Author: jburk

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Journalist Report – November 30th

Crew 216 Journalist Report 30-NOV-19
Sol 6
Author: Evgenia Alexandrova

How does the time work on Mars?

Time flies when half of the mission is already behind.

Time is really long in the airlock during the five-minute depressurization.

Time flies when it is already the Capcom window and you haven’t written your report yet.

Time is really long when you wait for the bread to be cooked.

There is this film “Room” by Lenny Abrahamson in which a 9-years old boy, who was born and grew up in a 16 square meters room, finally gets out of this room and discovers the rest of the world. Excited, he shares with his mother, that the time in the rest of the world flies much faster than in the room because the same amount of time has to be spread on a much larger surface.

Following this logic, time on the EVA flies faster than in the HAB. So the two halves of the crew experience very different sensations during this moment.

All I know is that time is not linear, the greatest minds have proved it long ago.

Anonymous Haiku for this Saturday night:

Steady pulse of pump
Soft hum of battery bank
Voices talk of space

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Sol Summary – November 30th

Crew 216 Sol Summary Report 30-NOV-19
Sol: 6
Summary Title: Rest and Reconnaissance
Author: Marc Levesque

Mission Status: Active

Sol Activity Summary: The crew spent the morning waiting for the ground to dry sufficiently to allow an afternoon EVA. This provided an opportunity for crew rest and pursuing projects for filming, the GreenHab, and astronomy. With sunny weather drying out the landscape, the afternoon EVA was approved and undertaken with caution. While the main objective of the EVA was to reach the summit of the North Ridge to determine a suitable repeater site was not achieved because of ground conditions, a reconnaissance and assessment of route alternatives to reach the top of the North Ridge was accomplished.

Look Ahead Plan: A film crew from Al Roker Entertainment will be arriving around 0900 to spend the day filming the MDRS, the crew, and its activities.

Anomalies in work: N/A.

Weather: Clearing and cold.

Crew Physical Status: Healthy

EVA: N/A

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary Report, Commander Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Research Report, EVA Report, Astronomy Report, and Photos.

Support Requested: None

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Operations Report – November 29th

rew 216 Operations Report 29-Nov-19
SOL: 5
Name of person filing report: Mike Lawson
Non-nominal systems: RAM rover power charging stations inoperable, electrical issue, ongoing.
Notes on non-nominal systems:
Generator: run
Hours run: 12.5
From what time last night: 1758
To what time this morning: 0630
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: N/A
Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night: 71 %
Diesel Reading – 39
Station Propane Reading – 57
Ethanol Free Gasoline: N/A
Water (loft tank) (gal): 47
Water Meter (units): 1462858
Water (static tank) (gal): 343
Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water in Green Hab (gal): 267
Water in Science Dome (gal): 0
Toilet tank emptied: yes
Deimos rover used: no
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
Sojourner rover used:
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge:
Currently charging:
Spirit rover used: no
Hours: 114.5
Beginning charge: (Before EVA): 100
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging): 100
Currently charging:
Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 68.7
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 100
Currently charging: yes
Curiosity rover used: no
Hours: 119.6
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before charging): 100
Currently charging: yes
Notes on rovers: will have to juggle charging sequence.
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:
HabCar used and why, where?
CrewCar used and why, where?
General notes and comments: Weather day, no EVA ativity. HAB maintenance, mission planning for future EVAs and personal project/report time.
Summary of internet: No serious issues.
Summary of suits and radios: No issues.
Summary of Hab operations: Routine maintenance and housekeeping.
Summary of GreenHab operations: Routine watering.
Summary of Science Dome operations: Gypsum processing continued.
Summary of RAM operations: RAM Rover power charging stations inop, electrical issues remain unresolved.
Summary of any observatory issues: None, weathered out.
Summary of health and safety issues: HSO broke sim to address medical issue at Base Sopport.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Need to replace 1 bottle of cough suppresent/expectorant consumed.

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Journalist Report – November 29th

Crew 216 Journalist Report 29-NOV-19
Sol 5
Author: Evgenia Alexandrova

Do you believe in miracles? Yes or no? If you can’t answer straight to that, choose between these two options: most likely yes or most likely no? What you answer actually describes how much you trust life. I think coming to MDRS was a choice of faith. In return today, we were gratified with a real space miracle: snow on Mars. It was bewitching and relaxing to watch the snowflakes smash the window in the science dome. Most of us find it cozy and enjoyable staying indoors and meditate while the weather gets angry outside. This is interesting, because almost each crewmember describes himself as an “outdoor person”. So how come a bunch of intelligent, communicative, OUTDOOR people decided free willingly to isolate themselves in a 75m2 Hab? The answer was found: Mars is definitely outdoor to Earth and to us it means adventure. This is the best incentive.

The freshest poem from an anonymous crew member:

As we wait and look outside

And watch the storm without

The mix of snow and rain abide

And dark clouds hang about

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Research Report – November 29th

Crew 216 Research Report 29-Nov-2019
Sol 5
Submitted by: Crew Researcher Whittle

1) Psych Scale (TAMU IRB2019-1042D) – Completed second set of psychological surveys today.

2) Medical Casts – Continuation of Crew 215 research. Crushed 40% of gypsum, will continue tomorrow and begin purifying.

3) In-Situ Fluorescent Mineral Prospecting – Nothing further to report.

4) MDRS Mapping – Nothing further to report.

5) MDRS Communications – Completed GIS viewsheds of potential repeater sites to West and South of Hab.

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Commander Report – November 29th

Crew 216 Commander Report 29-NOV-2019
Sol: 5
Summary Title: Quiet Day
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 spent the post-holiday hunkered down because of very wet and windy weather that included snow. Despite this, we were able to undertake a variety of activities related to household chores and projects, including Evgenia interviewing me for her film. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I would be, but I hardly notice the camera sitting in front of me, mostly because of her easygoing interviewing style. Some of her questions were quite thought provoking, forcing me to pause before answering, and I hope she was able to capture what she had hoped. The day also provided an opportunity for Rich to write some graduate school papers, while Michael spent time creating a spreadsheet for a GreenHab checklist. Andrew was busy in the Science Dome working on the gypsum samples, and Mike continues to think and work about so many things to help improve operations around the Hab. What a great crew. The day wound down with Mike and me working up some Martian chile with rice that the crew seemed to enjoy. We look forward to seeing some sun tomorrow.

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GreenHab Report – November 29th

Crew 216 GreenHab Report 29-NOV-19
Crew GreenHab Officer: Michael Ho

Environmental control: Door opened for ventilation at 11.55 am, closed at 5.10 pm.
Average temperature: 14C
Hours of supplemental light: Automatic system
Daily water usage for crops: 12L
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: nil
Water in Blue Tank – enough
Time(s) of watering for crops: 09.40 am; 4.10 pm.

SEASONAL PLANTING HISTORY:
(Established plants introduced since 03/11/2019 till 22/11/2019 please refer to Crew 215 GreenHab Report of 22/11/2019.)

OTHER NOTES
Constructed temporary shades for the 3 strawberry plants for shielding from heater vent. Will monitor over the coming days.

Rearranged on platform nearest to blue water container (Plot A):
a. the 9 pots of Tomato into 3×3 matrix,
b. the 4 pots of Sweet Chard into 2×2 matrix,
c. the 4 pots of Sweet Peppers into 2×2 matrix,
d. the 2 pots of Chile Pepper into 1×2 matrix,
e. the 2 pots of Avocado into 1×2 matrix.

Harvest: None
Support/supplies requested: None

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Sol Summary – November 29th

Crew 216 Sol Summary Report 29-NOV-19
Sol: 5
Summary Title: Catch up day
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary: The crew took advantage of the windy and wet weather that included snow to catch up on indoor activities and more importantly, rest. Filming continued for Evgenia’s project, Andrew worked on the gypsum project, Michael spent time developing a GreenHab checklist, while others caught up on graduate research papers, completed household chores, or napped.
Look Ahead Plan: An EVA will be requested for tomorrow afternoon after the ground has a chance to dry out to check out the potential north repeater site that was not reached on Wednesday. We will also tend to some household chores in anticipation of the Roker film crew arriving on Sunday.
Anomalies in work: N/A.
Weather: Cold and wet overnight.
Crew Physical Status: Healthy
EVA: N/A
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary Report, Commander Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Research Report, and Photos.
Support Requested: None

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Commander Report – November 27th

Crew 216 Commander Report 27-NOV-2019

Sol: 3
Summary Title: More EVAs
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 took advantage of the good weather to continue field work in support of its projects. Of particular note was searching for potential radio repeater sites in the hopes of improving communications between the Hab and EVA teams. Documentary and drone footage was also collected during these activities. The crew has fallen into a comfortable routine of life at MDRS, though inconsistent sleep seems to be elusive for many of the crew. The dryness of the Martian climate is a challenge for those who hail from more temperate and moist climes. Overall, however, the crew seems healthy with a couple of members on the backside of head colds picked up in their travels to the station. Note: Some crew members are unable to send their reports because they are unable to access their email server. As a result, the Crew Commander is sending those.

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