Category: Science Report

Crew 219 Science Report 15-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

We continued taking sleep logs and post-EVA biometrics and surveys.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Lens tissue cleaning method tested.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Made color images of little dumbbell nebula.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Nothing to report.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples
collected during EVA 16.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Samples collected during EVAs 15 and 16.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples.

A reminder to all crewmembers: There’s a $300 fine for using any
glassware material without MDRS Mission support permission.

Crew 219 Research Report 14-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

We continued taking sleep logs and post-EVA biometrics and surveys.

2. UAV

The UAV was damaged during transport to MDRS. It has not been a
priority until now for our engineer due to other maintenance tasks.
After some fault isolation, we determined that motors 3 and 4 are not
working because they aren’t receiving power from the flight control
board.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Cotton swab and cotton ball technique tested on mirrors.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

See Astronomy Report.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Nothing to report.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples
collected during EVA 14.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Lichen samples photographed under microscope. Additional samples
collected during EVA 14.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples.

A reminder to all crewmembers: There’s a $300 fine for using any
glassware material without MDRS Mission support permission.

 Crew 219 Science Report 13-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

We continued taking sleep logs and post-EVA biometrics and surveys.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Cleaned the optical mount using air pump.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

False color image of the Crab Nebula will be attached with the next
Astronomy Report.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Samples observed under microscope.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples
collected during EVA 13.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples.

A reminder to all crewmembers: There's a $300 fine for using any
glassware material without MDRS Mission support permission.

Crew 219 Science Report 12-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Nothing to report.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Simulated dust storm by manually applying regolith dust to mirrors.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

See Sol 6 astronomy report and photos. Made color images of M32,
NGC1068, and NGC7318.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Nothing to report.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples.

A reminder to all crewmembers: There’s a $300 fine for using any
glassware material without MDRS Mission support permission.

Science Report 11-Jan-2020

Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Continued taking sleep and post-EVA logs. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Mirrors were examined in the Science Dome. Samples were selected for simulated dust storm and dried in the oven.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

3 observations were taken last night. We will download the results between 2 and 6 am tomorrow.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Continued examining regolith under the microscope. One dead algae was found, but no living organisms.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples were taken during EVAs 11 and 12.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Additional samples collected during EVA 12.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry regolith samples.

A reminder to all crewmembers: There’s a $300 fine for using any glassware material without MDRS Mission support permission.

Crew 219 Science Report 10-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Continued taking sleep and post-EVA logs. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Mirrors were recovered during EVA 10 and returned to the Hab for analysis.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Nothing to report. Still poor visibility 🙁

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Inoculated regolith examined under microscope. Cyanobacteria appears
to have died, most likely due to wide fluctuations in temperature.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples
were taken during EVA 10.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples.

   Crew 219 Science Report 08-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Continued taking sleep and post-EVA logs. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Optics mount and mirror were checked on EVAs 5 and 6 and photographed.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Nothing to report.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Regolith was inoculated.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers. Additional samples
were taken during EVA 6.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry
regolith samples in the oven, and we will need them for the same
purpose tomorrow.

Crew 219 Science Report 07-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Continued taking sleep and post-EVA logs. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

Optics mount and mirror were placed and marked with high-visibility flag.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Nothing to report.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Regolith samples were placed in petri dishes and left to dry. Algae cells have been counted.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Samples were taken from North Ridge and Kissing Camel on EVA 3 and 4. Samples were dried in the oven using glass beakers.

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Samples were taken from North Ridge and Kissing Camel on EVA 3 and 4.

Glassware check out:

10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) were used to dry regolith samples in the oven, and we will need them for the same purpose tomorrow. One glass pipette was used to measure BG11 media for the regolith remediation project.

Notes and Comments: There are unknown samples in the Science Dome incubator (which is not on) and have been there since the beginning of our sim. They are labeled “CowDung Road Gypsum 12/11” and appear to be a gel-like substance. Picture attached. Please advise on what to do with these samples.

Crew 219 Research Report 06-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Sleep logs began today. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

A site was selected for the mirror to be placed (between the Musk Solar Observatory and the Robotic Observatory). The optics mount was assembled.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Submitted an observation of the Crab Nebula with MDRS 14. Hopefully we will have clear skies soon.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Samples were collected on EVA 1 and 2.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Crew members practiced using the geological sampling tool while taking samples for #5. Locations were selected for tomorrow’s EVAs (North Ridge and Kissing Camel).

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

For the duration of the mission, we will need 10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) to dry regolith samples in the oven, and one glass pipette to measure BG11 media for the regolith remediation project.

Crew 219 Science Report 06-JAN-20
Crew Science Officer: Hannah Blackburn

1. Biometrics and Neurobehavioral Research

Sleep logs began today. Post-EVA biometrics were recorded.

2. UAV

Nothing to report.

3. Dust Mitigation for Optical Mirrors

A site was selected for the mirror to be placed (between the Musk Solar Observatory and the Robotic Observatory). The optics mount was assembled.

4. Astrophotography of Celestial Bodies

Submitted an observation of the Crab Nebula with MDRS 14. Hopefully we will have clear skies soon.

5. Remediation of Mars Regolith

Samples were collected on EVA 1 and 2.

6. Chemical and Mineralogical Composition of the MDRS Site

Crew members practiced using the geological sampling tool while taking samples for #5. Locations were selected for tomorrow’s EVAs (North Ridge and Kissing Camel).

7. Protocols for the Discovery of Life on Mars

Nothing to report.

Glassware check out:

For the duration of the mission, we will need 10 glass beakers (sizes between 200 and 500 ml) to dry regolith samples in the oven, and one glass pipette to measure BG11 media for the regolith remediation project.