Author: jburk

Posted on

GreenHab Report – December 21st

  


 Crew 218 GreenHab Report 21-DEC-19


Crew GreenHab Officer: Dr. Jonathan R. Buzan


Environmental control: Heating.


Shade cloth (40% and 30%) on.


Average temperature: — single reading of 18°C; 20% humidity


Hours of supplemental light: Light system 7PM-12AM


Daily water usage for crops: 10 Gal.


Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A


Water in Blue Tank – ~140 Gal.


Time(s) of watering for crops: 7:30 PM


SEASONAL PLANTING HISTORY:


Change to crops: None.


OTHER NOTES:


1st sprouts: N/A


Harvest: None


Support/supplies requested: N/A.

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Operations Report – December 21st
	


	
	

		
  






 Crew 218 Operations Report 21-Dec-19


SOL: 0

Name of person filing report: Luz Maria Agudelo Urrego

Non-nominal systems: NA

Generator: run

Hours run: 6

From what time this morning: 0100

To what time this morning: 0700

List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: N/A

Solar— SOC % (Before the generator is run at night: 70 %

Diesel Reading – 90

Station Propane Reading – 85

Ethanol Free Gasoline: N/A

Water (loft tank) (gal): 25

Water Meter (units): 0146907.3

Water (static tank) (gal): 400

Static to Loft Pump used – No

Water in Green Hab (gal): 150

Water in Science Dome (gal): 0

Toilet tank emptied: No

Deimos rover used: Still in the workshop

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: Assigned to director

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Spirit rover used: Nominal

Hours:

Beginning charge: (Before EVA):

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging):

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Still in the workshop

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Curiosity rover used: Nominal

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before charging):

Currently charging: Yes

Notes on rovers: Opportunity and Deimos off-site for maintenance.

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3): No

Reason for use: N/A

Oil Added? No

# Hours the ATVs were used today: 0

Notes on ATVs: Operated for maintenance

HabCar used and why, where? Twice to get water and to the storage room

CrewCar used and why, where? Picking Crew MDRS 218 from Grand Junction

General notes and comments:

Summary of internet: Nominal

Summary of suits and radios: Nominal

Summary of Hab operations: First day of crew MDRS 218, basic training in major systems

Summary of GreenHab operations: routine watering.

Summary of Science Dome operations:

Summary of RAM operations:

Summary of any observatory issues: NA

Summary of health and safety issues: NA

Questions, concerns, and requests to Mission Support: NA


Luz Ma

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Commander Report – December 21st
	


	
	

		
  




There is no denying it, I cannot resist the call of Mars. And until we will reach the red planet, I cannot resist the call of a good analog mission.
So for the third time I have the pleasure of being hosted by The Mars Society at the Mars Desert Research Station. Crew 218, "The Next Giant Leap", composed entirely of students and alumni of Purdue University, is getting ready to begin their two-week analog mission. As commander and only veteran, I feel a mix of emotions: proud of my crew and happy of being able to support them throughout the mission while they test themselves like I did two years ago; conscious of many aspects of the mission and of all the responsibility I carry; curious to experience a rotation which will cover not only New Year's Day (as in the last two years I participated) but also Christmas away from our family and friends; interested in the development and outcome of our many research projects.
The eyes and the heart never get tired of the landscape surrounding us, those rocks and clays that we will walk upon and work amidst during our EVAs. It is incredible to be here again! Here is to another successful mission!
Boiler up.

Cesare
Commander, crew 218 

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Sol Summary – December 21st
	


	
	

		
  




Crew 218 Sol Summary Report 21-DEC-2019

Sol: 0

Summary Title: The Final Approach

Author's name: Cesare Guariniello

Mission Status: everything is great!

Sol Activity Summary: our approach trajectory is getting us closer and closer to Mars. After the final review of procedures, tomorrow we will have our first Sol on Mars. Today we reached the habitat that will be our home for the next two weeks and began familiarizing with it and learning about GreenHab operations. The crew is a little tired from the long travel, yet excited about the adventure ahead. After arriving at MDRS, we took a quiz that tested our theoretical knowledge of safety and operational rules, before filling half of the water tank for our rotation. The evening ended with the traditional crew dinner at Stan's before our daily communication window.

Look ahead plan: tomorrow we will complete our training, with operations, EVA, flight suits, and mission initial briefing.

Anomalies in work: the lack of an outgoing crew required us to adapt to the situation with the help of the assistant program directors. No anomalies though

Weather: cloudy, around 34 degrees

Crew physical status: healthy and recovering from travel

EVA: none

Reports to be filed: sol summary, commander report, operations report, greenhab report

Support Requested: none

Cesare
Commander, MDRS 218 

	


	







		

		
Posted on 
Sol Summary – December 12th
	


	
	

		
  




Crew 217 Sol Summary Report 12Dec2019

Sol: 3

Summary Title: Grand Finale

Author’s name: Atila Meszaros

Mission Status: Sol 3 and end of the mission. Excitement for the future of this new and excellent program and organizing and cleaning the hab for the crew departure.

Sol Activity Summary: As the mission was beginning to end, there was only one more thing we needed to do: launch some rocket! During an hour and a half, we built, designed and put together our missiles, some of us more gracefully than others. After a harsh hour fighting with our crafts abilities (yes, S, I mean you), we had to wait for the magic glue to dry. In the meantime, part of the crew proceeded to perform our morning EVA to Hab Ridge to collect devil's toenail, seashells from the Jurassic. We organize and plant several new seeds in the GreenHab, we created miniature environments in our terrarium, made of Mars simulant soil, and planted the cutest succulents in the world (my little baby is called Piko). The rocket launching during our last EVA was something I'll never forget, Jenn and Shannon had a successful launch and recovery, while Teresa and I will keep trying. An amazing day on an amazing mission with an amazing crew.

Look Ahead Plan: Crew 217 is taking off and going back to Mars! Well, part of it, the two regular Martians will stay holding the base. The crew will be departing on different hours and by noon the Hab will have a week-off.

Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.

Weather: Warm during most of the day, partly clear skies, almost none winds.

Crew Physical Status: Tired, healthy, and accomplished.

EVA: The last two EVAs of the mission. During the first one, part of the crew explored the Hab Ridge area, next to Sagan St to collect Graphia, macroinvertebrate fossils for education purposes. The second EVA was focused on the first rocket launch during the sim.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Reports 3 & 4, HSO Report, GreenHab Report, Science Report, Commander Report Operations Report, Journalist Report, and Photos

Support Requested: None


	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Command Report – December 12th
	


	
	

		
  




Commander’s Report

12 Dec 2019

Shannon Rupert

Today I had the fifth grade experience I never had when I was in the
fifth grade. I make a Space War alarm using a circuit set. I planted
a plant in Martian soil. And I made a rocket. A real one. That
worked and everything. I needed a hell of a lot of help to get it
fashioned out of the bits and pieces of paper and plastic in the kit,
and I got glue on my fingers and remembered how much I hated that, but
in the end it was a stylish retro rocket with a shimmering copper body
and a silver cone on top. At the end of the day I watched as it
soared straight up, fire lighting its way. It was very satisfying, and
even though I’m not a fan of the STEM movement, I have to admit I am
grateful now that kids get to experience these things, because I would
have loved them as a fifth grader, and I’m not going to lie, I loved
them today.

It’s been an inspiring week. For years, I have wanted to develop a
program to support and foster relationships among K-12 teachers here
at MDRS. I wanted to be able to bring them here and give them the
opportunity to explore new ways to connect themselves with space, and
in an extension of that, connect their kids with space. Thanks to
support from the Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium I was able to do
that, when they funded my proposal for a NASA Spaceward Bound Utah
(NSBU) program. And then, as a bonus, it all went better than
planned.

I couldn’t have asked for better teachers to inspire me and confirm
that there is magic when you bring together good teachers. Hope, Jen,
Teresa, Cynthia, Ann and Kevin have the right stuff. Amazingly
generous, filled with enthusiasm for space and a love for teaching,
they made me realize how good the world really is, that these people
are the ones working, against all odds really, to inspire this newest
generation to touch the stars, to not only dream about becoming a
space-faring species, but to understand that is it possible, and that
they have within them the tools to make it happen. Really good
teachers are the most valuable asset our children have. And this team
of Alpha-T, first cohort of NSBU, are the best!


	


	





		

		
Posted on 
GreenHab Report – December 12th
	


	
	

		
  




Crew 217 GreenHab Report - 12-12-2019

GreenHab Officer: Cynthia Hori

Environmental control:

Ambient with door open

Heating

Shade cloth (40% and 30%) on

Average temperatures

Low 66 F

High 90 F

Hours of supplemental light :5

Daily water usage for crops: 80 L

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes:

Water in Blue Tank—235 gallons remaining

Time(s) of watering for crops: 4:00 pm

Changes to crops: An animal is eating the plants. All 6 zucchini
plants have been eaten, 2 Cucumber plants, and 8 pea plants. All
acorn pumpkin squash plants were re-potted. All herbs were transferred
from pots to the herb garden plot. The herbs added were grapefruit
mint, pineapple mint, 2 rosemary plants, and spicy orange thyme.
More cilantro seeds were planted, replanted zucchini and peas.
Spinach, romaine, butter lettuce was planted along with a flat of
chard

Narrative: All crew members helped in the garden today and we got so
much done! We jammed to some tunes as we worked, thanks to Atila. The
second shade cloth (30% cover) was put up and the white Ikea hanging
pots were hung at a height to allow for watering. We separated pepper
plants into pots, moved acorn squash into individual pots, thinned
basil and cilantro. All hands were on deck in the greenhouse and we
left feeling accomplished. Now to catch the little critter that is
eating the plants.

Harvest :78 grams basil and 13 grams cilantro--




	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Operations Report – December 12th
	


	
	

		
  




Crew 217Operations Report 12/12/ 2019

SOL: 3

Name of person filing report: Hope Zubrin

Non-nominal systems: nothing to report

Generator:

Hours run: 12

From what time last night: 7:00 pm

To what time this morning: 7:00AM

List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: n/a

Solar— SOC 58 % (Before generator is run at night)

Diesel Reading – 22%

Station Propane Reading –not checked

Ethanol Free Gasoline: 5 gallons

Water (loft tank): 50 gallons

Water Meter: 1468493 units

Water (static tank): 375gallons

Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water in GreenHab: 235 gallons

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: off campus

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used:no

Hours:

Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100; 100%

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging) 100%

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: off campus

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Curiosity rover used: no

Hours:

Beginning charge:100%

Ending charge: 100%

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers:

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3)

Reason for use:not used

Oil Added? n/a

ATV Fuel Used: zero gallons

# Hours the ATVs were used today:

Notes on ATVs: nothing to report

HabCar used and why, where? No

CrewCar used and why, where?At HAB, David picked it up in Grand Junction

General notes and comments:

Summary of internet: nominal

Summary of suits and radios: Suit 11 needs to be checked - shoulder
strap & snap loose, Suit 4 did not charge

Summary of Hab operations: nothing to report

Summary of GreenHab operations: 30 % black shade cloth installed

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report.

Summary of RAM operations: nothing to report

Summary of any observatory issues: nothing to report

Summary of health and safety issues: nothing to report.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: nothing at this time.


	


	





		

		
Posted on 
Science Report – December 12th
	


	
	

		
  




Research Report 12 December 2019

Crew 217 – NSBU 217

Submitted by Science Officers Ann Rockett & Kevin Berean

1. Sharing of Mars and Space-related Classroom Activities:

Crew members continued to discuss ways in which teacher experiences at
MDRS during SIM can inform new lessons, activities and projects for
students. Several ideas were recorded and shared among the crew and
plans have been made to connect students across states as they engage
in space-related curriculum. Two hands-on activities were conducted
among the crew (rocket science and Mars bio systems) and discussions
took place to further develop said activities.

2. Conducting a Biodiversity Survey of Ephemeral Potholes in a
Mars Analog:

Nothing to report.

3. Investigating if Life Exists in a Green Layer of the Morrison
Strata that is Exposed Throughout the MDRS Exploration Area:

Crew Scientist, Kevin observed the green band samples plated yesterday
and incubated overnight. He reported no change.

4. Search for Halophiles in Surface Gypsum:

Nothing to report.

5. Exploration of Ways to Communicate with Classrooms at MDRS.

The crew continues to discuss the feasibility of utilizing Flipgrid
for future NSBU teachers. Crew HSO, Jen has logged 2.6 hours of
engagement during her Flipgrid pilot this week with her students in
Salt Lake City. The pilot was successful; however, it was noted that
preassigned topics for students would be beneficial as would more
reliable internet access at MDRS.


	


	



	
		

	

	





		


		

			

				

	

						
				

	Copyright © The Mars Society.  All rights reserved. | Main Site