamma-ray spectral data of the areas around the Hab/ScienceDome.

Start Time: 11:35 AM

End Time: 1:45 PM

Narrative: Today’s EVA was the final set of trial runs needed to get Case’s confidence up before exploring an area outside of the shadows of the MDRS Station. Sarah and Pawel quickly set up the ground station with Sean initially monitoring and controlling Case from the cool comfort of the ScienceDome. After setup, Sarah explored the area and took gamma-ray spectrometer measurements. She noted that the uranium content here was more than areas further south from the Hab (around Robert’s rocks), but inline with what is expected. Meanwhile, Sean was able to deliver a secret message to Pawel using a hexadecimal circle and Case’s precise IMU, ala The Martian. Case was also able to maneuver around an obstacle course to gather imagery of a point of interest, but needed some manual input from Sean in the process.

Destination: Around the MDRS ScienceDome

Coordinates: 12S 518203E 4250930N

EVA Participants: Pawel Sawicki (Commander) and Sarah Lamm (Crew Geologist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: none, local EVA

Mode of travel: walking

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): none

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EVA Report – April 23rd

Crew 297 EVA Report 23-04-2024

EVA #12

Author: Matthew Lynch (Engineer)

Purpose of EVA: Perform the fourth and possible last ‘seeking’ EVA for the nuclear power project.

Start time: 8:34 am

End time: 11:10 pm

Narrative: After a slightly delayed start we entered the airlock and started on Cow Dung Road with the rovers, with no issues. Curiosity’s battery reached 55% ~150m from the edge of the search area, as expected. We continued on foot and began with our "fanned-out" search procedure until reaching the center of the circle. We continued until nearing the Northern tip of the search area. Then Dave and Matt S. went clockwise around the search area, while Matt L. moved counter-clockwise. Some of this terrain was very hilly and made movement quite slow. At ~10:20AM we had still not located the NPS and asked for a hint from HABCOM, however due to the high amount of interference it was challenging to make out the exact hint. We continued searching until nearing the end of our EVA time, when we left to return to the Hab so EVA #13 could begin on-time. To expedite the return and maximize search time, we used the extended range of Opportunity to do a short shuttle mission. The NPS was not found, but we have now been given its exact coordinates and an EVA to recover it is planned tomorrow. There is also a slight chance it was claimed by some of the local aliens.

Destination: NPS Site #4A

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 517477N 4254656E

Participants: Matthew Lynch (Engineer), Matthew Storch (XO), Dave Laude (Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rovers Opportunity & Curiosity, and walking.

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Sol Summary – April 23rd

Crew 297 Sol Summary Report 23-04-2024

Sol: 09

Summary Title: Just Keep Searching

Author’s name: Pawel Sawicki

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

This morning, three crew members set foot outside of the Hab with one goal in mind: finding the NPS. They scurried across the rugged terrain with their advanced searching technologies and methodologies, diligent eyes, and unwavering dedication to locate a simple, yet elusive object. They searched and searched, giving it all they had. Yet, all of their efforts were futile. The NPS remained unfound and waiting, optimistically perhaps, to be found on another EVA on another day.

Fortunately, the crew was not left empty handed the entire day. Case the robot displayed enough capabilities today to let him out on another field deployment. With on-lookers both inside and outside the ScienceDome, Case was able to relatively smoothly (with some manual intervention) traverse an obstacle course laid out before it. Once the crew gained confidence in its abilities, they used Case to recreate a part of "The Martian": generating a hexadecimal polar grid to relay messages along.

All crew members, regardless of how successful their EVAs turned out, were treated to flavorful Southwest-style beans, rice, and veggies topped with Fritos, as prepared by Chef Laude.

Look Ahead Plan:

Tomorrow will be composed of two EVAs. The morning EVA will involve a geological expedition to the orange (via satellite imagery) regions. This EVA will also have additional testing with Case with the objective of capturing valuable 360 degree imagery of any significant geological sites. The second EVA team will do their best to evade the morning sun and find the unfound NPS from today, while scoping out suitable regions for NPS excavation research.

Anomalies in work:

Suit 11 (fan power substantially decreased mid-EVA): Battery was replaced but the air flow is still less than nominal. In-work.
Weather:
Morning (data from 0900): calm winds (0 mph), chilly (59F), and sunny with clear skies
Noon: calm winds (3 mph), warm (76F), and sunny with clear skies
Afternoon (1800): strong winds (20 mph), hot (83F), and scattered cloud coverage
Crew Physical Status: Overall crew health is nominal.

EVA: There were two EVAs today. The first EVA was unsuccessful in finding the NPS after an arduous search effort. Precise coordinates have been given of the NPS and a consequent recovery EVA is planned tomorrow. The second EVA scrutinized the capabilities of Case further, and while there were setbacks, Case has been deemed ready for field deployment.

Reports to be filed:

Sol Summary
Journalist Report
GreenHab Report
Operations Report
EVA report (2 EVAs)
EVA request (2 EVAs)
Support Requested: We request that the 1-hour power blackout period tomorrow be from 1600-1700. We also request support to pick-up (Qty. 2) bags of No-Burn Waste. Thanks in advance for your help.

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Journalist Report – April 23rd

Crew 297 – Janus 1 Journalist – David Laude

"Mars has been flown by, orbited, smacked into, radar examined, and rocketed onto, as well as bounced upon, rolled over, shoveled, drilled into, baked and even blasted." – Ray Bradbury

This Sol 9 has delivered mixed results as the NPS recovery team failed to recover it from an uncertain landing site, while progress with Case was made.

Dave and Matt S. went clockwise around the search area searching for the NPS, while Matt L. moved counter-clockwise. Some of this terrain was very hilly and made movement quite slow. Late into the search we had still not located the NPS and asked for a hint from HABCOM, however due to the high amount of interference it was challenging to make out the exact hint. To expedite the return and maximize search time, we used the extended range of Opportunity to do a short shuttle mission. The NPS was not found, but we have now been given its exact coordinates and an EVA to recover it is planned tomorrow.

Case the robot was driven by crew members Sarah and Sean as Pawel watched on for the final set of trial runs needed to get Case’s confidence up. Sarah explored the area and took gamma-ray spectrometer measurements. She noted that the uranium content here was more than areas further south from the Hab (around Robert’s rocks), but in line with what is expected. Case was also able to maneuver around an obstacle course to gather imagery of a point of interest, but needed some manual input.

This journalist had planned to use AI to help write a report and now is the time and so here it is.

In ChatGPT own words [journalist's edits in brackets]:

"In the vast expanse of the desert, three figures clad in space suits embarked on a seemingly futile mission to locate an air-dropped [NPS]. With each step, their visors fogged with frustration as the relentless sun beat down upon them. The arid landscape stretched endlessly, offering no clues to the elusive container’s whereabouts. Each passing moment heightened their sense of urgency, yet the [NPS] remained tantalizingly out of reach. As the [clock ticked relentlessly onward,] the trio reluctantly conceded defeat, their mission ending in disappointment amidst the vastness of the unforgiving desert."

This journalist (not a professional, nor a good word smith) admits to Chat’s greater than his own ability to compose a compelling story, and with only one sentence of information provided (Create a short paragraph regarding the failed attempt to find an air dropped can in the desert with 3 people in space suits.). It’s as if it were a professional journalist and with the EVA team!

There is no doubt AI will be of use in a multitude of ways for any manned Mars mission. In 1968 this journalist saw the HAL-9000 AGI system in the sci-fi movie "2001:A Space Odyssey", then a marvel for the future. The year 2001 came and passed with no HAL like AI. That future is nearly here though, hopefully without AGI having its own mysterious ways with us.

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Operations Report – April 23rd

Crew 297 Operations Report 23-04-2024

SOL: 9

Name of person filing report: Matt Lynch (Engineer)

Non-nominal systems: Suit 2 (stuck valve), Suit 9 (broken visor), Suit 11 (fan issue),

Notes on non-nominal systems: The issues with Suit 2 and 9 were already noted before our mission. Suit 11 will no longer be used on this mission.

ROVERS

Opportunity rover used:

Hours: 184.2

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 50%

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used:

Hours: 279.5

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 31%

Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: NA

Summary of Hab operations:

WATER USE: 29.3 gallons

Water (static tank): 204.1 gallons

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off

Static tank heater (On or off): off

Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: Looking up recipes, downloading entertainment, catching up on Earthly news

Summary of suits and radios:

Radios 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 were used.

EVA Suits 1,4,5 and 6 were used.

Summary of GreenHab operations:

WATER USE: 5 gallons

Heater: Yes

Supplemental light: N/A

Harvest: 27g of parsley, 3g of cherry tomatoes

Summary of ScienceDome operations: EVA #13 had the robot operators inside the ScienceDome

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): NA

Summary of any observatory issues: NA

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GreenHab Report – April 23rd

Crew 297 GreenHab Report 23-04-2024

GreenHab Officer: Sean Marquez

Environmental control:

Heater on (set to 55F)
Fan on (set to turn on at 94F; turn off at 82F)
Average temperatures: 83F

Hours of supplemental light: N/A

Daily water usage for crops: 5 gal

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

Water in Blue Tank: 170 gal

Time(s) of watering for crops: 13:25

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: Fan system was on full power, but still needed supplemental passive airflow from the tunnel system, in lieu of the afternoon heat wave, which kept the atmospheric temperatures below 105F.

Harvest:

27g of parsley
3g of cherry tomato
Support/supplies needed: N/A

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