Crew 215 Sol Summary Report 13-NOV-2019
Sol: 3
Summary Title: A birthday on Mars.
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 3 had Jennifer wake to a Martian birthday. After a special pancake breakfast, activity in the GreenHab occupied our attention. During this time we were advised of a possible G1 storm the might affect us on the 16/17th. Though we were being filmed and videoed for publicity, we continued with our data collection and preparations for experiments. Equipment designed to retrieve a disabled marstronaut was laid out in preparation for practice. If approved, we will be working through this scenario at the end of the engineering EVA tomorrow. The afternoon saw us returning to the White Moon location (517724E 4254500N) at the junction of Brahe Hwy and Cow Dung
Road where we retrieved gypsum for further experimentation. Unfortunately, our prior activities had been closely monitored and, on arrival, we found that wheel tracks had cut through our previous sample locations and across our boot prints. On return to the hab, Opportunity rover displayed a warning light and cut power 200m from the hab, meaning that the EVA ended on foot. This evening saw a special dinner of focaccia, soup and birthday cake for Jennifer.
Look Ahead Plan: Planning an EVA to MM5 (518462E 4248949N) to resume collection of micrometeorite samples and a demonstration of returning a disable marstronaut into the hab during the afternoon engineering EVA. See EVA requests. Continue monitoring of psycho-social stressors.
Anomalies in work: Opportunity depowered during EVA return to hab.
Weather: Marginally below freezing overnight, light winds, clear skies.
Crew Physical Status: Healthy
EVA: Gypsum sampling EVA. See EVA report
Reports to be file: Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, Science Report, GreenHab
Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photos.
Support Requested: N/A
Crew Photos – November 13th
Crew Photos – November 12th
Crew Photos – November 14th
Journalist Report – November 14th
Thurs 14 Nov Sol 4
by Guy Murphy
This morning I undertook my first extravehicular activity (EVA) of this Crew rotation.
Steve, Larissa and I took a pair of small 4 wheeled electric rovers out along the road
to the south on the campus where we are sampling for micro-meteorites. The simulated
EVA space suits restrict the line of sight, requiring the wearer to orientate their
body to look to the side rather than turn their head. This is most noticeable driving
the rovers, as you cannot easily see behind you from the driver’s seat. The suits
include gloves, which remove the sense of touch that would normally inform contact with
surfaces and objects around you. The enclosed helmets create a void of silence, verbal
contact only possible using radios.
We spent an hour and a half at the sample collection site. Radio dialogue with the
others was supplemented by hand signals. Space suits can get hot when you are working,
despite internal air conditioning and cooling. If your face gets itchy, you cannot
scratch your nose. But its very beautiful being outside in this landscape and an
opportunity for some physical exercise. Working together we completed nearby 1/3rd of
the mission’s planned sampling at this site before returning to the Hab.
On Mars, humans are inherently more efficient than robots when it comes to field
research, and engineering requiring human cognition and dexterity. This is why we need
humans there. EVAs will only be done when strictly necessary, as any venture outside is
inherently dangerous. Exposure to background radiation will discourage individuals from
logging up too much EVA time. People will never go out by themselves, only in pairs or
more. Living indoors for many months on end, any chance to be outside under open skies
will be highly valued.
A restricted Martian pantry need not result in a bland diet. This morning Larissa
served freshly baked croissants, produced with dried butter and flour. We have been
making blocks of hard cheese by filling tins with dried grated cheese, pouring in hot
water, pressing the cheese with forks, then draining and refrigerating. Once taken from
their moulds and aired, the sliced cheese is great to serve on dry biscuits with pickles.
Greenhab Report – November 14th
Crew 215 GreenHab Report 14-11-2019
GreenHab Officer: Guy Murphy
Environmental control: Door left open for ventilation 12 midday then reclosed 3pm as the day was overcast.
Average temperatures: –
Hours of supplemental light: Automatic system
Daily water usage for crops: 16 litres (2 full blue watering cans).
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes:
Water in Blue Tank –
Time(s) of watering for crops: 8am, 4:45pm.
Changes to crops: 2 tomato species, mixed pepper, white onion, cucumber seed planted. Dead dry material was broken up for possible future use as mulch.
SEASONAL PLANTING HISTORY
Established plants introduced 03/11/2019
[3x] strawberry plants (Everbearing), in medium metal planter
[1x] spicy orange thyme (thymus fragrantissimus), small terracotta pot
[1x] lemon balm scented geranium (pelargonium x Melissinum), small terracotta pot
[1x] Mint Mentha – Berries & Cream, small terracotta pot
[1x] Pineapple Mint – mentha suaveolens variegated, small terracotta pot
[1x] Ice plant – Delosperma ‘jewel of the desert garnet’, small terracotta pot
[1x] Sempervivum tectorum assorted Hen & Chicks, small terracotta pot
[1x] Rosemary ‘Barbecue’ (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Barbecue’), large plastic pot
[1x] Rosemary ‘Spice Island’ Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Spice Island’, large plastic pot
[1x] mint, grapefruit, large plastic pot
[2x] small Aloe Vera, in medium metal planter, frost damaged (removed 1311219)
Seeds Planted 04/11/2019 (Large metal planting tub)
Greek Oregano – Origanum heracleoticum
Chives – Allium schoenoprasum
Sweet Marjoram – Origanum majorana
Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis
Sage – Salvia Officinalis
Thai Basil – Siam Queen
German/Winter Thyme – Thymus vulgaris
Seeds Planted 10/11/2019 (Large metal planting tub)
Coriander – Coriandrum Sativum
Seeds Planted in 12/11/2019 (2 smaller planting tubs)
Carrots ‘Purple Sun F1’
Radish ‘icicle’
Seeds Planted 13/11/2019
Perpetual Spinach, Rocket, Spinach ‘Lakeside F1’in medium metal planter.
Tomato (Chocolate Cherry) and Tomato Pole Roma in small pots for transplantation.
Seeds Planted 14/11/2019
Tomato (Chocolate Cherry) and Tomato Pole Roma in small pots for transplantation.
Onion (Evergreen White Bunching)
Cucumbers (Patio Snackers F1) in hanging pot
Pepper (Mini Bell Color Mix) in small pots for transplantation.
Other seeds stored in the Greenhab are identified as –
Rocket ‘Arugula Rocket Salad ‘Rocky’ (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), 1/2 packet
Spinach ‘Lakeside F1’, 1/2 packet
Carrots ‘Purple Sun F1’ – 1/2 packet
Radish ‘icicle’ – 1/2 packet
Snow Pea (Oregon Giant)
Cucumbers (Patio Snackers F1), 1/2 packet
Onion (Evergreen White Bunching), 1/2 packet
Pepper (Mini Bell Color Mix), 1/2 packet
Perpetual Spinach (Green Leaf Chard), 1/2 packet
Partly used packed of seed have been stored in the provided tin to protect from vermin. This will also allow repropagation later in the season to stagger harvest times and allow resowing if crops are lost.
25 white Narcissus bulbs (Paperwhites ‘Ziva’)
Harvest: None
Support/supplies needed: N/A
EVA Report – November 14th
Crew 215 EVA Report 14-Nov-2019
EVA # 05
Author: Jennifer Lane
Purpose of EVA: Continuing with our sweep for micrometeorites.
Start time: 0915
End time: 1145
Narrative: Returning to Micrometeorite site 5 (MM5), todays crew managed to sweep 30 of
our pre-created grid squares (30m2) for micrometeorites using the magnet on a stick
method. These samples are all bagged and labelled and will later be analyzed to
determine if any of the magnetic particles picked up, are in fact micrometeorites.
Destination: South on Cow Dung Road to the Micrometeorite site, and then back on Cow
Dung Road North to return to the hab.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518473E 4248960N
Participants: Guy Murphy, Steve Whitfield and Larissa Wilson
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: South on Cow Dung Road and then on foot 75m to the
site.
Mode of travel: Spirit Rover and Curiosity Rover
Science Report – November 14th
Science Report 14 November 2019
SOL: 4
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: Gypsum samples retrieved were cleaned and weighed before
commencing grinding prior to experimentation. These samples were joined by
micrometeorite samples which were processed and packaged for shipment.
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: The fourth EVA for science saw us returning to the MM5 (518462E 4248949N) site
where 30 micrometeorite samples were collected. 40% of the grid has now been sampled.
See EVA Report.
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin
monitoring vests. The simulated emergency retrieval of the engineer has been postponed,
subject to approval, to 15Nov2019 at the conclusion of his engineering EVA.
Additional activities: Hab operations were disrupted due to ongoing construction.
Operations Report – November 14th
Crew 215 Operations Report 14-Nov-2019
SOL: 4
Name of person filing report: Shane Usher
Non-nominal systems: N/A
Notes on non-nominal systems: N/A
Generator: run
Hours run: 14h 00 min
From what time last night: approx. 1730
To what time this morning: 0730
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: N/A
Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night): 65%
Diesel Reading – 50% –
Station Propane Reading – 80%.
Ethanol Free Gasoline: N/A
Water (loft tank): 36 gallons
Water Meter: 1457861 units
Water (static tank): 420
Static to Loft Pump used – no
Water in Green Hab: 380 gallons, nominally 20 L (5.7 gallons) used today
Water in Science Dome: 0 gallons
Toilet tank emptied: no
Deimos rover used: not at hab
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: –
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: –
Spirit rover used: yes
Hours: 110.7
Beginning charge: (Before EVA): 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging): 73%
Currently charging: yes.
Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 66.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes
Curiosity rover used: yes
Hours: 116.9
Beginning charge: (Before EVA) : 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before charging): 84%
Currently charging: yes
Notes on rovers:
ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3): no
Reason for use: N/A
Oil Added? no
ATV Fuel Used: 0 Gals
# Hours the ATVs were used today: 0
Notes on ATVs: Assigned to the director
HabCar used and why, where? With DIRECTOR
CrewCar used and why, where? At Grand Junction awaiting Crew 216
General notes and comments: N/A
Summary of internet: Functional.
Summary of suits and radios:
Summary of Hab operations: Kitchen benchtop being installed.
Summary of GreenHab operations: Atmospheric equalization to the green hab was carried
out during the day, plants were watered (20L). The heater automatically came on at 5pm.
Summary of Science Dome operations: Washed and crushed gypsum samples, Re-bagged
micrometeorite.
Summary of RAM operations: Nominal
Summary of any observatory issues: Nominal
Summary of health and safety issues: All crew healthy.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Opportunity had overheated only
and is now operational.
Summary Report – November 14th
Crew 215 Sol Summary Report 14-NOV-2019
Sol: 4
Summary Title: Making Progress
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary: After ascertaining that Curiosity rover was operational (it was) our approved EVA for this Sol saw us returning to the micrometeorite sample grid in the stream wash at MM5 (518462E 4248949N). There, Guy, Larissa and Steve collected 30 samples before returning to the hab for lunch. 40% of the plots have now been sampled. During this time, gypsum samples collected from the White Moon location (517724E 4254500N) were begun to be cleaned and weighed in preparation for experimentation. This continued through the afternoon where samples from the micrometeorite grid were added to those being processed and packaged. Despite a rehearsal, construction in the hab caused a postponement of the disabled Marstronaut evacuation during the evening engineering EVA and, consequently, a ‘picnic’ dinner was held in the Green Hab.
Look Ahead Plan: Planning an EVA to MM5 (518462E 4248949N) to resume collection of micrometeorite samples and a demonstration of returning a disabled astronaut into the hab during the afternoon engineering EVA that had been postponed from the previous sol. See EVA requests. Continue monitoring of psycho-social stressors.
Anomalies in work: N/A.
Weather: Marginally below freezing overnight, light winds, clouded over during the day.
Crew Physical Status: Healthy
EVA: Micrometeorite sampling EVA. See EVA report
Reports to be file: Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, Science Report, GreenHab Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photos.
Support Requested: N/A
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