Author: jburk

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Bios, Photos – October 20th

Crew 301 October 20-25

Crew Members:

Jen Carver-Hunter, Commander

Alex Grab

Michael Ho

Rachel Johnson

Steve Kirsche

Jason Trump

Jen Carver-Hunter

Jen Carver-Hunter is a 5th grade teacher at a Title 1 School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carver-Hunter is the crew commander for the Spaceward Bound Utah program at the Mars Desert Research Station. She is also an alumni member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute and a current member of Space Center Houston’s SEEC Crew.

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Alex Grab

Alex Grab is an education program manager at the Space Foundation, where she designs innovative STEM and entrepreneurship programs that inspire the next generation of explorers. With over a decade of experience in teaching and curriculum development, she’s passionate about hands-on learning. When not shaping future leaders, Alex enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and studying fungi as an amateur mycologist.
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Michael Ho

Michael is a Science educator from Singapore. He teaches General Science to grades 7-8 students and Physics to grades 9-10 students. He was with Team A.R.E.S. (MDRS 216) back in Nov 2019. He is really happy to be back at the MDRS and looks forward to the Spaceward Bound programme.
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Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson is an educator with over 18 years of experience, specializing in Spanish language, technology, and space science. Currently working as an outreach specialist for a mental health nonprofit in Colorado, she is particularly interested in the psychological effects of isolation. A lifelong sci-fi enthusiast and geology aficionado, Rachel is excited to gain hands-on experience in studying mental health in the context of space exploration while examining and collecting geological samples from Utah’s Mars-like terrain.
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Steve Kirsche

Steve is an avid space enthusiast and former middle school science teacher from St. Johns, FL. He now works as a secondary science program specialist for St. Johns County School District.
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Jason Trump

Jason Trump leads the education team at Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City. His responsibilities include overseeing a statewide field trip, outreach, and teacher professional development program. Jason is a Utah native who enjoys spending time outdoors and volunteering as a NASA Solar System Ambassador. He is excited to be returning for another experience at MDRS.

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Supplemental Operations Report – October 19th

Date: 10/19/2024
Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Power system, main generator, HAB toilet level indicator.

Power system: Solar: inverter slave 1 and 2 still in the shop, awaiting parts; station operates on the main inverter and is limited to 5kw during day time; the battery bank does not hold charge when sun is down and low on the horizon. Main generator: oil drain valve leaked on 10/16/2024 and oil pressure switch did not perform as expected; oil drain valve temporarily replaced with a plug; new drain valve and oil pressure switch received and installation is scheduled during next maintenance cycle.
Main generator:
1) Oil and oil filter changed on 10/09/2024. Generator hours – 6320.1.
2) Oil, oil filter and air filter changed on 10/16/2024. Generator hours – 6425.7.

Propane Readings: Refilled on 10/17/2024
Station Tank: 83%
Director Tank: 83%
Intern Tank: 88%
Generator Tank: 76%

Water: Hab Static Tank – 520 gallons
GreenHab – 170 gallons
Outpost tank – 250 gallons
Hab Toilet Tank emptied: Yes

Rovers: Sojourner rover used: Yes. From Hanksville to the station and around MDRS for work party
Hours: 203.5
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 37 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: All rovers services during summer break – batteries and battery cables replaced; brakes serviced; ASM-caliper, PB(MECH) Rivet L replaced; Oil changed;
Perseverance – 291.4 hours.
Curiosity – 285.9 hours.
Spirit – 253.9 hours.
Opportunity – 194.1 hours.

Cars: Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies and trash dump.
Crew Car used and why, where: To St. George for repairs.
General notes and comments: Hab Car – Battery changed on 10/05/2024, service pending. Crew Car – currently in a shop for transmission repair and service.

Summary of Internet: All nominal.
EVA suits and radios: Suits: All suits are serviced and ready for the season. Helmets are upgraded with a sun shield and backpacks with battery meters.
Comms: Radio repeater inspected and all nominal. All EVA radios are ready for the season."
Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Campus cleaned and ready for the season. Septic tank emptied on 10/17/2024.
Summary of Hab Operations: All systems are ready for the season. Shower and two crew quarters are renovated. Water meter installed in the HAB. Toilet level indicator and vent replacement is pending.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Not set up for the season yet. Beginning of operations is pending.
Summary of SciDome Operations: Cleaned and organized for the season.
Summary of Observatories Operations: Ready for the season. Robotic observatory needs a computer restart.
Summary of RAM Operations: Cleaned and restocked for the season.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Cleaned and ready for the season. Septic tank emptied on 10/17/2024.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: All nominal.

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Supplemental Operations Report – November 2nd

Date: 11/2/2024
Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Power system, HAB toilet level indicator, Robotic observatory, One security camera.

Power system: Solar: inverter slave 1 and 2 are repaired and on track to be picked up; station operates on the main inverter and is limited to 5kw during day time; the battery bank does not hold charge when sun is down and low on the horizon. Main generator: nominal.
Main generator:
1) Oil, oil filter and air filter changed on 10/30/2024. Generator hours – 6641.6.
2) Current hours – 6687.4.

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 78%
Director Tank: 72%
Intern Tank: 84%
Generator Tank: 33%

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 250 gallons
GreenHab – 140 gallons
Outpost tank – 270 gallons

Rovers: Sojourner rover used: Yes. Around MDRS.
Hours: 206.4
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 94 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: All nominal

Cars: Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
Crew Car used and why, where: To St. George for repairs.
General notes and comments: Crew car repaired and awaiting to be delivered to MDRS.

Summary of Internet: All nominal.
EVA suits and radios: Suits: All nominal.
Comms: Some headsets need to be tested and replaced if needed."
Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: One campus camera malfunctioned and need to be replaced. Additional "No Drone" signs installed on Cow Dung Road. Do Not Enter. Wrong Way" installed on the campus and outpost driveway.
Summary of Hab Operations: Smart water monitor installed and integrated. Smart gas alarm installed and integrated on the lower deck. Smart light switch installed on the upper deck main lights. Second monitor set up for the HAB iMac. Bleeding control kit placed at the first aid station.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Microgreens, tomatoes, cucumbers, radish, carrots are planted. All nominal.
Summary of SciDome Operations: All nominal.
Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory needs a computer restart.
Summary of RAM Operations: Roof painted with elastomeric paint.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Director tailer under kitchen is inspected for rat holes.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: All nominal.

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Supplemental Operations Report – October 26th

Date: 10/26/2024
Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Power system, HAB toilet level indicator, Robotic observatory.

Power system:
Solar: inverter slave 1 and 2 still in the shop, parts are being replaced; station operates on the main inverter and is limited to 5kw during day time; the battery bank does not hold charge when sun is down and low on the horizon. Main generator: new oil drain valve installed, new oil pressure switch installed.
Main generator:
1) Oil and oil filter changed on 10/23/2024. Generator hours – 6534.8.
2) Current hours – 6579.0."

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 82%
Director Tank: 77%
Intern Tank: 86%
Generator Tank: 55%

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 250 gallons
GreenHab – 170 gallons
Outpost tank – 400 gallons

Rovers:
Sojourner rover used: Yes. Around MDRS.
Hours: 203.6
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 97 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: All nominal

Cars: Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies and trash dump.
Crew Car used and why, where: To St. George for repairs.
General notes and comments: Crew car repaired and awaiting to be delivered to MDRS.

Summary of Internet: All nominal.

EVA suits and radios: Suits: All nominal.
Comms: Some headsets need to be tested and replaced if needed.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: All nominal.
Summary of Hab Operations: GFCI receptacles at the main water tank replaced. Water tank heater turned on.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Not set up for the season yet. Beginning of operations is pending.
Summary of SciDome Operations: All nominal.
Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory needs a computer restart.
Summary of RAM Operations: All nominal.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Water tank heater turned on.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: All nominal.

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Journalist Report – October 24th

Journalist Report

MDRS Crew 301

Michael Ho, 10.24.24

Day 4: We woke up and find ourselves back on MDRS Utah, Earth!

That awesome Martian landscape through the visor of the helmet while that constant swishing of oxygen blowing past our ears will now hang proudly suspended in time within all our memories.

Nevertheless the crew is now back on Earth, and we still have much to learn and samples to collect.

0742 hrs: Sunrise. Eager to catch the only Sun we share with Mars as seen from Earth. Right on time, it appeared, bathing the landscape below with its beautiful golden glow.

0900 hrs: Zoom with Mission Specialist Dr. Shannon Rupert (who is still on Mars). We had a very brief history of NASA’s search for water and life on Mars through the various rovers such as Pathfinder and Sojourner. We had a quick lesson with samples of petrified wood, Gryphaea, coprolite, man-made mud pottery, dinosaur bone marrow. The importance of using desert varnish as a model to detect life on Mars made a lot of sense, knowing that these rocks may potentially contain microbial mats of cyanobacteria and fungi (as on Earth), and desert varnish had been detected by Spirit on Mars.

1000 hrs: Off we went, looking for desert varnish at…

1100 hrs: We arrived at Gryphaea Hill at North Ridge and were mind blown by the sight of the exoskeletons of gryphaea dotting every single inch of the entire area. An upheaval of the landform here must have then left all marine life here high and dry – leaving only a mass grave of these lifeforms from some 155 million years ago.

1300 hrs: Burger Shak! Nothing fills the spirit more than a great Hanksburger Combo at Burger Shak after a stint on Mars.

1400 hrs: Rockin Riddle Rock Shop – this shop totally rocks! We went in and felt like Harry Potter when he first entered Diagon Alley – there were just so many rocks to check out! Cathy the owner is such a gem with many interesting stories to tell!

1515 hrs: Some of the crew members also tried out Riley’s two new designs of helmets for EVA.

Riley wearing the helmet she designed as part of SWB Utah.

Alex from Crew 301 wearing the helmet Riley designed.

1600 hrs: We went off to Barrainca Butte to hunt for galaxy rocks and to stake out the area near Robert’s Garden for the lichen that fluoresces under UV. We found the patch, and will go out again tonight with UV flashlights to have a look at it.

1730 hrs: Back to Hab!

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Astronomy Report – October 23rd

[category 

astronomy-report]

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: Sunspots, Prominences
Images submitted with this report: Sun_241023_Sunspots&Prominence
Problems Encountered: None

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EVA Report – October 23rd

EVA # 2

Author: Jen Carver-Hunter

Purpose of EVA: Geologic sample collection

Start time: 09:00

End time: 11:00

Narrative: Rachel, Alex, Jason, Mike, Steve, and Jen drove to 1101 (the road to Barrainca Butte), where they stopped to collect specimens from the wash on the west side of Cow Dung Rd. After collecting specimens, they returned to the rovers and drove north on Cow Dung Road to the southwest side of Kissing Camels Ridge. There, they collected additional rock specimens along the wash on the west side of Cow Dung Rd before returning to the rovers and continuing back to the Hab.

Destination: Road to Barranca Butte and Southwest Kissing Camel Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 519700, 4247300 and 518200, 4249300

Participants: Rachel Johnson, Michael Ho, Jason Trump, Alex Grab, Steve Kirsche, Jen Carver-Hunter

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Crew took rovers from the Hab, turned south on Cow Dung Road, and continued to Route 1101 (the road to Barrainca Butte). They did collect specimens on foot in the wash near the road. From there, they returned North on Cow Dung Rd, stopping at Kissing Camels Ridge before continuing back to the Hab on Cow Dung Rd.

Mode of travel: Crew drove rovers (Spirit, Curiosity, Opportunity) to the collection sites and walked a small area on foot to collect specimens.

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Journalist Report – October 23rd

MDRS Crew 301
Alex Grab, 10.23.24

Today’s operations focused on two successful EVAs south of the Mars Desert Research Station. The crew explored two key sites: an area near Barrainca Butte and Kissing Camel Ridge West. At Barrainca Butte, samples of basalt, breccia, and several exciting biosignatures (including ancient marine fossils) were collected. At Kissing Camel Ridge West, we discovered petrified wood fragments scattered throughout an ancient riverbed, adding to our growing geological catalog.

Back at the habitat, the crew analyzed our finds and mapped them across the Noachian, Hesperian, and Amazonian periods, weaving them into the larger story of Martian geological history. In the lab, we also continued our selenite weathering experiment. The baked selenite samples displayed calcification and became chalky, while the water-treated crystals smoothed from erosion, each reflecting the impacts of environmental forces over time.

We discussed our findings with Dr. Shannon Rupert to further connect our data to the Martian timeline. Dinner brought the crew together for a comforting meal of cheesy potato and chicken bake with freshly baked bread. Spirits remain high as we prepare for another day of exploration. Mars feels more like home each day, though tomorrow will mark our return to “Earth.”

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