Category: Science Report

[title Science Report – November 26th]

Crew 216 Research Report 26-NOV-19
Sol 2
Submitted by: Rich Whittle

1) Psych Scale (TAMU IRB2019-1042D) – Nothing further to report.

2) Medical Casts – Continuation of Crew 215 research. Crew washed gypsum and experimented with crushing techniques

3) In-Situ Fluorescent Mineral Prospecting – Still searching for radioactives and rare Earths.

4) MDRS Mapping – Nothing further to report (awaiting return of map with desired annotations).

5) MDRS Communications – Attempted to test increased range of 5W transceiver to south, as well as find potential rebroadcast locations. EVA cut short due to Hab comms issue, though one potential site was marked at grid 12 S 0518585 4248798. Repeat attempt planned for EVA 06 on 27-Nov-19. On EVA 04 traveled to east of Hab to evaluate comms. Good comms as far as crew traveled, distance cut short due to battery life of rovers. EVA 05 planned tomorrow to evaluate radio rebroadcast sites close to Hab.

[end]

Crew 216 Research Report 25-Nov-2019
Sol 1
Submitted by: Crew Researcher Whittle

1) Psych Scale (TAMU IRB2019-1042D) – NFTR.

2) Medical Casts – Continuation of Crew 215 research. 2 EVAs completed, a large quantity of gypsum collected for evaluation later on during the week during expected inclement weather.

3) In-Situ Fluorescent Mineral Prospecting – Still searching for radioactives and rare Earths.

4) MDRS Mapping – NFTR (awaiting return of map with desired annotations from CapCom).

5) MDRS Communications – 5W transceiver tested on EVA 02 resulting in significantly increased range to N (0.65 km to 1.45 km). Testing similar architecture set up with 2 EVAs (03 and 04) on Sol 2 to look at current ranges to S and E. These EVAs will also evaluate potential spots to place radio rebroadcast stations. Future EVAs will aim to test these with by placing a rebroadcast station to increase comms range to Hab.

Crew 216 Science Report 24-Nov-2019
Sol 0
Submitted by: Crew Researcher Whittle

ATTN: More detail to follow on Sol 1 in conjunction with the finalization of the mission plan.

1) Psych Scale (TAMU IRB2019-1042D) – Pre-mission surveys collected from all crew on Sol -1, next collection on D+5. Blood Pressure collection from 1 subject at 0900T each morning, a first reading taken this morning.

2) Medical Casts – Continuation of Crew 215 research planned. 2 EVAs requested for Sol 1 to collect gypsum samples.

Science Report 21 November 2019
SOL: 11
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: The experimenting with gypsum and sand to create a form of plaster of paris cement was completed. After drying, the tiles will be ready for strength testing. Approximately 10ml of water was collected as a product of the heating and will be tested as suitable for medical solutions. In the afternoon, fine grained, pure gypsum was heated and prepared as a plaster of paris and a small splint was successfully molded and used to immobilize an index finger.
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued with additional seeds and seedlings being planted. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: N/A
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin(TM) monitoring vests. A final checklist-supported response simulated emergency was carried out in the afternoon to further test the stress on untrained personnel involved in medical emergencies in isolated situations.
Additional activities: N/A

[title Science Report – November 20th]

Science Report 20 November 2019
SOL: 10
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: The experimenting with gypsum and sand to create a form of
plaster of paris cement continued. 22 cement tiles were created and set aside to dry
for strength testing. The remaining 10 tiles from this programme should be completed
tomorrow. Water liberated from the gypsum has been successfully collected and
approximately 10ml has been bottled. Time permitting tomorrow, an actual gypsum plaster
of paris will be created and the making of splints will be demonstrated.
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued with pots filled awaiting the planting
of additional seeds and seedlings. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: N/A
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin(TM)
monitoring vests.
Additional activities: Cleaned airlocks following rain event and attended to three
false alarms of the smoke detectors (caused by water/humidity).

Science Report 10 November 2019
SOL: 0
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler

Science Dome Operations: The Science Dome has been activated and is awaiting EVAs for sample acquisition and testing.

Green Hab: The green hab is fully operational and sown plants, seedlings and established plants are being maintained. See GreenHab report.

Astronomy Dome Operations: No astronomical observations have been planned for this crew rotation.

RAM Operations: The RAM Dome has been activated and is ready for contingencies.

EVA: The first EVA request for geological reconnaissance has been sent. See EVA Request.

EVA Suit Maintenance: The crew engineer will troubleshoot Suit 10 to enable repairs. Suit 2 is experiencing a reduction in airflow and will also be evaluated. See Operations Report.

Additional activities: Nil.

[title Science Report – November 19th]

Science Report 19 November 2019
SOL: 9
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: The experimenting with gypsum and sand to create a form of
plaster of paris cement commenced. Various samples of known mass were heated for 5 or
10 minutes and either combined with sand or not and then mixed with 4ml or 8ml of
water. Each slurry was placed into a tray and is being allowed to dry to examine
strength. A byproduct of this experiment is the realization that the finely ground
gypsum is actual plaster of paris and could be used for its intended medical purpose on
Mars.
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued with additional soil and potting mix
allowing further crops to be sown. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: The final EVA for science saw us returning rock specimens used for identification
and training purposes to the collection sites to the west of White Rock Canyon. See EVA
Report.
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin(TM)
monitoring vests.
Additional activities: Two potential medical uses of material being liberated from the
gypsum experiments, the original medical use of plaster of paris and the liberated
water (being equivalent to distilled water) used to create a saline solution (NaCl),
were evaluated concurrently with the cement creation trials.

[title Science Report – November 16th]

[category science-report]

Science Report 16 November 2019
SOL: 6
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: The remaining micrometeorite samples collected from yesterday
were processed and packaged in the morning. In addition, gypsum was ground for cement
experimentation with aggregate samples (fine sand, coarse sand and pebbly sand) the
only outstanding components. In the afternoon, more micrometeorite samples were
collected and transferred to the science dome.
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued with a number of herb and vegetable
species now sprouting. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: The sixth EVA for science saw us returning to the MM5 (518462E 4248949N) site
where the remaining micrometeorite samples were collected. 100% of the grid has now
been sampled and the grid retrieved. See EVA Report.
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin(TM)
monitoring vests. The simulated emergency retrieval of the engineer has provided a
great deal of data for formulating procedures to assist those in remote and isolated locations.
Additional activities: N/A.

Science Report 15 November 2019

SOL: 5

Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew

Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler

Science Dome Operations: More micrometeorite samples were collected in the morning and

processed in the afternoon. Further gypsum samples were ground in preparation for the

cement making experiments to be carried out later in the rotation.

Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued. See Green Hab report.

RAM Operations: N/A

EVA: The fifth EVA for science saw us returning to the MM5 (518462E 4248949N) site

where 24 micrometeorite samples were collected. 64% of the grid has now been sampled.

See EVA Report.

EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.

Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin

monitoring vests. The simulated emergency retrieval of the engineer was carried out

during the engineering EVA and the performance of all participants is being evaluated.

In addition, indicated modifications to the airlock that would make this activity

easier are being evaluated.

Additional activities: N/A.

Science Report 13 November 2019
SOL: 3
Crew 215 – Expedition Boomerang Crew
Submitted by Science Officer Andrew Wheeler
Science Dome Operations: N/A
Green Hab: Green Hab operations have continued. See Green Hab report.
RAM Operations: N/A
EVA: The third EVA for science saw us returning to the White Moon location at the junction of Brahe Hwy and Cow dung Road (517790E 4254750N) to collect more gypsum samples for ISRU cement experiments. It was noted that, at this location out of sim, at least one vehicle has been driving through the exact locations of our previous sampling efforts. Fortunately, this has no effect on our sampling, but it does suggest that our activities are been monitored extremely closely. See EVA Report.
EVA Suit Maintenance: Nominal. See Operations Report.
Psycho-social Stressors Monitoring: Data collection continues through the hexoskin monitoring vests. In addition, equipment for the retrieval of an injured marstronaut was inventoried prior to a rehearsal for an actual event. Subject to approval, a simulated emergency retrieval of the engineer will be held 14Nov2019 at the conclusion of his engineering EVA.
Additional activities: Nil.