EVA Report – December 22nd

EVA # 6

Author: Federico Martinez, Crew Astronomer.

Purpose of EVA: Further identify plausible RAN repeater locations with the consideration of 22 dBw antenna power for local cell generation (up to 3 km radius per cell). Additional soil samples from locations within route.

Start time: 10:45
End time: 14:42

Narrative: The crew drove for about 5 km and then stopped aside the road to start walking to our destiny, The Moon. The rovers are having troubles with the battery due to the low temperatures.

We decided to cut the road by walking inside the dunes of Mars, but after a few hours, the crew got confused about the correct way to our destination. Guiding us with the map, we found out that we were on the right direction to The Moons. During this long walk we explored the zone for our EVA objectives. After almost 4 km, the crew finally arrived to the destiny and a little further. We took a couple of pictures and measurements to begin the walk back to the Hab. The total distance of today´s EVA was 17 km, and from this 7.3 were by walking.

Destination: The Moon

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): E515708.2, N4254873

Participants: Commander, HSO, Greenhab Officer, Crew Astronomer\scientist

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: From the Hab through the PEV Road to the north a few kilometers before exit 1572 Brahe Hwy. We walked through White Moon, Beige Moon until we found the road in Yellow Moon. We walked back through Brahe Hwy.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking.

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity & Opportunity

Greenhab Report – November 22nd

Greenhab Officer:
Walter Calles

Environmental Control:
Heating

40% Shade Cloth on

Average Temperatures:
Low: 25°C
High: 38°C

Hours of Supplemental Light:
5

Daily Water Usage of Crops:
10 gallons

Water in Blue Tank (lbs):
55%

Times of Watering for Crops:
1630

Changes to crops:
Tomatoes growing slow. No significant changes
Baby greens showing good progress
Fennel looked better today. Salad mix in excellent shape.

Narrative:
Changed almost all sticky papers on blue flat.
Medium watered all plants.
Tomatoes still going. Will add some plant food tomorrow.
Spinaches for re-plant still pending.
Cucumbers in terrible shape. Will plant onions instead.

Harvest:
NONE

Support/Supplies Needed:
More sticky papers needed

Operations Report – December 22nd

SOL:7

Name of person filing report: César Augusto Serrano Baza

Non-nominal systems: Generator Autostart

Notes on non-nominal systems: None
Generator (hours run): 14:49 yesterday until around 8:10 Today started at 16:29

Solar— SOC 41%
Diesel Reading – Around 73%
Propane Reading – 76%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A gallons.

Water (Axillary tank) – 0 gallons
Water (static tank) – High Level, around 260 -gallons
Axillary to Static tank transfer– no
Gallons transferred: 0
Water in GreenHab – Medium level (58%)
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 01393538

Toilet tank emptied: yes

Deimos rover used: no, still not functional
Hours: 0
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: 63
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES

Opportunity rover used: YES
Hours: 44.8
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 58%
Currently charging: YES

Curiosity rover used: YES
Hours: 60.5
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 62%
Currently charging: YES

Notes on rovers: The batteries of the used rovers are discharging fastly, around 40% in the first 15 min. So, for the EVA to be successful the astronauts had to walk.
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: Unknown. They were ridden about 1 km each. Notes on ATVs : The Honda tire was inflated today in the morning engineering review.

HabCar used and why, where? Not used.
CrewCar used and why, where? Not used.

General notes and comments: – Nothing to report.

Summary of internet: Nothing to report.

Summary of suits and radios: – The 2 Piece-suit number 3 is still showing some malfunction with the airflow, because the helmet still gets foggy.
– The GreenHab radios are marked now in the Hab. Summary of GreenHab operations: – Nothing to report.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: – Nothing to report.

Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report.

Summary of any observatory issues: Musk Solar observatory – Nominal. Robotic Observatory – Nominal.

Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Nothing to report

Thank you!!!

Sol Summary – December 22nd

Sol: 7

Summary Title: Slippery Roads

Author’s name: Tania Robles, Commander

Mission Status: Crew is working correctly. The projects are going well even with some delay because of technical problems. We are still waiting for the antenna so we can install it and for an electronic component for the system of the 3D printed Rover.

Sol Activity Summary: During Sol 7, four of our Crew members went out for an EVA to The Moon. It was long exploration trip. We learnt that sometimes to innovate in the roads you take, can be a bad idea for your legs and back when you use spacesuits. But also that the MDRS maps are very correct and precise.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow at Sol 8 we will continue working with our projects and clean the Hab for Christmas.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny and windy

Crew Physical Status: All good. Tired because of the EVA.

EVA: Crew 201 performed a four people EVA to The Moon (E515708.2, N4254873). We took the rovers from the Hab for 5 km and then walked through White Moon and Beige Moon to Yellow Moon. The destiny was The Moon but we got confused with the roads. Finally we walked back through Brahe HWY to the main road and drove the rovers back to the Hab. The objectives were covered and we had a successful EVA

Reports to be filed: Operations Report

EVA Report

Greenhab Report

Astronomy Report

Journalist Report

Pictures of the day

Support Requested: N/A

Astronomy Report – December 21st

MS, We did some astronomy work.

Astronomy Report
Name: Federico Arturo Martinez Espinoza
Crew: 201 MEx-1
Date: 21- Dec – 2018

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects Viewed: 46P/Witarnen
Problems Encountered: Do not know if the lack of experience using photoshop to give color to images is the cause, but can not find the comet on the picture
.

Commander Report – December 21st

Sol 6.
The crew is beginning to present some situations regarding fatigue. The routine is already perceived among us. The temperature of the second floor of the Habitat affects the rest at night of the team because it is higher than what we normally had on Earth and in our country. This complicates our sleep and rest. Today four out of six crew members had nightmares.

During the day, we carried out our daily activities and continued working on our projects, however the technical complications continue to complicate the progress, especially the explosion that the supply rocket had and that suppose to would bring us several scientific instruments. Food became the best part of the days in Mars. Keep working like that crew.

Greenhab Report – December 21st

Hi all,

Here’s the Greenhab report for today:

Crew 201 Greenhab Report 21-DEC-2018
Greenhab Officer:
Walter Calles

Environmental Control:
Heating
Cooling w/ ambient air (3hrs)

40% Shade Cloth on

Average Temperatures:
Low: 25.1°C
High: 35.1°C

Hours of Supplemental Light:
5

Daily Water Usage of Crops:
8 gallons
4 gallons + plant food on blue flat
4 gallons + plant food on salad flats

Water in Blue Tank (lbs):
58%

Times of Watering for Crops:
1240
1600

Changes to crops:
Tomatoes growing slow. No significant changes.
Baby greens showing good progress

Narrative:
Half flat for both salad mix and bled were harvested today. I replanted them again and will review progress during following days.
Cucumber and spinach not showing progress, I’ll re-plant them tomorrow.
Radishes showing good progress, will harvest them on Sunday.
Carrots and fennel growing very slow.
I will plant some more cilantro, parsley and basil tomororw on the blue flat.

Harvest:
Salad mix: 1/2 flat
Salad blend: 1/2 flat

Support/Supplies Needed:
Looking forward to test the new scales!

Best regards,

Walter A. Calles
Greenhab Officer & Co-Journalist

Operations Report – December 21st

SOL:5

Name of person filing report: César Augusto Serrano Baza

Non-nominal systems: Generator Autostart

Notes on non-nominal systems: None
Generator (hours run): 17:27 last night until around 8:00 Today started at 17:22

Solar— SOC 79%%
Diesel Reading – 77%
Propane Reading – 80%
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A gallons.

Water (Axillary tank) – 0 gallons
Water (static tank) – High Level, around 300 -gallons
Axillary to Static tank transfer– no
Gallons transferred: 0
Water in GreenHab – Medium level (65%)
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 01392989

Toilet tank emptied: YES

Deimos rover used: no, still not functional
Hours: 0
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: 63
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES

Opportunity rover used: NO
Hours: 44.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES

Curiosity rover used: NO
Hours: 60
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: YES

Notes on rovers: Nothing to report.
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0
Notes on ATVs: ATVs were taken out of active service and are now parked away from the station.

HabCar used and why, where? Not used.
CrewCar used and why, where? Not used.

General notes and comments: – We had one walk EVA for the selection of some places to perform one experiment.

Summary of internet: Nothing to report.

Summary of suits and radios: – The 2-piece suits number 3, 4 and 6 were checked today. Number 3 is working fine. Number 4 had a bit cutted the inside mechanical joint, so the air flow was not the best. We temporary fix it. Suit number 6 had one stocked fan. We followed the instructions of Capcom in order to fix it and it is working fine. Find attached pictures
– The 1-piece suit number 8, 9 and 10 are superficially damaged. Find attached pictures.

Summary of GreenHab operations: – NOthing to report.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: – Nohing to report.

Summary of RAM operations: We have been working some engineering and experiments here. All good.

Summary of any observatory issues: Musk Solar observatory – Nominal. RObotic Observatory – In use at 17:06

Summary of health and safety issues: The provided smoke detector has been installed.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Find attached the photos of the suits while repairing and the one that we saw with one damage.

Thank you!!!

Journalist Report – December 21st

Crew 201 Journalist Report – 21DEC2018

The Martian Chronicles

[SOL 6] – Érase una vez en Marte…

Los seres humanos somos una especie compleja. La evolución nos dotó de una capacidad de raciocinio que nos ha permitido, a diferencia del resto de las especies, a adaptar el ambiente en el que vivimos para poder asegurar nuestra supervivencia. El cambio es, has sido, y será siempre una constante a través de los tiempos para la humanidad. Pero como cualquier proceso de cambio y revolución, no debemos olvidar que, en algún momento, aquello que alguna vez fue novedoso y sorprendente, se convertirá en un elemento tan normal y cotidiano como la salida y puesta del sol.

MDRS Crew 201 – MEx-1

El día de ayer hablábamos de la velocidad a la que las cosas ocurren durante nuestro día a día en la estación. Sin embargo, hemos descubierto que absolutamente nadie se salva de la cotidianidad; ya sea que vivas en un tranquilo pueblo a la orilla de un lago, en una colonia popular de la Ciudad de México, o a más de 50 millones de kilómetros de la Tierra… eventualmente, la rutina aparece y los momentos únicos y novedosos se vuelven parte del día a día. Atención, querido lector: ¡Esto no quiere decir que deje de ser emocionante! Pero, si tuviéramos que ponerle palabras a este sentimiento, tal vez lo más adecuado sería decir que “poco a poco, nos estamos adaptando a la vida en otro planeta”.

Cada SOL que pasamos en la estación, se empieza a sentir menos como un refugio temporal y más como nuestro hogar. Tal vez suene trivial esta aseveración, pero cuando te limitas a los mismos espacios, las mismas personas y las mismas responsabilidades, ciertas actividades que al inicio eran una experiencia totalmente nueva, el día de hoy, son una línea más por tachar en nuestra lista de tareas reglamentarias. En palabras un poco más simples, poco a poco nos envuelve la rutina. Y no tiene nada de malo. Pero a veces, no hay nada demasiado emocionante para comentar, en especial cuando los proyectos y experimentos empiezan a tomar ritmo y tenemos que darles algo de tiempo para poder empezar a ver los resultados esperados.

En algunos momentos, explorar otro planeta puede llegar a parecerse mucho a un día más en la oficina. Solo que en vez de ir por fotocopias o a entregar un reporte, nuestro Ingeniero tiene que equiparse en su traje espacial y salir a hacer sus revisiones matutinas de niveles de agua, carga de vehículos y del generador. Un día más en la oficina, ¿cierto?

Posiblemente para muchas personas el hablar de la rutina les parezca algo negativo o incluso triste. Tal vez para ustedes, queridos lectores, les parezca sorprendente estar leyendo que este fenómeno -tan normal en la Tierra- pueda darse en Marte. Pero para la tripulación de MEx-1, el experimentar estas emociones tan familiares, nos hace sentirnos un poco más cerca de casa. ¿Les parece un poco complicado de entender este fenómeno? Permítanme compartirles algo curioso que nos ocurrió el día de hoy en una breve conversación con nuestra Directora de Vuelo. Después de cosechar una sabrosa ensalada en el Greenhab, surgió una pregunta de lo más trivial: ¿dónde está el desinfectante? Y la respuesta simple fue “no hay desinfectante. Solo laven bien su cosecha”. Y no se ustedes, pero al menos en la Tierra de donde somos originarios (o sea, México), creo que estamos muy acostumbrados a desinfectar las verduras antes de comerlas.

¿Cuál es la moraleja de esta historia? Pues, además de que no contamos con desinfectante en la estación, es que no todos los problemas a los que nos enfrentaremos durante nuestra misión serán los grandes desafíos que la exploración espacial demandan. A veces, serán tan simples como el preguntarnos cómo es que debemos de limpiar una ensalada. Por eso, nos gustaría compartir con ustedes la siguiente reflexión, queridos y fieles lectores: ¿Qué tan lejos estamos de que la vida en otros planetas se convierta en una parte más de nuestra vida diaria? ¿Es acaso este el inicio de una nueva era dentro de la historia de la humanidad? Quién sabe… solo el tiempo lo dirá.

MEx-1 continuará informando.

Walter A. Calles Glass, MDRS Crew 201 Co-Journalist

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