EVA Report – December 11th

Crew 200 EVA Report 11-12-2018

EVA #4

Author: Antoine Bocquier

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations that allow radio communication between EVA crew and HabCom, in northern and southern regions 2) Test how EVAs can safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crew, including rover use.

Start time: 9:10

End time: 10:55

Narrative: After the engineering tour, we drove with Curiosity to the north, then to the south to explore and map the regions of communication strength/readibility. We applied a communication protocol to control the radio strength/readability (QSA/QRK codes) every minute and communicate GPS coordinates every 5mn.
We first drove to Galileo road, planning to stop for a short walk at Connector Stream Bed. However we did not find both of them, being focused on our communication test protocol and with the recent snow melting. We went further than expected to the north, up to cowboy’s corner where we stopped as we realized from the transmitted coordinates that we were too far.
On our way back to the Hab to change the rover and go to the south, we confirmed the location of Connector Stream Bed. Arrived at the Hab at 9:50, we took Opportunity to go to Robert’s Rock Garden, applying the same communication protocol. From there we walked along Kissing Camel Ridge Edge to complete yesterday’s mapping of this area. We then drove back and came back on time at the Hab. Analysis of the acquired data is in process and the first results are promising!

Destination: Galileo Road (up to Cowboy Corner) + Robert’s Rock Garden

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518000 E – 4249300 N to 519000 E – 4252500 N

Participants: Makiah, Antoine

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : Cow Dung Road by driving, walking along Kissing Camel East Ridge

Mode of travel: driving, walking

Sol Summary – December 11th

Sol: 9

Summary Title: First 3 crew EVA using rovers.

Author’s name: Lindsay Rutter

Mission Status: All crew members are happy after 3 crew EVA using rovers.

Sol Activity Summary: We conducted a 3 crew EVA today using rovers and
continued mapping communication strength and readibility. We realized
yesterday that we did not document any photos during our first 3 crew
EVA because we were concentrating on our communication protocol.
Today, we reserved extra time at the beginning and end of our EVA to
better document it with photos. After our EVA, we added our newest
observations about 3 crew EVAs to a list we are keeping this week and
will share at the end of our mission. We continued plotting the radio
test values we collected during our EVA onto maps and collaborating
with projects in the habitat. We also caught a habitat mouse today;
tomorrow, we will remove it a significant distance from the habitat as
per protocol. We will be careful to monitor and report any other
problematic pests around the habitat.

Look Ahead Plan: We plan to continue mapping the radio connectivity
between EVA crew and HabCom in northern and southern areas and testing
how to safely and effectively conduct 3 crew EVAs. We will also
continue plotting our tested radio connectivity values onto maps
together and collaborating between projects in the habitat and
GreenHab.

Anomalies in work: Mouse was found in a trap inside the habitat. We
will follow protocol and remove it during our EVA tomorrow.

Weather: Cold, muddy from snow melt.

Crew Physical Status: No crew members reported physical problems today.

EVA: Crew completed an EVA with 2 members outside and 1 member in the
habitat. EVA members performed an engineering check, drove north with
Curiosity to Cowboys’ corner (this was further than intended due to
recent snow melting obstructing landmarks), returned to the habitat,
switched rovers, drove south with Opportunity to Robert’s Rock Garden,
walked along Kissing Camel Ridge, returned to the habitat, took
several photos to document our 3 crew EVA. We applied our
communication and GPS coordinate relay system throughout the EVA.

Reports to be filed: Operations Report, EVA Report, EVA Request,
GreenHab Report, Pictures Report, Journalist Report, Sol Report

Support Requested: N/A

Journalist Report – December 11th

Crew 200 Journalist Report 11-DEC-2018

*In spoken word format*

Where would I be if I chose education over learning?
I would have arose this morning, on Earth.
I would’ve taken the exam that kept me on Earth, yesterday.
Because all things considered, at the end of the day,
I am here for school.
A professor will rule a grade that affects my career.
My research on Mars doesn’t get graded at the end of year.
The rules say I’m a student before an engineer.

Well, this isolation does something at MDRS, especially for the
engineering mind.
Where the problem is undefined.
The method is up to you,
but the solution is experience and time.

At the end of the day,
when you take your course books offline,
your education is now experiential
Your learning has boundless potential

Heat Transfer lessons leap off binded textbooks
As Antoine finds nooks in the Hab to refine his model.
Computer Science lab is now carried
by Lindsay’s work to meet the need
of a report reading software.
Everyday, we code through another layer.

I’m on EVA, my phone on display to the GPS received from 16 of 23 satellites
I learned about in a lecture in class. I might
lose signal with the Hab Com, but we have protocol,
procedures, to anticipate all
scenarios so we can come home safe.
We did. Not a minute too soon or too late.

Do I have my priorities straight?
Would it have been better to wait until I graduate?
Or until I have Dr. in front of my name,
Where a professor would have respect for me same?
When the difference between Mars and Earth
is only a final examination,
I will choose learning over education.

Makiah Eustice

Greenhab Report – December 11th

Crew 200 Greenhab Report 11-DEC-2018

Greenhab Officer:
Makiah Eustice

Environmental Control:
Heating
40% Shade Cloth on

Average Temperatures:
Low: 24 C
High: 54 C

Hours of Supplemental Light:
5

Daily Water Usage of Crops:
8 gallons

Water in Blue Tank (lbs):
68%

Times of Watering for Crops:
1430

Changes to crops:
NONE

Narrative:
You can tell the tomatoes are trying to grow again. My sprouts will be
ready to harvest before we leave. I put up new sticky sheets for the
gnats.

Harvest:
NONE

Support/Supplies Needed:
NONE

GreenHab Report – December 10th

Greenhab Officer:
Makiah Eustice

Environmental Control:
Heating
40% Shade Cloth on

Average Temperatures:
Low: 24 C
High: 47 C

Hours of Supplemental Light:
5

Daily Water Usage of Crops:
6 gallons

Water in Blue Tank (lbs):
70%

Times of Watering for Crops:
1430

Changes to crops:
NONE

Narrative:
Plants look happier with more water.

Harvest:
2.4 g of Basil
23.6 g of Mixed salad greens.

Support/Supplies Needed:
Any ideas for sensors to put in the water tank to know the level? The water gnats are getting out of hand. The sticky sheets are not effective enough.

Journalist Report – December 10th

Crew 200 Journalist Report 10-DEC-2018

On the last day of our nominal mission, we filmed a video that introduced the habitat and its surrounding buildings. We filmed it using Italian, Chinese, French, Japanese, German, and English, with each crew member hosting a part of it. We had to “rehearse” it beforehand to film it in one continuous shot. It was a memorable way to finish our mission, highlight the diverse nature of our team, and illuminate that MDRS is for the global public. We strive to continue demonstrating these values during our extended mission.

Today marks the first simulation date for our reduced three-member crew. Roles that four members impeccably served during the nominal mission are now vacant. We need to be fast-learning jacks and jills of all trades, even more so now than we did before. With the sudden departure of crew members who were culinarily inclined, something as simple as cooking could prove dismal. Thankfully, we have not resorted to eating habitat mice! We tap into skills acquired from the full crew and our creative juices to concoct delicious meals derived from dehydrated ingredients.

We were given the special opportunity to plan and perform the first EVA with a three-member crew, which we achieved today. We applied a communication protocol where we recorded QSA and QRK codes every minute and GPS coordinates every four minutes. Throughout the week, we aim to map the strength and readability of radio communication for areas surrounding the habitat. We will also develop a risk analysis matrix for three-member EVAs based on our experiences. We are motivated to contribute fresh knowledge in the area of reduced crew EVAs for the benefit of MDRS and beyond.

Tonight we celebrate our successful EVA with spaghetti and pesto, garnished with basil leaves from the GreenHab. We will also harvest the GreenHab to make a small and hearty salad. Admittedly sprinkled with water gnats, also courtesy of the GreenHab. Thank you to CapCom and others back on Earth for supporting us on this three-person mission. We will not let you down!

EVA Report – December 10th

Crew 200 EVA Report 10-12-2018

EVA #3

Author: Antoine Bocquier

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations around the habitat that allow for radio communication between EVA crew and HabCom, 2) Test how EVAs can safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crews.

Start time: 10:35

End time: 12:30

Narrative: Crew conducted first 3-crew member EVA to explore and map the regions of communication strength/readibility. We applied a
communication protocol to control the radio strength/readability (QSA/QRK codes) every minute and communicate GPS coordinates every 5mn. We planned contingency plans for loss of signal and navigation. Afterwards, the crew mapped the locations of perceived path by each crew member against the estimated path based on recorded GPS coordinates. We could not explore as much area as planned (we planned to have a walk to Phobos’s Peak) given the time left but the experiment was a success, both on the EVA crew and HabCom sides for a 3-member crew.

Destination: Kissing Camel East Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519000 E – 4249500 N to 518500 E – 42505000 N

Participants: Makiah, Lindsay

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : N/A

Mode of travel: walking

Operations Report – December 10th

Crew 200 Operations Report 10-Dec-2018

SOL: 8

Name of person filing report: Antoine Bocquier

Non-nominal systems: generator autostart
Notes on non-nominal systems: None

Generator (hours run): From 5:15 pm last night to 9:00 am. On tonight at 4:50 pm.

Solar— SOC 96%
Diesel Reading – 24 %
Propane Reading – 34 %
Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A gallons

Water (auxillary tank) – 0 gallons
Water (static tank) – 380 gallons
Auxillary to Static tank transfer – no
Gallons transferred: 0
Water in GreenHab – refilled, high level
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – yes
Water Meter: 4

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: no, still not functional
Hours:141.5
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 71%
Currently charging: no

Sojourner rover used: No
Hours:
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: no
Hours: 59.6
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no
Hours: 41.1
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: no
Hours: 57.5
Beginning charge:
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: Rovers were not used this week
# 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? No
CrewCar used and why, where? No

General notes and comments: Eveything looks fine

Summary of internet: Nothing to report.

Summary of suits and radios: we performed an EVA this morning to study the radio coverage close to the Kissing Camel range. Spacesuit 3 does not seem to work, I am trying another charger

Summary of Hab operations: everything is fine, living, cooking and sleeping are still pleasant.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Regular activities

Summary of ScienceDome operations: We mopped the ground.

Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report

Summary of any observatory issues: Musk Solar observatory – Nominal. Robotic Observatory – Was open all night and day long, we exchanged with Peter and CapCom to fix this and it finally closed around 5:00pm.

Summary of health and safety issues: security checks performed

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

Sol Summary – December 10th

Sol:8

Summary Title: The first 3 crew EVA on Mars

Author’s name: Makiah Eustice

Mission Status: Crew conducted an EVA with 2 crew members out and only one member on base, mopped the Science Dome.

Sol Activity Summary: Crew conducted first 3-crew member EVA to explore and map the regions of communication strength. We planned contingency plans for loss of signal and navigation. Afterwards, the crew mapped the locations of perceived path by each crew member against the estimated path based on recorded GPS coordinates. The rest of the day was relaxed and quiet, taking time to clean the mudded floor of the Science Dome and have computer-based work on our projects.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow an driving/walking EVA is planned. Crew projects will continue collaborative projects.

Anomalies in work: The observatory was open most of the day. It closed once we restarted the generator.

Weather: Cold, muddy from snow melt.

Crew Physical Status: No crew members reported physical problems today.

EVA: EVA crew went, by foot, to Kissing Camel Ridge East to explore the limits of walkie talkie comms in certain regions. Comms checks were performed every minute between HabCom and EVA, and GPS coordinate was exhanged every few minutes. EVA was planned for 2 hours and was conducted in exactly 2 hours.

Reports to be file: Operations Report, EVA Report, EVA Request, GreenHab Report, Pictures Report, Journalist Report, HSO Report

Support Requested: N/A

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