Category: Commander Report

Crew 216 Commander Report 01-DEC-2019
Sol: 7
Summary Title: Media visit
Author: Marc Levesque

Crew 216 became potential celebrities today when the Roker film crew spent the day filming for a science series that they hope to see aired next spring. Their filming of the MDRS facilities, crew interviews, and an EVA occupied us all day long.

The episode host, Justin, is a Ph.D. student at Columbia University who promotes STEM activities and studies, mostly to Gen Z students, but also to other groups. Mike gave an overview of the engineering aspects of our facilities, Michael provided a guided tour of the GreenHab and Observatory, and Andrew showed off the Science Dome.

Later Rich led an EVA that included Justin suited up as we do. Towards the end of the day, they did three individual interviews with Rich, Evgenia, and me, with each of us facing the camera and answering questions from Jacks, the director, who was standing with her back to us so as to not distract our looking at the camera. I felt a little awkward talking to the camera rather than a person, as I did the other day when Evgenia interviewed me but became comfortable after a while. Overall the film crew was very gracious, and we tried to provide them with the footage they wanted.

After they left, one crew member commented that their presence felt a bit intrusive to our sim, but I think all the crew realizes that the film should provide some great PR for the Mars Society and its MDRS and encourage more people to come here.

Crew 216 Commander Report 30-NOV-2019
Sol: 6
Summary Title: Turning Point
Author: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 reached the halfway point for its mission with a sense of enjoyment and appreciation for the time spent so far at MDRS, but also a sense of sadness that there is only another week left. This morning provided an opportunity for some, especially me, to take a time out from the all the activity and reflect upon what the crew has accomplished so far and what still needs to be done in the remaining days. I knew coming into the mission that time would fly, and although some of the crew felt the first few days dragged, all now feel that the pace is accelerating towards our departure from the Red Planet. On today’s EVA we scouted for a route to a potential repeater site but were unable to reach the summit of North Ridge. In continuing our reconnaissance for possible routes, we traversed a landscape that made us truly feel like we were on Mars, something that made up for not reaching our objective. This evening I shared with the crew my very positive feelings about how well they have been doing, keeping the Hab clean and tidy, getting along with each other, and generally helping everyone with their projects. I feel deep gratitude for having been selected as commander of these talented, friendly, and bright individuals.

Crew 216 Commander Report 29-NOV-2019
Sol: 5
Summary Title: Quiet Day
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 spent the post-holiday hunkered down because of very wet and windy weather that included snow. Despite this, we were able to undertake a variety of activities related to household chores and projects, including Evgenia interviewing me for her film. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I would be, but I hardly notice the camera sitting in front of me, mostly because of her easygoing interviewing style. Some of her questions were quite thought provoking, forcing me to pause before answering, and I hope she was able to capture what she had hoped. The day also provided an opportunity for Rich to write some graduate school papers, while Michael spent time creating a spreadsheet for a GreenHab checklist. Andrew was busy in the Science Dome working on the gypsum samples, and Mike continues to think and work about so many things to help improve operations around the Hab. What a great crew. The day wound down with Mike and me working up some Martian chile with rice that the crew seemed to enjoy. We look forward to seeing some sun tomorrow.

Crew 216 Commander Report 27-NOV-2019

Sol: 3
Summary Title: More EVAs
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 took advantage of the good weather to continue field work in support of its projects. Of particular note was searching for potential radio repeater sites in the hopes of improving communications between the Hab and EVA teams. Documentary and drone footage was also collected during these activities. The crew has fallen into a comfortable routine of life at MDRS, though inconsistent sleep seems to be elusive for many of the crew. The dryness of the Martian climate is a challenge for those who hail from more temperate and moist climes. Overall, however, the crew seems healthy with a couple of members on the backside of head colds picked up in their travels to the station. Note: Some crew members are unable to send their reports because they are unable to access their email server. As a result, the Crew Commander is sending those.

Crew 216 Commander Report 28-NOV-2019
Sol: 4
Summary Title: A Martian Thanksgiving
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 spent a low key day after three busy days taking advantage of good weather to accomplish six EVAs in support of projects. The morning saw an EVA team cleaning the muddy rovers, while the afternoon was devoted to preparing and eating our holiday meal. Our head chef Andrew started by putting a chicken into the convection oven for its 2.5 hour roasting. He then went to work on making biscuit and two fruit pies. In the meantime, Marc cut up Watney potatoes to join the roasting chicken. Rich pitched in with making the stuffing to round out the menu. Evgenia filmed the entire process so that she could add a homey touch to her documentary film. All hands then pitched in for the massive clean up. After some time to digest the sumptuous meal and crank out the day’s reports, the crew will settle into it’s second movie night. Last night was the premier of The Martian (of course), with tonight’s movie to be Interstellar. Our crew are movie buffs, especially of the space genre.

[title Commander Report – November 20th]

Crew 216 Commander Report 26-NOV-2019
Sol: 2
Summary Title: Getting into routine
Author’s name: Marc Levesque
Crew 216 started our second sol on the Red Planet as all members continue to settle in and establish working routines for life in isolation and confinement. Everyone exhibits a very positive attitude for helping each other out in daily tasks. I am also imressed by everyone’s upbeat nature and ability to roll with any hiccups they might encounter. I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with an extremely talented crew and look forward to all maintaining an upbeat attitude.

[end]

Crew 216 Commander Report 25-NOV-2019
Sol: 1
Summary Title: First Sol on Mars

Author’s name: Marc Levesque

Crew 216 woke up on Mars this morning to begin our stay on the Red Planet. We are a six- member international crew representing Russia, Great Britain, Singapore, and the United States, and all of us have long awaited this day with much anticipation and excitement. The landscape around our Hab is how we imagined it when we were training for this mission, so we were not disappointed. We did, however, have to contend with capricious Martian weather, as it clouded over by early afternoon before some strange precipitation arrived a few hours later. Our incredibly talented crew continues to settle in and is getting along very well, and I could not be more pleased by their willingness to jump in on any needed task. We all anticipate a rewarding experience in the sols ahead.

Crew 216 Commander Report 24-NOV-2019
Sol: 0
Summary Title: Turnover and training day
Author’s name: Marc Levesque

Today Crew 216 said good-bye to Crew 215 and completed its training on rover and EVA operations and a final briefing from the Mission Director.

The crew is settling in very well, with all hands pitching in on various tasks during the day and anticipating starting sim tomorrow at 0700.

Two photos to follow with the Sunrise on Sol 0 as our Photo of the day.

Longer Commander Reports will be forthcoming, as will more photos.

Crew 212 Commander Report 17-MAY-2019

Autor: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Title: Good Bye, Mars!

Commander here. Hi.

Today, at 20:00, our time in Mars will end. As a crew, we’re thankful for our time here. We learned a lot in these days, and I’m sure this experience will always be in our minds.

If I had to pick a lesson from all of this, it would probably be about the human factors. I’m not uncomfortable for being alone in the vast nature (I’m a biologist, I’m used to it). I do not miss my friends, I know they can do well on their own without my wise advice. Managing the people in the crew was a hard task, though. I finally could apply all my knowledge from years of observing people and their characteristics. Getting to know each of the crew members, their aspirations, their objectives and their tastes proved to be a challenging task which I assumed with interest.

Tiny details suddenly had so much importance. And I couldn’t help to remember my first rotation here, in which, after 2 weeks, I felt I knew my crewmates for quite a long time.

I’m not only finishing my simulation with experimental microbiology results for analyzing back home. I’m returning with a lesson on how to put together a crew, which factors should count and which considerations we should have.

Thanks to mission support, to the Director, the CapComs and to everyone that made this simulation possible. It was quite the adventure.

Regards,

Crew 212 Commander Report 12-MAY-2019

Autor: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Title: Wow! 7 days have passed!

Commander here. Hi.

Although there has been a daily Journalist Report, I thought it would have been interesting to have a note after 7 days of martian experience. It is interesting to look back and appreciate how much we are getting used to our lives as a Crew in this Martian environment. As someone told me before coming, not many people can say they had martian experiences. This is definitely happening now.

Yesterday, I could appreciate how much we got to know each other. The crew has come together and got to know each other well. Conflict could arise, but we could handle it fairly well, in my personal opinion.

Long conversations have appeared in our daily lives on Mars. Topics are as broad as music and the possibilities of life outside Earth. As someone who comes from a place with little to no research in space nor a properly space culture, it always amazes me how here I can find people whom I can finally talk about this crazy hypothesis that’s been running in my mind for so long.

I know that other crew members have felt the same here.

Although certain experiments have shown some difficulty, I’m pleased that the crew decided to keep going with their projects, not giving up and trying to adapt themselves to the circumstances, which is a very valuable attitude in research, in my opinion.

The next commander report will probably be at the end of the mission. I hope the good spirits continue and thanks to all the people
participating in this: From the crew members to mission support to the director.