Category: Commander Report

Commander Report

Crew 185, SOL 6, Dec 24th, 2017

Ilaria Cinelli

My Crew and I received a warm welcome from Crew 184! We have spent about a day and a half together, and they shared their experience with us. I was glad to see that they are such a united team! Following their mission, I have to say that it is hard to stay together while facing real challenges. They have also left us presents, and we will wait until tomorrow to open our Xmas gifts!

My crew have seen a few changes before starting the mission. We have two Ground Crew Members and a new entry in our Crew! We have been working on team cohesion and team awareness, and we are on the right track! I am very proud to be their Commander! Each of them has a different talents and skills, that combined lead to a team with great potential.

My role as Commander is to understand their priorities and their talents (as single and Crew) and let them be on the stage of success. Leadership is building a common vision which, for Crew 185, is innovation, progress, creativity and international collaboration. My Crew and I are collaborating with different Countries (France, Italy, Ireland, US, Brazil, UK, Japan and others) showing that space exploration is based on humanity, that is an international representation of our species. Still questionable for a few.

It seems that people tend to forget that space exploration aims, first, at planetary presentation then interplanetary exploration and, after, colonization. As long as we underestimate the protection of our species and the abuse of planet Earth, we will probably have a short future.

Tomorrow is Xmas day, and we have decided to celebrate it as celebration day of being at half of our mission only. It could be seen as team cohesion exercise or a tradition too. Religion can be too personal, and it may highlight culture differences. Anyhow, we have a giant piece of beef in the fridge, the biggest I have ever seen in my life!!! Thanks America!

As you might know, we are in a vibrant atmosphere here in the Hab just because the power supply is not working well as expected. While trying different solutions, it is easy to feel stressed or frustrated when the outcomes are slower than the estimated prediction.

However, this is a teamwork and we are more than happy to have received help in loco and remote assistance too! As long as there is engagement in discussion and in brainstorming, smart solutions come faster!

Thus, I want to thank all the readers and the Society for the support and care we are receiving! My Crew is healthy and smiling! We have lot of food, and, now, a little bit more of drinkable water! I dare to say it is time for a Xmas shower :D!!

Happy holidays to All, and thank you for following our mission!

Commander Ilaria Cinelli

Sol 12- 15/11/2017

Executive Officer Atila Meszaros

Hi, Kay! Atila in here again, reporting the events of Sol 12.

Today we were EVA-free, however as you should know by now, we had to rescue the poor and lonely red ATV from the darkness of Mars. The rescue party was Brandon, Carmen, Shannon and I. We succeed in our mission without any causalities and we got back home absolutely safe.

I’m working on a map of the Hab that points the fire alarms, CO monitors and fire extinguisher. I’ll let you know how that worked.

I think that’s pretty much all. If you need anything else just let us know.

commander-report Crew 182 15Nov2017

5h40m – Awake. As all crew accepted, We suspended the simulation to go to Hanksville to receive 4 brand new ATVs.

6h23m – Today morning I and Brandon woke up early to start a exploration around the MDRS area and collect rock samples and then be contacted by the MDRS vehicle and Shannon’s Vehicle to We, together, go to Hanksville.

8h – Arrival in Hanksville and receipt of the 4 ATVS carried in a truck. Shannon come back driving her car; Atila, Brandon, Camila and Carmen returned, bringing back the 4 ATVs, each one driving a specific ATV. I waited for fill the water tank in the MDRS vehicle. We arrived all together in safety in MDRS.

10h – I and Brandon visited a plateau in west direction from MDRS. We walked around 3 miles (total) and returned to MDRS.

10h45m – Brunch.

11h – Brandon, Atila and Camila did the EVA to Write Moon region. When they were returning, the Atila’s EVA got out of gas.

11h45m – I just cleaned the dishes, organized the dinner table and take out the garbage.

13h13m – I’m preparing my reports and writings.

13h45m – I fixed the window of the airlock chamber, the inner border of the front door and the membrane door of the airlock room.

14h30m – I burned garbage and clean up the lower deck.

14h50m – Camila and Brandon returned to the MDRS and communicated to the crew and Shannon about the EVA technical difficulties.

15h30m – Brandon, Shannon and I (Julio) walked 1 hour or 2 miles going to help Atila in the ATV without gasoline. When We tried to start the engine, its presented some technical problem. We arrived back at 17h30m.

18h – Our dinner was pleasant. At total I walked around 18 km or 11 miles as yesterday and burned more than 1100 calories.

5h40m – Awake

6h23m – I and Brandon start a exploration around the MDRS area. I found good rock samples. We also visited a plateau in west direction from MDRS. During the morning We just walked 10 km.

11h – Brunch.

11h45m – I just clean the dished, organized the dinner table and take out the garbage.

13h45m – I fixed the window of the airlock chamber, the border of the door and the membrane door of the airlock room.

13h13m – I’m preparing my report.

15h – I burned garbage and clean up the lower deck.

15h30m  – We walked 1 hour or 2 miles going to help Atila in the ATV without gasoline. We arrived back at 17h30m.

18h – I ate peas with cheddar, tomato soup and chips and pancakes. I was hungry. At total I walked around 18 km or 11 miles as yesterday and burn more than 1100 calories.

6h30m – Awake.

7h50m – 7h50m – 60 minutes walking: 5,6 km or 3,5 miles.

10h20m – 11h – EVA activity walking to collect more soil to a posterior analysis.

11h – Part of our crew is preparing pancakes.

12h – Camila and Brandon tried to fix the water heater, but they didn’t got.

14h30m – The crew is preparing the lunch.

15h – I just spend great part of my time reflecting about what dimensions would be considered about the sustainability study of a Mars analogue habitat. So, the following chart summarizes important key elements to be considered, evaluated in MDRS and propose some improvements about.

Chart 1 – Dimensions of the sustainability to be studied in MDRS

Environmental Sustainability	– Activities of environmental education; – Waste management practices; – Save water practices; – Procedures to save energy and use of renewable energy; – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Social sustainability	– Education related to the research station management; – Publication of reports; – Quality of life; – Equal distribution of activities between genres; – Occupational Health and Safety Policy; – Use of social media; – Code of ethics or code of conduct; – Social responsibility actions.
Personal sustainability	– develop personal resilience strategies to achieve goals; – maintenance of good mental condition; – Health; – team assistance and relationship; – orientation to activities and tasks; – Feeling of satisfaction or completude.
Economic sustainability	– Operations and management of the simulation; – Scientific process.

15h30m – Lunch.

16h20m – I walked 1h40m. Today I completed 10 miles, as yesterday. An average of 8 miles by day. This is part of my experiment related with personal sustainability. Apple Watch is providing the info that I supposed had burned more than 1000 calories.

19h – CapComm.

4h – Awake.

4h50m – 7h10m – 140 minutes walking: 12 km or 7,5 miles. Was beautiful to see so many stars in the night. I really like deserts during the night. It is a gift woke up early and have an experience like this.

Today, when I woke up, was 0^o or 32^oC. Walking in 0 or -2^oC is an expression of resilience. When you are focused, there is no pain. This is a characteristic that must be considered in the astronauts experience.

I’m very thankful about the opportunity to prepare myself for this mission and keep the exercises during the simulation in MDRS.

9h – Breakfast of tortillas and cheddar cheese with coffee and

10h10m – 12h – EVA – I considered that We walked from the EVA and returning doing a distance around 2,5 km.  Our crew, always When We are in the decomprehension  chamber, to start an Extravehicular Activities, part of the crew who stays in the Hab plays a music to present an idea of time. The music of decompression was Coming Home of Iron Maiden. Interesting have a music that talks about aerospace.

During the EVA, I used the exploration spacesuit prototype. This spacesuit presents a painful ergonomics. It is hard have movements to collect rocks and soil samples.

13h – I’m doing my commander report. I organized my room and helped in the lunch preparation.

14h – 15h – Lunch.

16h – 17h30m – I took a nap. I was tired about 16 km or 10 miles walking today.

17h30m – From Brazil, I received news about the transmission of the interview of TV Globo related to the research associating Mars, MDRS and Brazilian semiarid. Some images from the visit in MDRS:

http://g1.globo.com/fantastico/edicoes/2017/11/12.html?utm_source=email&utm_medium=share-bar-desktop&utm_campaign=share-bar&#!v/6283988

17h30m – During the afternoon, after the lunch, Atila, Brandon and Camila worked in their research. I took some photos about sent in Crew-photos e-mail.

19h – CapComm.

Yesterday night We had a meeting to clarify some points of our mission and try to improve our results in the next week in MDRS.

6h30m – I woke up.

6h42 – Planning.

6h53m – 8h23m – Walking 90 minutes: 8,6 km or 5,3 miles.

9h10m – Breakfast.

10h20m – Recycling some plastic bottles, and trying to fix something.

12h30m – Lunch: eggs and Hash brown potatoes.

13h – We debated about the mission plan, considering about each research plan. I consider that the main topic of our mission is the sustainability.

15h45m – Camila and Brandon prepared a banana cake.

16h22m 17h02 – Walking 40 minutes: 5,8 km or 3,6 miles. At total I walked today 130 minutes.

Today didn’t happened EVA.

17h20m – I’m working in my research related with sustainability in MDRS:

Sustainability in MDRS:

lessons to Mars research habitats and setlements

Researcher: Prof. Julio Francisco Dantas de Rezende, PhD.

This research searches to answer the question: the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) operation can be more sustainable? It is evaluated how environmental, economic, social and personal sustainability issues are presented and is also reflected how MDRS activities would collaborate to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), proposing some guidelines to sustainability. It is also important to ask: the results related to Mars would be applied to build a self-sustainable habitats in Earth, mainly in areas affected by climate change as deserts and semiarid regions as can be seen Brazilian Northeast? Reviewing the previous research done at MDRS not was identified any research related to sustainability. Because of that, this research presents a possible great impact to MDRS. It is a challenger identifies the main dimensions that would be considered to evaluates a Mars research station in terms of sustainability and would be considered the great relevance of this research for the future of design of process of future Mars settlements.

The research Sustainability in MDRS: lessons to Mars research habitats and setlements was considered in the Mission Plan prepared today.

19h – CapComm

Today is our 7th day. During certain time of my life I had practiced open water swimming. I did some crossing spending more than 3 or 4 hours. Then, my feeling about this mission in MDRS, I would compare as a sea crossing when you are swimming, and also at same time, start to do some statistics in your mind, about how many percent have you swum. In both situations, your mind just to be fine. In our case, in our crossing, the main issue is to keep the good relationship, kindness and respect with each other. Now I’m looking our days here.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18

Something that would be annoying in the space missions is be part of an experiment, or to be compelled to be a subject in a research. This is related when We need to eat some kinds of food or use some kinds of specific products. I can imagine what the astronauts as Scott Kelly, in the International Space Station, would need to deal with it. But, I understand that is all about a “good” cause. If you see, all of us are being a part of a great experiment just agreed by us, with our consent. It is part of a movement to a broader new scientific results.

Yesterday I tried to manage the data space in my computer. It almost full and I need to delete some content and have more space. The mission in MDRS just have had generated a lot of content of photos and videos, hard to process all these data.

In the 7th day I’m just considering MDRS as my home. I like good and bad things here. I just prepared my entire life to this, just traveling to far and urban places, sharing rooms in hostels and visiting different desert areas. I love the landscape in Hanksville.

7h – 8h20m – I did 80 minutes of the exercise. I just walked 8 km or 5 miles. The temperature was -1oC. Watching the second episode of the National Geographic miniserie Mars the crew of Dedalus need to walk in Mars surface after de vehicle broke. The cold would be a high threat to the crew exposed to Extravehicular Activities.

9h40m – Breakfast. Carmen is taking the weight of everyone for her research. Bad news for me: I’m weighing two kilos more. When you travel to space, your body is affected by different ways. So, my diet and exercises here is not helping to loose weight. Good to know just in the middle of the mission and try to adopt new behaviors here. Because of that, is so important keep the control of the different health indicators of an astronaut. I need to be fine with myself and guide the crewmates.

10h25m – The EVA Briefing: Brandon Ferguson, Crew geologist and EVA Lead, proposed some guidelines to communication in ExtraVehicular Activities (EVA). He recommended the use of the Phonetic Alphabet, as can been seen in the next Chart.

Chart 1 – Phonetic Alphabet

A – Alfa	H – Hotel	O – Oscar	V – Victor
B – Bravo	I – India	P – Papa	W – Whiskey
C – Charlie	J – Juliet	Q – Quebec	X – X-Ray
D – Delta	K – Kilo	R – Romeo	Y – Yankee
E – Echo	L – Lima	S – Sierra	Z – Zulu
F – Foxtrot	M – Mike	T – Tango
G – Golf	N – November	U – Uniform

Was also proposed some voice procedures to be used in the EVA, as can be seen in the next Chart.

Chart 2 – Voice Procedures in MDRS EVAs

– Affirmative / Affirm = Yes – Negative = No – Niner = The Number Nine – Out = I’ve finished talking to you and do not expect a reply – Over = I’ve finished talking to you and listening for your reply – Roger – “I’ve received all of the last transmission” – Say Again – Repeat – Wait, over – I don’t have the answer or information on hand. I will attempt to find it, until then, I’ve finished talking and do not expect a reply – Wilco – will comply (after receiving new directions)

10h40m – EVA with Brandon, Camila and Carmen.

11h – I’m aboard of the Hab. I’m and Atila are supporting Brandon, Camila and Carmen in their EVA. During this time I will try to update my writings. But is no easy. There’s no free time here.

12h – End of the EVA.

14h – Lunch. We recycled beans prepared 2 days ago adding rice and frying everything.

14h30m – I received the information that the interview in

15h – Preparation of commander report.

15h50m – I walked more 40 minutes, 5,7 km or 3,5 miles. At total today, I walked 13,7 km or 8,5 miles.

18h – We debated about how to save water. In the Chart 3 is presented some guidelines.

Chart 3 – Guidelines to Save Water

1 – Communication and Education about save water; 2 – Use body wipes only for shower (unless you have a long hair); 3 – Harvest all dishwashing and cooking water; Dishwasher => Graywater +> poop Cookwater => reuse for cooking/redytrating food 4 – Redytrating water: – reuse for more redytrating or – grywater 5 – For dishwashing, limit water output to lowest possible setting; 6 – use personal mug; 7 – use of paper towels and wipes to clean up dishes; 8 – Try to let almost possible clean the dish after the meals; 9 – Be quickly when press the flush mechanism; 10 – Don’t shave the beard everyday; 11 – Don’t take a shower everyday; 12 – Not change the clothes everyday. 13 – Storage used water to reuse. 14 – Create recipients to collect water with recycled water bottles, as water cases of 2,5 galons. 15 – Use of hand sanitizer to clean up hand.

I consider the Guidelines to Save Water an important contribution of the mission 182 to MDRS. Our proposition about it is connected with Sustainable Development (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all implies. One important topic to MDRS improvements would be invest in a system of water reuse. In International Space Station (ISS) all the water is reused as closed system. MDRS would also like this. An important guideline is have the control about how much water is been used and how much sewage is been generated.

Tomorrow We will be discussing how the activities developed in MDRS would contributes to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were approved in September 2015 during the Sustainable Development Summit, when it was discussed and approved by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 193 countries signed the document. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are composed of 17 aims and 169 goals to be achieved by 2030.

My soundtrack of last night: ACDC live in River Plate stadium, Buenos Aires.:) Camila did a delicious fried rice. Thank You!:)

4h30m – I woke up early today. Sometimes the heating system switches off. So we need to check. This is also a possibility in Mars. Many times, in Mars, the heating systems will not function properly. So, will be necessary a lot of resilience about. Try to fix or deal with the consequences.

The commander’s room is unique with natural lighting. This helps me to woke up early.

7h02m – I walked 40 minutes, something around 2,5 km. Was 1 degreeC. In the beginning of the exercise was very difficult. I never did exercises in a temperature like this. This is also about resilience. In Mars the temperature can be so low. According to Space.com, on average, the temperature on Mars is about minus 80 degrees F (minus 60 degrees C). In winter, near the poles temperatures can get down to minus 195 degrees F (minus 125 degrees C). A summer day on Mars may get up to 70 degrees F (20 degrees C) near the equator, but at night the temperature can plummet to about minus 100 degrees F (minus 73 C). (Source: https://www.space.com/16907-what-is-the-temperature-of-mars.html)

Something very pleasant today was watch the sunrise in the mountains. I perceive how We are not aware about how the cosmic influences are affecting life. Just look the sun! It is a star and it is so close and far from us, influencing so many cycles of our life, from the agriculture to our communication systems.

8h40m – The Brazilian TV Globo arrived earlier than We imagined. From the MDRS corridors I talked with Luigi Sofio (reporter) and Lucio Rodrigues (cinegraphist) and introduced myself. Was good to talk with someone on portuguese. Since their arrival until 13h, We presented all the attention to Them. They did images of our systems and procedures and also the research activities.

11h – We did the EVA activity. Was very hard. Was my first EVA. Would possible to see how the spacesuit would restricts simple human activities. I felt excited with it. This moves me. A spacesuit would be my future?

We did a lot of work today, outside. Today was very shiny and I considered that Brazilian TV did very, very good images. What sincronicity We have a bright day as today.

In the EVA We collected soil samples and visit the ravines and some mountains of Mars. Was hard climb some mountains wearing the spacesuits, considering the limitations of movement. It is necessary presents a great attention and care to avoid an accident. But the EVA was a challenger and an achievement.

13h – I prepared the lunch: small bakes of rice and cheddar with broccoli and peas.

13h40m – We lunched. We had a lot to clean up.

15h40m – The guys of the EVA: Me (Julio), Brandon and Atila felt tired, because the sun radiation was to high today. So everybody decide take a nap.

17h40m – I woke up from my nap. It is good remember about the CapComm later. Good time to listen Slayer and finish the reports. J

18h20m – Camila and Carmen prepared sweet rice for tonight.

19h – CapComm. Today I walked the total of 5,8 km.

COMMANDER REPORT: November 7th – MISSION MDRS 182 – 4th Day of Simulation

Yesterday, after conclude the CapComm, I prepared the dinner: eggs with broccoli, tomato soup and tortilla chips. The people liked the tomato soup. J

Spontaneously was discussed during the importance of development technics to reuse the water, a important sustainability topic.

We talked about how the Artificial Intelligence would be used to monitor the body condition during an extraterrestrial travel: controlling some health levels of the space travellers.

We were sleep after midnight, reflecting about many interesting, not only space, but human topics, such as consciousness: fundamental subject for the sustainability of space missions.

I consider that in Space Mission and in Mars missions would be necessary some time to be flexible to think creatively. So, creativity and innovation is the key to We arrive in new worlds. Our experience in MDRS is a good place to think out of the box, about this advanced topics.

Everybody wake up later. No stress! J Today We not had Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). So, some of us explored some possibilities od the MDRS facilities and develop new tasks related to their research.

8h42m – 9h17m – I walked and ran during 35 minutes in the internal corridor of the MDRS, a distance equivalent to 3,5km or more than 2 miles. I consider do more of this. Before the mission was walking and running between 1 and 2,5 hours. I consider that physical activities it is also important to help us to think more creatively. I am motivated to encourage my crewmates also do some exercise during this time.

One of the topics of my research is to evaluate how to deal with distance work activities. During the first days I had a lot of duties. So, today, during the morning, I presented a time to contact my partners in Brazil and also paid some bills using the internet banking services. In Mars this also will an important issue, because a person in mars continues to have some obligations in the planet Earth. Later our router was turned off. In Mars will be also times without communication with Earth. So, this is also part of our simulation.

Also during the morning, I applied my survey related with sustainability with our crew. In the end of the mission I will apply a new survey and compare the result the perception of some sustainability issues perception that can be changed during the 2 weeks mission.

In the afternoon, Atila started to do his agriculture experiment, comparing the use of regolith and the regular soil. The soils will be used to grow seeds and than He will compare the results generated by the two different soils.

I had prepare some meals for the crew. I consider that a very important issue of the life in a habitat Mars related is the wellbeing. The first missions to Mars will be so unique and expensive that all the team needs to arrive will health in Mars. In the planet, the daily life is also important. I am, as a commander, consider be my responsibility to promote a better experience for all the crew.

Each one presents their own psychological, social and physical space, and this needs to be respected and identify the best contribution of each. We are a great team!

13h40m – I started to prepare the lunch.

14h30m – Our lunch was: spaghetti with tuna and cheese, tomato soup, peas and broccoli. After the lunch We discussed some topics. Part of the crew still worried about the internet: if We will consume all the data available, etc. Part of the day the modem will be kept turn off.

16h35m – I walked more 25 minutes, completing 1 hour today. According to Apple Watch I walked 7,8 km or almost 5 miles achieving health goals for today! J I will try to keep those exercises. It perceivable how cold is outside today.

17h30m – I’m preparing a book about many aspects related with Mars, MDRS and some experiences that I’m working in Brazil: the research station Habitat Marte (www.HabitatMarte.Blogspot.com),

Habitat Marte www.habitatmarte.blogspot.com Informamos que foram selecionados os seguintes candidatos para participar da primeira missão na Estação de Pesquisa Habitat Marte, a ocorrer no período de 48 …

MarsLab – Laboratory of Technologies Applied to Mars and Semiarid (www.MarsLaboratory.Blogspot.com), Mars Research Group – Mars and Arid Regions Settlements Sustainability and the Museu Espaço Marte (www.espacoMarte.Blogspot.com). I’m also committed to create the Mars Society Brazil chapter.

Museu Espaço Marte www.espacomarte.blogspot.com O Museu Espaço Marte é um ambiente educativo que tem como propósito apresentar a cultura espacial com foco especial em Marte, com associação ao desenvolvimento …

18h15m –Tonight I review all the MDRS Forms Instruction.

19h – CapComm.

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