Author: jburk

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Sol Summary – April 17th

Crew 210 Sol Summary Report 17-APR-2019

Sol: 5

Summary Title: Plants to the north and plants to the west

Author’s name: Paul Sokoloff

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Today we continued our outreach efforts on social media, including answering questions on our Reddit "Ask a Martian Anything", and uploaded a Facebook update video. Four of the crew went to Copernicus Valley to continue transect and quadrat sampling, where we discovered new plant records for the MDRS area, including a stinkweed (Cleomella palmeriana). After a beautiful ride out and back, we returned home to the hab for lunch. In the afternoon we hiked up to the top of Hab Ridge just to the west of MDRS to finish our quadrat sampling. We returned to the hab around 6, and we plan on spending the evening processing samples and pressing plants in the Science Dome.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow AM we will conduct livestream outreach broadcasts (one in French and one in English) in partnership with Discover The Universe and Live It. In the afternoon we will continue to process samples in the science dome, and will meet to discuss next steps for our multi-year program.

Anomalies in work: No problems.

Weather: Bright and Sunny

Crew Physical Status: Good. One crew member slipped into a sinkhole on Sagan Street but caught themselves before falling far, and is OK (one very slight scrape). No problems afterwards

EVA: Four crew members took ATVs to Copernicus Valley in the northwest corner of the MDRS operation area in the morning for quadrat sampling. In the afternoon four crew members hiked up to Hab Ridge for additional quadrat surveys.

Reports to be file: GreenHab Report, Operations Report, Photo Report

Support Requested: None.

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Science Report – April 16th

This afternoon crew 210 began to conduct vegetation quadrat surveys as a part of our local plant and lichen biodiversity survey. At two sites pre-selected from the MDRS topographic map (both east of the hab along Cactus Road) we plotted three 10-meter transects, and surveyed five 1-meter-square quadrats along each transect in a zig-zag pattern.

For each transect we recorded GPS coordinates, air and soil
temperature at the center of the transect, measured the height of the tallest plant on the transect, and took a central sample for soil moisture and pH (these latter variables will be measured in the lab tomorrow).

Within each of the five quadrats, we estimated percent cover of vascular plants, and named the top three species (by abundance) inside the square-meter. Any new plant species encountered were collected for identification and to add to our plant biodiversity data.

Tomorrow we will finish the quadrat surveys at three additional pre-determined sites, north and west of the hab, and will continue our plant and lichen collection efforts.

Regards,
Paul, on behalf of Crew 210

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Greenhab Report – April 16th

GreenHab Officer: David Murray

Environmental control: Ambient with door open 9:35 to 17:20

Shade Cloth: 80%

Low Temperature: 16 C

High Temperature: 26 C

Relative humidity: 22%

Hours of Supplemental Light: 0

Daily Water Usage for Crops: 32 L

Water in Blue Tank: Low, needs refilling

Time(s) of Watering: 9:40

Changes to Crops: None.

Narrative: All crops except for seedlings were fertilized with Miracle Grow today. It was much cooler in the GreenHab than it’s been the last few days. Did not use the fan. 40 g basil was harvested.

Harvest: 40 g basil

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Sol Summary – April 16th

Crew 201 Sol Summary Report 16-APR-2019

Sol: 4

Summary Title: Quadrat by quadrat, we’re painting a picture of the “Martian” desert

Author’s name: Paul Sokoloff

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary: (This morning we hosted a representative from the local Bureau of Land Management Office, therefore our team left for EVA in the early afternoon. We visited two sites east of the hab along the Cactus Road to survey vegetation using quadrats at two pre-determined sites – details for this sampling will be covered in the science report. At these sites we made additional plant and lichen collections for our biodiversity survey project. At the end of the day we proceeded to Hanksville to host an “Ask a Martian Anything” on Reddit.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow we plan on visiting three more sites to finish our quadrat surveys, and to process the plants collected today in the hab science dome.

Anomalies in work: No issues to report.

Weather: Good weather (though slightly cold and overcast) until we returned home from our EVA, and which point rain and hail started over us.

Crew Physical Status: Nominal.

EVA: We drove along Cactus Road east of the station and sampled two sites along the route for our quadrat surveys.

Reports to be file: Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Photo Report, Science Report

Support Requested: None.

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Operations Report – April 16th

Crew 210 Operations Report 16-APR-2019

SOL: 4

Name of person filing report: Shannon Rupert

Non-nominal systems: nothing to report

Notes on non-nominal systems: nothing to report

Generator (hours run): 10.5

Solar— SOC 98 % as of 5:30 pm. Will not turn on generator until needed.

Diesel Reading – 38 %

Propane Reading – 43 %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 7 gallons.

Water (auxillary tank) – 0 gallons

Water (static tank) – 300 gallons

Auxillary to Static tank transfer– no

Gallons transferred: No

Water in GreenHab – unknown gallons.

Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water Meter: not read

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: Still non-operational

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR, yes

Hours: Did not record

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 49

Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: yes

Hours: did not check

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 42

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no

Hours: 56.4

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours: 88.8

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: Nothing to report

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

Reason for use: Testing and Field work

Oil Added? Yes. The oil in the 300 was fine. Oil in 350.1 and 350.3 was low but ok, but it was very low in 350.2 (the dirty one). The Honda had NO oil at all.

ATV Fuel Used: 3 Gals.

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 5

Notes on ATVs: The battery was replaced in the 300 and it is now operational as well. We changed the spark plug in the Honda and it still wouldn’t start. Turned out the kill switch was on. When the kill switch in on in the Yamaha’s they won’t even turn over, in the Honda it will turn over but not engage the engine. At any rate, with no oil we would have ruined it if we had run it before we put oil in it, so all is good. The new spark plug wasn’t a waste, as it starts right up now.

When testing the ATVs, we discovered that the handlebars on 350.2 are now so low that it is damaging the machine, once again causing accelerator on the turn and reducing the turning ratio. We ran it into a rover due to these issues. The rover was undamaged but I decided to pull the ATV from use until I can figure out how to fix the
handlebars. If we do use this AYV, I will be the one to operate it/

HabCar used and why, where? No

CrewCar used and why, where? Yes, to Hanksville for AMA REDDIT thing.

General notes and comments: Nothing to report

Summary of internet: Nothing to report

Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report

Summary of Hab operations: We are having some issues with the wall plugs on the wall in the main space of the lower deck. This should be addressed in the near future.

Summary of GreenHab operations: David will send a full report today. He continues working on climate control.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: We collected many plants today and will be spending time in the dome later tonight and tomorrow processing them.

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 tonight, thank you.

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Greenhab Report – April 15th

GreenHab Officer: David Murray

Environmental control: Ambient with door open 9:00 to ? (high winds blew the door shut at some point while we were gone)

Shade Cloth: 80%

Low Temperature: 15 C

High Temperature: 37 C

Relative humidity: 17%

Hours of Supplemental Light: 0

Daily Water Usage for Crops: 11 L

Water in Blue Tank: Low, needs refilling

Time(s) of Watering: 11:40

Changes to Crops: None.

Narrative: Crops are looking good but the tomatoes are starting to show signs of nutrient deficiency. I’ll fertilize them with Miracle Grow tomorrow and see if it improves. It’s been hot, but the fan is running on it’s highest setting throughout the hottest parts of the day. The GreenHab door shut at some point before 6:45 due to high winds.

Harvest: None

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Operations Report – April 15th

Crew 210 Operations Report 15-APR-2019

SOL: 3

Name of person filing report: Shannon Rupert

Non-nominal systems: nothing to report

Notes on non-nominal systems: nothing to report

Generator (hours run): 11 hours last night

Solar— SOC 89 % as of COMMS. Will not turn on generator until needed.

Diesel Reading – 38 %

Propane Reading – 45 %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 10 gallons.

Water (auxillary tank) – 0 gallons

Water (static tank) – 300 gallons

Auxillary to Static tank transfer– no

Gallons transferred: No

Water in GreenHab – unknown gallons.

Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water Meter: not read

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: Still non-operational

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR, no

Hours: 50.7

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: 86.5

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: yes, to move water tank

Hours: 56.4

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours: 88.8

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: Nothing to report

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

Reason for use: Testing

Oil Added? No

ATV Fuel Used: 0 Gals.

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0

Notes on ATVs: 350.1 was the only operational ATV when I arrived.
350.2 and 350.3 are now operational with new batteries. 350.2 is
still very dirty.

We are currently changing the spark plug on the Honda to see if we can
get it to turn over. The Honda’s battery is good. We purchased a new
battery for the 300 and hope to get it installed before dark today.
The goal is to have all 5 ATVs operational tomorrow.

HabCar used and why, where? Yes, to haul water.

CrewCar used and why, where? Yes, to Loa for supplies

General notes and comments: Tunnel repairs were completed. A
considerable amount of MOOP was picked up from around the tunnels.

We are currently transferring water with a very small external pump
that takes over an hour to transfer 125 gallons. We plan to replace
the pump that was broken last month with my old house pump this
evening. That should make transferring water easier although we
should order a replacement pump to have on hand.

Summary of internet: Nothing to report

Summary of suits and radios: Nothing to report

Summary of Hab operations: Electric kennel is broken.
Toaster/convection oven was replaced on the shelf where it belongs.

Summary of GreenHab operations: David will send a full GreenHab report
tonight. He has programmed the fan to keep the plants cooler in the
afternoon. He will continue fine tuning it for the rest of the week.
He also purchased a new thermometer.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: First group of plants in the plant
press are being fanned for more rapid drying.

Summary of RAM operations: Clean! I spent part of the afternoon
organizing and cleaning the RAM. Happy to say it is now clean, except
that I will sweep it out once the wind dies down.

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 tonight,
thank you.

Posted on

Sol Summary – April 15th

Crew 210 Sol Summary Report 15-APR-2019

Sol: 3

Summary Title: Squashing plants and supply runs

Author’s name: Paul Sokoloff

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: This morning, after the requisite coffee, Crew 210 pressed the plants collected during yesterdays excursion to Salt Creek and the Burpee Quarry. By squishing the plant specimens between cardboard and drying them out, the team is left with a flat plant that, of stored correctly, will last for hundreds of years. These specimens, accompanied by a label indicating the location and date of collection, will serve as the proof that these plants were found growing at a specific place and time, and will make up the backbone of our first planned publication from this program.

Our team devoted the rest of this sol to gathering supplies essential to hab and rover systems. Shannon made a water run to Hanksville, while the rest of 210 went to Bicknel for ATV batteries and supplies to build a quadrat for our ecological work. On our return to MDRS our team was able to repair one more ATV, three of these are now operational.

While completing both our scientific and technical work for the day we were also able to continue our social outreach efforts, including posting video of our plant pressing adventures to Twitter and Facebook, preparing for an “Ask a Martian Anything” on Reddit tomorrow night, and telling our “Martian” tales on social media.

All in all, another beautiful day in that special place that straddles the line between our unique planet and the one we’d next like to visit.

Look Ahead Plan: Now equipped with a square-meter quadrat for ecological sampling, we will plan on spending tomorrow (sol 4), doing transects and quadrats within the MDRS operational area. At these sites we will document the number of species, percent cover, and functional groups of the plant and lichen communities, and record abiotic variables such as soil moisture content, pH, and coarseness. New plant and lichen species found on EVA will also be collected.

A Bureau of Land Management representative is scheduled to visit MDRS tomorrow morning, so we will meet with them before starting our sampling EVA.

Anomalies in work: No.

Weather: Cloudy in the am, clearing by mid-day.

Crew Physical Status: Good.

EVA: no EVAs at MDRS, but Shannon made a water and supply run to Hanksville, and the remainder of the crew made a supply run to Bicknell.

Reports to be filed:

Sol Summary

Operations Report

GreenHab Report

Photo Report

Support Requested: n/a

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