Journalist Report – February 24th

SOL 8: Do you copy?…

14:20: The second week of Mission 311 starts off beautifully: the first week allowed us to set up all the experiments that will take place throughout the mission. Now it’s time for us to schedule those on which we couldn’t focus earlier. Starting this morning, Quentin, Meddi, and Robin went on an EVA to Candor Chasma to begin photogrammetry. They identified different locations where they placed beacons, and using a drone, they took hundreds of photos of the entire area, from which they will create a 3D map. We will use this during the next phase of the experiment. This was also Didier’s first EVA, our mascot!

This outing was the longest in terms of time and distance: Candor Chasma is a deep fissure carved into the desert. It’s a very interesting place to study, but this distance weakens communication signals, so Somaya, who was HabCom, lost all communication with our EVA crew members. When trying to establish communication with the EVA crew, we first ask if they can hear us: “Do you copy?” This question often went unanswered this morning…

Meanwhile, the HAB was rather quiet. Erin and Somaya worked on an abstract, a sort of summary, to write their scientific articles about the mission. Célyan took care of the GreenHab for the first time! He also worked extensively on managing the data collected for the Orbital Architecture experiment. We have already collected over 8 GB of physiological data, positions, and cognitive tests for the experiment, and it takes a lot of rigor to manage all these data. For my part, I started working on a small project that we’ll keep as a surprise…

EVA Report – February 24th

EVA # 05

Author: Robin GORIUS, Crew engineer

Purpose of EVA : Atmospheric physics instrument battery change and data retrieval. Candor Chasma exploration and 3D mapping with a drone.

Start time: 09:30 AM

End time: 01:30 PM

Narrative: EVA Crew entered the Airlock at 09:30 AM and left the station with rovers Spirit and Opportunity at 09:35 AM. They drove to Marble Rituals and arrived at 9:40 AM. They walked in the west and arrived at the atmospheric instruments location at 9:43AM. They retrieved the data and changed the battery before going back to the rovers at 10:12 AM. They drove to Candor Chasma on Galileo road 1104 and arrived on site at 10:40 AM. They walked down to the canyon and started exploring and 3D mapping. They came back to the rovers at 12:41 PM and drove back to the station. They arrived at 1:04 PM and entered the airlock at 1:26 PM.

Destination: Marble Rituals and Candor Chasma

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518250 E, 4250750 N then 520000E, 4251750N

Participants: Meddi Moumouni (greenHab officer) , Quentin Berlemont (Astronomer), Robin Gorius. (Crew engineer and EVA leader)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110, Galileo road 1104

Mode of travel: Driving to Marble Rituals walking to the experiments site and coming back to the rovers then driving to compass rock and walking again to explore Candor Chasma.

Spirit:

Start battery: 100%

End battery: 71%

Start hours: 277

End hours: 278.2

Opportunity:

Start battery: 100%

End battery: 70%

Start hours: 289

End hours: 290.2

Sol Summary – February 24th

Crew 311 Sol Summary Report 24-02-2025

Sol: 8

Summary Title: Do you copy? …

Author’s name: Erin Pougheon, Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Today, Crew Engineer, Crew Astronomer and GreenHab Officier went on EVA to Candor Chasma with the drone to take pictures of the canyon. The aim is to then use a photogrammetry software which creates a 3D map of the area, and then compares it to a 2D map.

Meanwhile in the station, experiments session continued. Crew Commander and Crew Scientist continued writing scientific papers and Crew HSO handled data from the Orbital Architecture experiment.

The afternoon was full of scientific experiment’s runs and data handling for everyone.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow will be dedicated to continue running experiment’s runs. We want to prepare the 3D map for the EVA of photogrammetry that will take place later this week.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, Temperature 50 F / 70 F

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report #05, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Crew Photos.

Support Requested: None

Operations Report – February 24th

SOL: 8

Name of person filing report: Robin GORIUS

Non-nominal systems: Robotic observatory, toilet alarm

Notes on non-nominal systems: Maintenance of the observatory planned for June

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: Used

Hours: 277

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 71%

Currently charging: ?

Opportunity rover used: Used

Hours: 289

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 70%

Currently charging: ?

Curiosity rover used: No

Perseverance rover used: No

General notes on rovers: None

Summary of Hab operations: Sport, experiments

Water Use (please use both methods to estimate water usage)

Time of measurements (collect data for the same time window): 6:00 pm
1) Per formula (see notes): 10.29gl
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes):12.82gl

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 387gl

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on

Static tank heater (on or off) : on

Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): yes

Summary of internet: used from 7 pm to 9 pm for reports

Summary of suits and radios:

Suits :

1 -> 100%, not used

2 -> 100%, not used

3 -> 100% , not used

4 -> 100%, not used

5 -> 100%, not used

6 -> 100%, not used

7 -> 100%, used

8 -> 100%, used

9 -> 100%, used

10 -> 100%, not used

Radios : Lost of coms in Candor Chasma (was expected)

Summary of GreenHab operations: Plants were watered and harvested

WATER USE: 8.5 gallons

Heater (On or Off): On

Supplemental light (hours of operation): 5 to 10 pm

Harvest (name, weight in grams): 20g of basil

Summary of ScienceDome operations: experiments

Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off): On Heat

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): None

Summary of any observatory issues: None

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None

GreenHab Report – February 24th

Crew 311 GreenHab Report 24-02-2025

GreenHab Officer: MOUMOUNI Meddi

Environmental control (fan & heater): Yes

Average temperatures (last 24h): 79F

Maximum temperature (last 24h): 93F

Minimum temperature (last 24h): 71F

Hours of supplemental light: 5hrs

Daily water usage for crops: 8 1/2 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 200mL

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 125 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 10 am & 5pm

Changes to crops: None

Narrative: Classic day in the greenhab, collected some basil for lunch

Harvest: 20g Basil

Support/supplies needed:

GreenHab Report – February 23rd

Crew 311 GreenHab Report 23-02-2025

GreenHab Officer: MOUMOUNI Meddi

Environmental control (fan & heater): Yes

Average temperatures (last 24h): 81F

Maximum temperature (last 24h): 91F

Minimum temperature (last 24h): 72F

Hours of supplemental light: 5hrs

Daily water usage for crops: 9 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 170mL

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 133 ½ gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 11 am & 6pm

Changes to crops: None

Narrative: Cleaning the GreenHab and watering the plant, pretty normal day for the crops

Harvest: None

Support/supplies needed:

Astronomy Report – February 23rd

[category  astronomy-report]

Astronomy Report

Name: Quentin Berlemont

Crew: 311

Date: 02/23/2025

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Used (choose one) MDRS-14 MDRS-WF RCOS-16

Objects to be Imaged this Evening:

Images submitted with this report:

Problems Encountered:

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: Sunspots, prominence

Images submitted with this report: 1

Problems Encountered: Thanks for your previous message, yes I am setting
the histogram to about 83%. I find that I always have the best contrast
(for both chromosphere or prominences) when the chromosphere tuner is
turned all the way in, and the prominence tuner turned a decent amount
out. When I turn the chromosphere tuner out the image darkens a lot and
loses a lot of details, and when I turn the prominence tuner in the very
bright zone when I turn up the gain is not appearing in the center of
the image but on its side, which leads to bad images…

Journalist Report – February 26th

SOL 10: 10 Sols, 10 Experiments

5:22 PM: It’s another day at the MDRS, our tenth. Sometimes it takes a moment to realize where you are and what you’re doing. To realize that we are on an analog mission in the middle of the magnificent desert of Utah, USA, even though half of us have never ventured much farther than the bordering countries of France. To realize that we are completing the end of a year of preparation, a year of hard work alongside our studies, a year of seeking experiences, sponsors, outreach, projects, and selections. To realize that we are seven excited individuals willing to lock ourselves in a tin can with six teammates we didn’t choose, and no shower for a month. To realize that another Martian day has begun, and during this day, which seems ordinary on the surface, we conduct experiments like Orbital Architecture, Twins2, AMAIA, HUMANISE, LOAC, megaARES, Photogrammetry, Micropouss’, TimePecept, LättaLL, UCF, SUPAEROMOON, CoreData… a dozen experiments for the tenth sol.

This morning, Somaya and I searched for beacons in the Candor Chasma canyon using our map drawn the day before, alongside Meddi who analyzed our performance as part of the photogrammetry experiment. On our way back, we admired the landscape, which was magnificent, reminding us of the extraordinary environment we’ve been immersed in for the past ten days. The crew is very dynamic right now; Robin started the first 3D prints of the SUPAEROMOON (a club from ISAE-SUPAERO) rover this morning, which we will assemble in the coming days. He and I tested AMAIA, our assistant AI, thoroughly this afternoon.

Erin continues to manage our schedules expertly and modeled a small box to store all the necessary materials for retrieving data from atmospheric instruments during EVAs. Indeed, we must handle a USB key and a tiny micro-SD card with bulky ski gloves that we wear during these outings. This operation requires precision, so much so that we perform part of it using tweezers, and meticulous storage is essential.

Today again, we will observe the sun set over the Martian horizon from our portholes. All of us? No, because I believe Quentin has found a way to make superb observations of solar storms, which promise to make the coming days rich in high-quality observations.

EVA Report – February 26th

EVA # 06

Author: Isolde LOUZIER-RICALENS, Crew Journalist

Purpose of EVA : Atmospheric physics instrument battery change and data retrieval. Candor Chasma exploration.

Start time: 09:30 AM

End time: 01:30 PM

Narrative: EVA Crew entered the Airlock at 09:31 AM and left the station with rovers Curiosity and Perseverance at 09:36 AM. They drove to Marble Ritual and arrived at 9:41 AM. They walked in the west and arrived at the atmospheric instruments location at 9:45AM. They retrieved the data and changed the battery before going back to the rovers at 10:10 AM. They drove to Candor Chasma on Galileo road 1104 and arrived on site at 10:25 AM. They walked down to the canyon and started exploring. They came back to the rovers at 01:03 PM and drove back to the station. They arrived at 1:17 PM and entered the airlock at 1:26 PM.

Destination: Marble Rituals and Candor Chasma

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518250 E, 4250750 N then 520000E, 4251750N

Participants: Meddi Moumouni (greenHab officer) , Somaya Bennani (Scientist), Isolde Louzier-Ricalens (Journalist and EVA leader).

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110, Galileo road 1104

Mode of travel: Driving to Marble Rituals walking to the experiments site and coming back to the rovers then driving to compass rock and walking again to explore Candor Chasma.

Curiosity:

Start battery: 100%

End battery: 72%

Start hours: 297.1

End hours: 297.6

Perseverance:

Start battery: 100%

End battery: 72%

Start hours: 305.7

End hours: 306.4

Remark: EVA suit n°7 has a false contact on its on/off switch, so the ventilation was stopping several times during the EVA, even after switching "off" "on", or pushed higher the switch on "on".

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