Author: jburk

Posted on

Journalist Report – March 23rd

Journalist Report March 23, 2019

Journalist: Diane Rothberg

A busy last day of simulation with two EVAs, both of which were similar to yesterday’s.

This morning, we had a great time stumbling up a hill near Pooh’s Corners with our expensive drone and controller, trying not to destroy them. But we were rewarded with a perfect launch site and a gorgeous view. Our camera drone flew its programmed route well and allowed us to keep it in sight at all times.

Tiffany and Kevin were busy in the Science Dome testing out the 3D printed labware they printed at MDRS using biodegradable plastic. The good news is that our colorful devices worked and looked fabulous!

During this afternoon’s EVA, Tiffany got a chance to fly a drone for the first time, and we both performed the control stick comparison. No contest! The new controller is much more intuitive than the traditional controller, and made a clumsy newbie like me feel like a “drone virtuoso!”

After dinner, we are wrapping up the thoracentesis data collection for our crew, and cleaning up MDRS for inspection.

Our last dinner together will be quite ethnic… potato latkes and lentil soup, concluding with one of Tiffany’s excellent desserts…. apple pie “a la Mars.”

Posted on

Operations Report- March 18th

Crew 207 Operations Report 18 Mar 2019

SOL: 2

Name of person filing report: Tom Baldwin

Non-nominal systems: Generator:Radiator hoses and alternator need replacement on the generator. A contractor has been arranged to make these repairs within a few days.

Generator

Generator (hours run): 11:30 hours

Generator was turned on at 20:00, 17-March, and turned off at 07:30, 18 March

Solar— SOC % – Turned off at 58% (this morning at 07:30), still off at 19:29

Diesel Reading – 55%

Propane Reading – 68 %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 2 gallons.

Water (auxiliary tank) – Not in use

Water (static tank) – 330 gallons

Auxiliary to Static tank transfer– Not applicable

Gallons transferred: Not Applicable

Water in GreenHab – 176 gallons

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

Water Meter: 141867.5 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: No

Deimos rover used: No, not functional

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: N/A

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours: Not applicable

Beginning charge: Not applicable

Ending charge: Not applicable

Currently charging: Not applicable

Spirit rover used: Used

Hours: 84.4 hours

Beginning charge: 100 %

Ending charge: 82 %

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Unused

cleardot.gif

Hours:53.6 hours

Beginning charge: 58 %

Ending charge: 56 %

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: Used

Hours: 83.7 hours

Beginning charge: 100 %

Ending charge: 98 %

Currently charging: Yes

Notes on rovers: EVA mission 1.

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

Reason for use: Not used

Oil Added?: N/A

ATV Fuel Used: N7A

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: None

Notes on ATVs: None

HabCar : None.

CrewCar used and why, where?

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: Nothing to report

Summary of GreenHab operations: Nothing to report

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report

Summary of RAMM operations: Nothing to report

Summary of any observatory issues: Musk Observatory: Please see Astronomer Report regarding video capture issues.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None

Posted on

Greenhan Report- March 18th

Crew 207 GreenHab Report – 18 Mar 2019

GreenHab Officer: Diane Rothberg

Environmental control: Heat and cooling w/ambient air (9 hr)

Shade Cloth (40%)

Average temperatures:

Low: 16.0 deg C

High: 28.5 deg C

Hours of supplemental light: 0 Hours

Daily water usage for crops: 5 gallons

Water in Blue Tank: 176 gallons

Crops watered at 0900 hours (2 gal) and 1630 hours (3 gal)

TIME NOTED TEMPERATURE (DEG C) / HUMIDITY (%)

1) 09:00 AM 25 deg C / 20%

2) 11:50 AM 25 deg C / 20%

3) 16:10 PM 28 deg C / 20%

4) 18:00 PM 24 deg C / 20%

Changes to crops: None

Narrative:

Harvest: basil 18 gm, cilantro 1 gm, red leaf lettuce 10 gm, 3 radishes 12 gm, 4 carrots 28 gm,

Support/supplies needed: None

Posted on

Astronomy Report- March 18th

Name: Tom Baldwin

Crew: 207

Date: 18-MAR-2019

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF

Objects Viewed: Hersehend Nebula

Problems Encountered: Working on completing image from Crab Nebula. For some reason, using AstriImage, the calibration for each group of filter selections were processed at the 16 bit level. The Luminosity group, though set for 16 bit, ends up being processed at 32, though set at 16. I’ll try again, and either set all to 32, or delete the Luminosity filter PNG.

MUSK OBSERVATORY : Viewed Sun through eyepiece.

Solar Features Observed: Sun

Problems Encountered: When the camera was installed and the ICap program opened, the following message was displayed: “The device “Skyrus 236M, (30614267} is in live mode, but does not seem to deliver images. Try to choose a different video format, or try reconnecting your device in the computer.”

The computer was shut down, the camera was reconnected, the computer was restarted, and the ICap program was restarted. The following message was displayed: Live mode could not be started. Please make sure no other program uses the device and that there is enough bandwidth on your firewire available. When “OKAY” was selected, a window appeared with the following: “Skyrus 236M (30614217}

VIDEO FORM -NA

VIDEO FORMAT RGB 4 (640/968)

INPUT CHANNEL -NA

FRAME RATE: 112.5

A different VIDEO FORMAT was selected, but a similar fault window was displayed.

Following another telescope alignment, reconnection of the camera, and another restart of both the computer and ICap program, a fuzzy grey picture was displayed. Selection of the DEVCE TAB, then PROPERTIES, in order to adjust theexposure and the gaindid not change the picture.

Posted on

Journalist Report- March 18th

Journalists report March 18, 2019

Author: Diane Rothberg

We awoke to a loaf fresh bread, courtesy our bread making machine that labored through the night. But that was nothing compared to Tom’s multi-grain pancakes which were accompanied by a fruit salad. We discovered we could conserve water as well as make a nutritious beverage by boiling the water from the reconstituted fruit salad and adding a couple of green tea bags.

Tiffany and Tom spent a good part of the morning hunched over laptops trying to sort out issues with with the astronomy photoshop software, while Julielynn set up a medical research study involving the use of a 3D printer as an aid to thoracentesis training. Kevin helped out by being her “human mannequin”.

A lunchtime bruschetta made with the leftover bread was a big hit, especially with the addition of Greenhab basil and cilantro. After lunch, Tom and Tiffany went to the solar observatory to troubleshoot some issues with the telescope imaging software.

Then we suited up for our afternoon EVA mission, the aim of which was to pinpoint optimum locations for our drone mapping project. Julielynn, Tom and myself headed south in rovers Curiosity and Spirit, in search of “Zubrin’s Point.”

It’s amazing how the simplest things become a challenge “here on Mars”. The space suits are so cumbersome that even entering the rover is a squeeze. Trying to keep an eye on your crew mate behind you requires a major shift in body weight. Com radios can drop off your belt, ear pieces can slip off causing a lack of communication, and taking photos with bulky gloves make manipulating an iPad extremely difficult.

We have a busy night ahead, as Julielynn is planning thoracentesis training for all of us!

Posted on

Sol Summary- March 18th

Summary Title : Day #1 of Sim

Author : Julielynn Wong

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary: ENG prepared breakfast. COM and HSO set up a research study in the Science Dome. HSO and SCI planned tomorrow’s EVA. GHO prepared lunch using cilantro and basil from the Greenhab. Weather was clear and sunny for EVA #1 to Zubrin’s Head and Kissing Camels. AST continued operations in the solar observatory. GHO made dinner.

Crew 207 identified the following useful items that could be 3D printed out of biodegradable, washable plastic at MDRS:

Environmental sample container

Toothbrush stand/holder

Selfie stick with attached rearview mirror for EVAs

Conductive stylus for EVAs

Headband with scratcher attachment for EVAs

Contour map for road to MDRS

Look ahead plan : We are planning another EVA to scout out other locations suitable for drone mapping. We are preparing files to be 3D printed at MDRS to save time and money for future crews.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Sunny all day

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : Zubrin’s Head + Kissing Camels

Reports to be filed : Operations, GreenHab, Journalist, Mission Plan, EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested : David generously loaned Crew 207 his manual can opener.

Posted on

Operations Report – March 22nd

Crew 207 Operations Report 22 Mar 2019

SOL: 6

Name of person filing report: Tom Baldwin

Non-nominal systems: Generator:Radiator hoses and alternator need replacement on the generator. A contractor has been arranged to make these repairs within a few days.

Generator

Generator (hours run): 13 hours

Generator was turned off at 11:00, SOC 100%, and turned on at 20:00

Diesel Reading – 50 %

Propane Reading – 63 %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 2 gallons.

Water (auxiliary tank) – Not in use

Water (static tank) – 180 gallons

Auxiliary to Static tank transfer– Not applicable

Gallons transferred: Not Applicable

Water in Green Hab – 154 gallons

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

Water Meter: 142014.9 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: No

Deimos rover used: No, not functional

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: N/A

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours: Not applicable

Beginning charge: Not applicable

Ending charge: Not applicable

Currently charging: Not applicable

Spirit rover used: Not used

Hours: 85.1 hours

Beginning charge: 100 %

Ending charge: 100 %

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: Not used

Hours:53.6 hours

Beginning charge: 100 %

Ending charge: 100 %

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: Not used

Hours: 84.4 hours

Beginning charge: 100 %

Ending charge: 100 %

Currently charging: Yes

Notes on rovers: not used

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

Reason for use: Not used

Oil Added?: N/A

ATV Fuel Used: N7A

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: None

Notes on ATVs: None

HabCar : None.

CrewCar used and why, where?

General notes and comments: Nothing to report

Summary of internet: Nothing to report

Summary of suits and radios: EVA suits normal, with all batteries greater than 13 volts,

(including the three used for EVAs today).

Summary of Hab operations: Checked SOC of electrical system.

07:45 100%, generator on

11:55 100%, generator off

13:50 94% generator off

17:55 85% generator off

Summary of Green Hab operations: Nothing to report

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Nothing to report

Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report

Summary of any observatory issues: Nothing to report

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None

Posted on

EVA Report – March 22nd

Crew 207 EVA Report 22 Mar 2019
EVA #5

Author : Julielynn Wong

Purpose of EVA: Allow novice drone pilots to compare a standard versus novel controller to fly a Mavic Pro drone in a square test flight pattern.

Start time: 14:40
End time: 16:40

Narrative: The weather was clear and sunny. All 3 EVA Team members flew the traditional controller first for a test flight in a square configuration (60 ft for each side) at an altitude of 20 feet. Then each EVA team member flew a novel controller for the same square flight test pattern. A post-flight survey was completed by all EVA team members.

Destination: MDRS sign

Coordinates: 4250850 / 518100

EVA Participants: Dean (XO), Tom Baldwin (ENG), Kevin Ho (HSO)

Roads and routes per MDRS Map: Road 1103

Mode of travel: Walking

Posted on

EVA Report – March 22nd

Crew 207 EVA Report 22-Mar-2019
EVA #4

Author: Diane Rothberg

Purpose of EVA: Scout specific areas for launching, flying, mapping and landing drones that will be used to create a 3D printed map of the MDRS Hab area.

Start time: 9:45
End time: 11:45

Narrative: Mapped two areas outlined in drone deploy software. Had drone do video inspection of Hab roof. Had Part 107 novice drone pilots practice flying the drone both manually and automatically.

Destination: Hab area

Coordinates 4255000 x 518000

Participants: Dean Jin (XO), Tom Baldwin (ENG), Diane Rothberg (GHO)

Road(s) Route 1103 staying within 1 km of the Hab

Mode of travel: walking

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