Category: Journalist Report

Crew 208 Journalist Report

Date: 2-April-2019

Author: Erika Rydberg

Where is Windy City? Mars!

We began today with some new and exciting food supplies and consumed some new food including: oatmeal, chocolate with almonds, and cheese crackers. We’ve been loving the variety of freeze dried supplies that we have, and love to eat not just fruit, but our broccoli florets as they are — freeze dried. Now onto our mission…

Today with the wind picking up, we cancelled one of our EAVs to continue to test our drone controllers. Amanda, Dean and David were able to go on an expedition and complete a 2nd day of testing as planned prior to the gusting wind. Around the Hab we perfected our 3D drone maps after some continued troubleshooting – it is my belief this will be our best map yet.

I, Crew Journalist, took a ride on the bicycle for one hour. We’re using our bicycle to test power generation to power our 3D printers. I envisioned being outside on a beautiful day with the sun shining down on Mars, while cycling away inside and generating sufficient power for our battery.

We’re finishing the day with some more testing of our thoracentesis trainer and some dinner of jambalaya another item from our new supplies. More to come tomorrow, on what will hopefully be a less windy day.

Cheers,

Julielynn Wong, MD, MPH, FACPM
Chief Medical Maker

Crew 208 Journalist Report

Date: 01-April-2019

Author: Erika Rydberg

Drone Control to Major Tom: We’re Flying.

Today was our first full day on Mars, it was a beautiful day here at the Hab with the sun shining and some beautiful seasonal weather. We had two walking EAVs planned today to begin some drone testing with two groups. We realized in order to fly we needed some landmarks to help guide our flying, as we were testing out the use of two different controllers and needed to fly in patterns to properly test our drone controller usage. Amanda, an engineer by trade, made a crafty large cone out of neon paper and a 3D printer filament cardboard box that could be weighed down by rocks. Suited up and with four cones made, the first group led by Dean left the Hab, while those left behind worked on reports, research and made lunch of quinoa and chili. After lunch, we split up again with our second group going out to attempt drone flying.

We attempted flying figure-of-eights and square patterns with both drone controllers. For some (including this here crew journalist) it was the first time ever flying drones and hearing words like “yaw” which to some may sound more like a cowboy’s exclamation than a flight term. Yaw means to “oscillate about a vertical axis” and just like that we were practicing the moves that captains and pilots know by heart. Drone flying while in a spacesuit is one of the best things we’ve done yet – how many people are able to say they’ve done just that – worn a space suit and flown a drone? Flying the drone, one thing one might notice is that there are limited controls, no matter which controller you use. The controllers may seem simple at first glance, but the process of navigating the drone is a challenge, as you have to think about moving along three axes. Understanding the challenges of moving through space in the air or on the ground is a challenge on Earth, let alone on Mars. While some of us were focused on the sky, our other two crew members were working on the ground and getting some further exercise, using a bicycle to charge a battery.

Takeaways: whether you’re up in the sky or down on the ground cycling, Mars is the place to be!

Journalist Report

Date: March 31, 2019

Author: Erika Rydberg

Crew 208 Reporting for Duty on Mars

Today we experienced our first full day as a crew, we were very excited to have five people on board for this journey and experience – Amanda, David, Julielynn, Dean and myself, Erika. We began the day with a shared breakfast of cereal, dried fruit, our preferred caffeinated beverages, and of course water, as one must never forget plenty of water in this dry environment. We surely expend more energy than we even realize on a daily basis with the work and exploring the vast landscapes around MDRS, and water is key to sustaining our activity and our well-being. Our community building has begun as we’ve started to share cooking duties and the adventures of cooking with the various unique supplies of our home. You can do a lot with a little kitchen expertise: we’ve had soup, pasta with pork and tomato sauce and beans and rice today, we’re lucky to have curious cooks in our crew. Over our delicious food today conversation was bountiful and we started the day with a fantastic conversation about space, becoming an astronaut, and the future ahead for some of the new companies creating opportunities to visit space.

One of our 3D printers continued progressing smoothly making a 3D map of MDRS first thing this morning. We’re happy to have some of our machinery working well in this complex dry environment.

For the three new members to the Hab at 10:00 sharp we reported to be trained on driving our rovers and the process of EVAs and we went on a small trip to experience more of the vast and curious landscapes we find ourselves in. The geology and landscape is incredible, one moment you’re looking at mounds of varying red, green and black land and then in the next moment, we’ve found a deep vast canyon. Upon returning from we took a quick crew “dronie” (a selfie with a drone), and then we were able to try on and use our space suits for the first time and attempt to see what it is like to maneuver first of all our bodies and then second of all our rovers while existing within a complex suit. On one hand, the suit feels cumbersome, but on another, the suit provides comfort through both safety and protection.

Julielynn greeted graduate students from Northern Arizona University and brought them through a tour of the Hab and MDRS. The rest of Crew 208 meanwhile, ran through some of our duties. We then adventured out again in our rovers for one last trip of fresh air and some more drone flying. One of our rovers got a bit stuck on the way back, but with the help of a tow, we were able to return safe and sound to our home, the Hab ready to see what lies ahead.

Journalist Report March 24

Journalist: Diane Rothberg

We are operating as a reduced crew today, as we sadly said goodbye to our two capable, young scientists, Tiffany and Kevin.

We are out of sim, but there is still the Hab to be run, and Tom did his operations duties, I took care of the plants in the Greenhab, and Julielynn compiled scientific data and took care of other administrative loose ends.

Tom and I got to take advantage of this glorious, sunny day by going for a hike. It was a real treat, being back in the “earth’s atmosphere”, and outdoors without the burden of a heavy space suit. The terrain here is awe-inspiring, oddly shaped hills and rock formations in every brown-red hue imaginable, and fossils from thousands of years ago everywhere!

We head out of here tomorrow, but what a privilege it has been to participate in this rare, and wonderful “Mars” experience. Thank you MDRS, and thank you, Medical Makers!

Journalist Report March 23, 2019

Journalist: Diane Rothberg

A busy last day of simulation with two EVAs, both of which were similar to yesterday’s.

This morning, we had a great time stumbling up a hill near Pooh’s Corners with our expensive drone and controller, trying not to destroy them. But we were rewarded with a perfect launch site and a gorgeous view. Our camera drone flew its programmed route well and allowed us to keep it in sight at all times.

Tiffany and Kevin were busy in the Science Dome testing out the 3D printed labware they printed at MDRS using biodegradable plastic. The good news is that our colorful devices worked and looked fabulous!

During this afternoon’s EVA, Tiffany got a chance to fly a drone for the first time, and we both performed the control stick comparison. No contest! The new controller is much more intuitive than the traditional controller, and made a clumsy newbie like me feel like a “drone virtuoso!”

After dinner, we are wrapping up the thoracentesis data collection for our crew, and cleaning up MDRS for inspection.

Our last dinner together will be quite ethnic… potato latkes and lentil soup, concluding with one of Tiffany’s excellent desserts…. apple pie “a la Mars.”

Journalists report March 18, 2019

Author: Diane Rothberg

We awoke to a loaf fresh bread, courtesy our bread making machine that labored through the night. But that was nothing compared to Tom’s multi-grain pancakes which were accompanied by a fruit salad. We discovered we could conserve water as well as make a nutritious beverage by boiling the water from the reconstituted fruit salad and adding a couple of green tea bags.

Tiffany and Tom spent a good part of the morning hunched over laptops trying to sort out issues with with the astronomy photoshop software, while Julielynn set up a medical research study involving the use of a 3D printer as an aid to thoracentesis training. Kevin helped out by being her “human mannequin”.

A lunchtime bruschetta made with the leftover bread was a big hit, especially with the addition of Greenhab basil and cilantro. After lunch, Tom and Tiffany went to the solar observatory to troubleshoot some issues with the telescope imaging software.

Then we suited up for our afternoon EVA mission, the aim of which was to pinpoint optimum locations for our drone mapping project. Julielynn, Tom and myself headed south in rovers Curiosity and Spirit, in search of “Zubrin’s Point.”

It’s amazing how the simplest things become a challenge “here on Mars”. The space suits are so cumbersome that even entering the rover is a squeeze. Trying to keep an eye on your crew mate behind you requires a major shift in body weight. Com radios can drop off your belt, ear pieces can slip off causing a lack of communication, and taking photos with bulky gloves make manipulating an iPad extremely difficult.

We have a busy night ahead, as Julielynn is planning thoracentesis training for all of us!

Journalists Report March 22

Journalist: Diane Rothberg

We were able to accomplish two EVAs today.

This morning, we did some area mapping with the drone, and with the remaining time, performed an aerial inspection of the apex of the Hab, simulating a damage assessment should it ever be required. Tom and I, the drone rookies, got a chance to take the controls, under the guidance of Dean. After the EVA, we debriefed, and observed that, while our goals were accomplished, we should have been better organized and we should have been more specific in assigning duties to individual crew members.

So, before this afternoon’s EVA, we had a very thorough briefing. We outlined our goals, which were to compare the traditional drone controller with a new type of controller. This intuitive controller reduces the two sticks on a traditional controller down to one, and was designed by Scott Parazynski, a NASA astronaut, physician, and pilot who is the veteran of 5 space missions. We communicated with him directly this morning and he helped Dean set up the software for it. We outlined the flight maneuvers to be flown on a whiteboard which Dean, Tom, and Kevin took with them on their EVA.

We compiled some great photos of our 3D printing and drone research activities for the Civil Air Patrol cadets of the Niagara Falls Composite Squadron, since three of us (Julielynn, Tom and myself) are Senior Members and the squadron is enthusiastically tracking our progress!

Journalists Report March 19

At 3:00 am, Dean arrived with all kinds of electronic and mechanical goodies.

After allowing him a short nap, 3 of us assembled a bicycle and mounted it to a friction trainer. Dean hooked up a battery and ancillary monitoring devices. Each crew members will ride for an hour per day for at least 2 days. Energy will be stored in the battery, and used to power the 3D printers. This activity keeps us in shape, maintains high crew morale, and creates electrical power
independently.

Kevin hooked up a 3D printer in the RAM and printed a microscope slide holder, a soil sieve base, and a mold for making protein gels (used for Western blotting). How wonderful that these aids to science can be made right on Mars without the necessity of transporting them up here!

In the afternoon, Kevin, Tiffany and Julielynn went on an EVA to scout the turn off the main highway to Cow Dung Road. As there is no signage, they plan to drone map the area to create a 3D printed map which might be a helpful aid to pinpointing the intersection.

In the evening, Julielynn trained all crew members in needle decompression skills to treat a potentially fatal tension
pneumothorax. She employed her leading-edge 3D printed medical simulation training devices. While this was fascinating and exciting it was kind of scary for those of us who are not in the medical profession! But being on Mars, where the nearest hospital is months away, it’s a handy skill to know!

Cheers,

Julielynn Wong, MD, MPH, FACPM
Chief Medical Maker

Author: Diane Rothberg

We spent this beautiful, sunny day out of sim, as we’re waiting for so much to arrive…3D printers, drones, a bike, and two additional crew members.

Still getting the hang of water conservation, which is tricky when you have to wash a sticky oatmeal pot, as well as last night’s pots holding clingy, aging leftover soup and rice.

Today’s lunch of spaghetti bolognaise prepared by Tiffany and Kevin was a huge hit, especially after we supplemented it with fresh basil from the Greenhab.

Our commander, Julielynn, did some much-needed cleaning and organizing around the hab and the science dome, and came up with creative ideas as to what items we should 3D print to make life easier here on Mars.

Kevin, our health and safety officer checked all CO2 detectors and fire alarms.

We received a safety briefing from David, and we all got rover check out and a chance to drive them before we have to do it in a bulky space suit.

Late in the afternoon, we were checked out on the space suits, and now, our Mars simulation truly begins!

Sol 20

Authors: Benjamin Auzou, Journalist and Cerise Cuny, HSO & Crew Biologist

For our first day back on Earth, we woke up earlier than during the whole mission for a precise goal: enjoy the sunrise on the desert landscape from Hab Ridge. The first glow started to draw the reliefs all around us, and when the first sun’s ray emerged from the horizon line, a giant smile appeared on our faces: Earth called us back, and we are definitely back!

After the sunrise, Norbert, Aurélien and I decided to run to Skyline Rim, this geologic beauty that raised our curiosity for the whole mission but that we couldn’t reach with the rovers and the suits. We touched the Rim and then came back to the Hab, a simple act but that created in us a feeling of freedom that was completely different from the confinement we lived in for twenty days.

Yesterday evening, we invited Atila and David, from the Mars Society support team to eat pizzas and a cake. It’s was refreshing to talk with other people than us six, and that was the same for them.

Following the advice of Atila and David, we went for an EVA at Copernicus. Driving the rovers without the suits gave us an incredible feeling of freedom. We were surprised but pleased to feel the hard blowing wind on our cheeks as we gained speed, finally driving the rovers without helmets or backpacks.

The crew walked down Copernicus highway surrounded by a lunar landscape. The crackling sound of our foot on the dry soil was kind of new to us and we embraced both those usually insignificant noises and the incredible silence of the desert.

We paused a long time on a stiff ridge in total silence, sitting on the raw grey dirt, our head tilted back to get all the warmth that the Sun rays had to offer. No words were necessary to maintain that vibrating harmony. After this divine moment, we headed down into a canyon multiplying jokes and overwhelmed with joy. We headed back to the hab enjoying our last glimpse of Mars.

In the afternoon, we welcomed Crew 207, it was very nice to see some new people and to transmit everything we have learned in the past 3 weeks.

Then with our Executive Officer Aurélien, I took the HabCar and drove to Hanksville to take water in order to refill the tank. That was a strange return to real life and earth society, we met people at the gas station, bought a bottle of soda just for the pleasure to spend a dollar, and simply just enjoyed a car drive on the road. Even if everything was less than 15 miles from us, we were definitely a million miles away from here, on Mars.