Author: jburk

Crew 311 Journalist Report 20Feb2025
SOL 4: The wind blows in the sails of Crew 311
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

11:00 AM: The morning routine gets longer, and with it, the number of sensors we wear daily increases dramatically. This morning, for the first time, we put on all the sensors needed for the Orbital Architecture experiment. Its goal is to study the effect of architecture on our behaviors and performances. Until the end of the mission, we will wear a watch, a position and heart rate sensor.

This morning, Meddi and Quentin prepared their first EVA for stratigraphic geological studies in the “Martian” desert. In the long run, they hope to contribute to training an AI that will detect and map different rock layers in the desert using a drone—a revolutionary innovation that would make geologists’ life better! Meddi and Somaya also made videos for public outreach in the GreenHab to keep students from the “Seeds of Mars” project informed, as well as Moroccan students that Somaya visited. This year, we have conducted outreach projects in no less than a dozen schools! Among them are young people in Occitanie, Morocco, and the United States who benefited from our interventions. It is a great pride for us because it is through such interventions that some of our classmates were inspired to join ISAE-Supaero, and we hope to have ignited that spark in the youth we met.

On her part, Erin is doing much better! After working on debugging AMAIA with me during the morning, Robin and her are concurrently working on 3D printing storage for our numerous electronic devices.

4:48 PM: This afternoon, the wind is blowing so strongly that we fear damage to our tunnels between modules. The gusts seem to worsen the condition of the tarps at a hole that formed during previous missions.

The day ultimately lends itself well to working in the HAB, our main module. Crew members take advantage of this to install the last lamps for the LättaLL experiment. Designed to improve our well-being through light, these light sources change intensity according to the time of day, and we will study their impact on our crew compared to previous crews.

Crew 311 Journalist Report 22Feb2025
SOL 6: The Sky Is No Longer the Limit!
Author: Isolde Louzier-Ricalens

12:30 PM: This morning was quite athletic for half of the crew. Meddi, Quentin, Célyan, and Somaya conducted an EVA not only to change the batteries of the atmospheric instruments but also to take the first drone photos for our stratigraphy experiment. Yes, with a drone! The whole group headed towards HAB Ridge, a high-altitude plateau offering a stunning view of the station and the desert. They were able to observe the station from the sky, whether through the camera in their hands or the drone hovering above them. But such a hike requires a challenging path. To reach this plateau, the small team had to make their way along the side of the mountain, a challenging journey that made their return a relief. Erin and Robin worked on the code for AMAIA and the Core Data experiment for data recovery. Personally, I was transferring audio files to the EvolSan lab while serving as HAB Com for the EVA. This role involves coordinating between the EVA crew, those remaining in the station, and mission support; it is very important for safety reasons.

When the small team returned, we went to greet them and help them carry their equipment and de-gear. Between the first aid kit, the two batteries for the atmospheric instruments, the drone, the water bottle bags, the camera bag, not to mention the heavy suits, there are plenty of kilos in an EVA; a little help upon arrival is always welcome.

2:48 PM: Today is Saturday at the station. Meddi trained the entire crew on maintaining the GreenHab so they can take over when he is unavailable. Currently, everyone is busy completing their last tasks before the afternoon break, which will mark the start of the weekend for the MDRS. On the agenda: crochet, Lego, anecdotes, and tasting the cereal bars I baked this morning.