Author: jburk

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EVA Report – October 29th

Crew 214 EVA Report 29-10-2019
EVA # 1
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Training
Start time: 1400
End time: 1445

Narrative: This was a training exercise in Rover operations, familiarity with the roughness of the tracks and walking, climbing and driving whilst wearing spacesuits. It involved driving along Cow Dung Road to the Galileo Road turnoff to change drivers and then returning to Pooh’s Corner. Here, walking and climbing to higher ground and then descending to the rovers whilst wearing the two piece spacesuits, was practiced before returning to the hab.

Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Galileo Road turn off before returning to Pooh’s Corner and the hab.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519100E 4252000N
Participants: David Mateus, Guy Murphy, Andrew Wheeler
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Curiosity Rover, Spirit Rover, walking

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Science Report – October 29th

Crew 214 Science Report 29 October 2019
SOL: 2
Crew 214 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler

Science Operations: Weather conditions prevented EV activities during the morning, so all crew underwent instruction in donning and doffing both the exploration and two piece suits. In the afternoon, EVAs were approved and two short training activities were carried out. All crew have now become familiar with the operation of both types of suits, hab egress and ingress, operations with rovers and mobility on the surface.

Closed Loop Food Waste Study: The day’s waste for Sol 2 is: 89 grams; consisting of 339 calories, 10g fat, 5g saturated fat, 1619mg sodium, 56g carbohydrates, 3g fibre, 10g sugar, 5g protein.

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Journalist Report – October 29th

Tuesday 29 Oct Sol 2
Journalist: Sandy Dance

After a relatively warm night, we awake to light cloud, the rising sun striking pinks and whites off the surrounding hills.
This was the day we were expecting our first EVA, but due to forecast high winds, it was unfortunately cancelled.
Nevertheless, the morning was productively spent trying on the spacesuits for the first time. There are two types, the one-piece exploration suits, and the two-piece suits. We all stand around while David shows how they work, the protocols around the charging of them, unplugging, radios and how to wear them, etc. We try them on, lots of pushing and shoving, adjusting of straps, and finally, feeling comfortable: ready to step out on to the Martian surface!
Later, around lunchtime, we hear the good news that we are cleared for EVA, so expect to try out the suits around the hab and in the rovers this afternoon.

So indeed, later we had our first foray outside in the suits. How exciting as the minutes counted down in the airlock, before finally emerging onto the ‘surface’! Even better, we get to travel in the ATVs, cute electric cars that lurch over the landscape at what feels like high speed.

We finally get to a turnoff and get out, with some difficulty, in our suits. Out here the feeling of isolation is intense, barren hills marching off into the distance. We stumble over the rough ground intersected by shallow watercourses and scrub, and anomalously find the odd cowpat, or something pat. Nevertheless the illusion of actually being on Mars is almost complete, its quite a deep
experience: this is what it would feel like!

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Operations Report – October 29th

Crew 214 Operations Report 29-10-2019
SOL: 2
Name of person filing report: David Mateus
Non-nominal systems: Opportunity, suit 10
Notes on non-nominal systems: Oppy brakes do not work and Suit 10 is not charging
Generator: run
Hours run: 14:24
From what time last night: 18:04
To what time this morning: 8:00
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: none Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night): 81%
Diesel Reading –75 %
Station Propane Reading – 88 %
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A
Water (loft tank): 44 gallons
Water Meter: 1454520 units
Water (static tank) – 323 gallons
Static to Loft Pump used – Yes
Water in GreenHab – 150 gallons
Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons
Toilet tank emptied: yes
Deimos rover used: It is not in the hab
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: No
Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: –
Spirit rover used: Yes
Hours: (before EVA): 105.5 h
Beginning charge: (Before EVA1): 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA1, before recharging):71%
Beginning charge: (Before EVA2): 98%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA1, before recharging):81%
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: 65.5 h
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: Yes
Hours: 111.5
Beginning charge: (Before EVA1): 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA1, before recharging):81%
Beginning charge: (Before EVA2): 99%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA1, before recharging):88%
Currently charging: Yes
Notes on rovers: No
ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3) No
Reason for use: None
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? Used by assistant director to go to town for water CrewCar used and why, where? Not used
General notes and comments: None
Summary of internet: functional
Summary of suits and radios: Not used
Summary of Hab operations: All systems are nominal
Summary of GreenHab operations: Not used
Summary of ScienceDome operations: All systems are nominal, used for experiment preparations
Summary of RAM operations: Not used
Summary of any observatory issues: Not used
Summary of health and safety issues: All the crew are healthy Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: We need new batteries for six radios.

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Sol Summary – October 29th

Summary Title: Crossing the Threshold

Author’s name: Guy Murphy

Mission Status: 2nd day of full simulation, training still being undertaken.

Sol Activity Summary: This morning we were trained the use of the 1 piece and the 2 piece space suits by David Mateus. In the afternoon we undertook two separate training EVAs to familiarize all the crew with the airlock and radio procedures, and the rovers. 3 cooked meals were prepared.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we anticipate undertaking our first scheduled science EVA.

Anomalies in work: We were advised to hold off undertaking a morning EVA on account of weather conditions. Approval to undertake afternoon EVAs was subsequently granted.

Weather: Partially cloudy, no precipitation. Moderate winds commenced late morning. Very cold during the evening.

Crew Physical Status: All in excellent health.

EVA: 2 undertaken in afternoon.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Reports (2), Journalists Report, Science Report, Photo of the day.

Support Requested: None

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Journalist Report – October 28th

Monday 28th October Sol 1

After a freezing night (literally) we awake to a cold but clear day. The mountain to the south (Henry Mountains) is wreathed in cloud, and shows a glazing of snow. Today is our first day ‘on Mars’! This takes a bit of psychological adjustment.

We congratulate each other on a successful ‘journey’, and get on with the day. This is mainly about bedding in systems: getting the radios working, making equipment for the micrometeorite experiment, setting up the fire blanket for the kitchen.

The radios were a bit of a mess, with a number not working in different ways, but we were able to get a working minimum set functioning eventually.

Today we are expecting our 5th team member, David, to arrive, or ‘descend in the latest shuttle’. David is very experienced in the MDRS, so will be able to train us up in the use of the suits, etc.

The afternoon shift was spent working on equipment for the micrometeorite expedition, tying and marking string in 1 metre lengths for the grid to be set up later in the field.
After another delicious re-constituted meal, we move onto the CapCom reports and wind up the day.

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Operations Report – October 28th

Name of person filing report: David Mateus
Non-nominal systems: Opportunity
Notes on non-nominal systems: Its brakes do not work
Generator: run
Hours run: 8.5
From what time last night: 18:00
To what time this morning: 2:30
List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run: none
Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night): 84%
Diesel Reading –75 %
Station Propane Reading – 88 %
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A
Water (loft tank): 47 gallons
Water Meter: 1454197 units
Water (static tank) – 350 gallons
Static to Loft Pump used – Yes
Water in GreenHab – 0 gallons
Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons
Toilet tank emptied: yes

Deimos rover used: It is not in the hab
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: No

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR
Hours: –
Beginning charge: –
Ending charge: –
Currently charging: –

Spirit rover used: No
Hours: (before EVA): 105.5 h
Beginning charge: (Before EVA): 100%
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging):100%
Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: 65.5 h
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No
Hours: 111.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge:100%
Currently charging: Yes

Notes on rovers: No

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3) No
Reason for use: None
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? Used by assistant directors to go to town

CrewCar used and why, where? Used to go to Grand Junction

General notes and comments: None
Summary of internet: functional
Summary of suits and radios: No used
Summary of Hab operations: All systems are nominal
Summary of GreenHab operations: No used
Summary of ScienceDome operations: All systems are nominal, used for experiment preparations
Summary of RAM operations: No used
Summary of any observatory issues: Re-centered the focuser by the assistant directors
Summary of health and safety issues: All the crew are healthy
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: We need new batteries for six radios.

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Sol Summary – October 28th

Sol:1

Summary Title: Touchdown on Mars

Author’s name: Guy Murphy

Mission Status: The crew woke up on Mars this morning, this being our first day in full simulation mode.

Sol Activity Summary: The morning was dedicated to preparing and commencing use of the radios, as well as other minor maintenance, cleaning and administrative tasks. In the afternoon our 5th crew member David Mateus arrived. Crew geologist Andrew Wheeler continued preparation of equipment for the micro-meteorite collection study. Three cooked meals were prepared today.

Look Ahead Plan: Our goal is to commence our EVA schedule tomorrow, with David Mateus leading us on our first EVAs to learn about the procedures and equipment.

Anomalies in work: Not all the radios were found to be working.

Weather: Very cold overnight, clear and sunny daytime sky.

Crew Physical Status: All crew in good health.

EVA: Not commenced today.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, EVA Requests (2), Journalists Report, Science Report, Days Photos, Crew Car Collection Report, Mission Patch.

Support Requested: New batteries were requested to supplement the existing limited supply of working batteries for future crews.

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