Category: Sol Summary

Sol: 12
Summary Title: The return to Earth
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Overcast with rain showers clearing. No outside activities and so the time was spent finalising reports, archiving data and culling samples to be returned to their points of origin. One final series of analyses was carried out with the carbonate (CO3) concretions to determine whether the particles or the matrix are the CO3 material. Having crushed and sieved the material down to -63 microns, the relative levels of effervescence suggests that the matrix is the source of the CO3 that released CO2 in the presence of vinegar. Mind you n=2. When these analyses were completed, there was no more to be done. After lunch, our simulation was completed at 2:00pm local and we were on our way home to Earth.
Look Ahead Plan: Cleaning, tidying and packing for departure from MDRS and arrival home.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Overnight rain of 3.0 mm with temperatures ranging from 5C to 13C. Winds were light to variable.
Crew Physical Status: Nominal.
EVA: No EVAs for this morning.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist’s Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Crew 291 Mission Summary.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 8
Summary Title: Extending the search
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Day dawned clear and cold (-5C) and augured well for the crew’s plans. Rob finally had both clear skies and a fully operational telescope to observe the sun. The resultant images are being processed and the astronomer’s report will have the details. The illnesses of yesterday are where they belong – yesterday. A localised morning EVA around the hab further tested the robot rover’s mobility and its ability to gather spectra whilst being remotely operated. After lunch, an EVA to the furthest north reached by the rovers at Tharsis Montes had a team searching for evaporites, concretions and petrified wood. Serendipitously, as the team was looking for rock markers on the top of Hab ridge, signs of live were discovered. Endoliths were observed beneath the surface of quartz cobbles. Three samples were selected for spectroscopic analysis and comparison to the vegetation spectra from the increasing MDRS-derived spectral library. The evening meal provided an opportunity to clear the shelves of opened foodstuffs with a simple meat and seven vegetables spread.
Look Ahead Plan: As the forecast predicts more clear and slightly warmer days, we intend to push as far north as the rovers’ limit will allow in our attempts to reach the white moon gypsum deposit to collect samples. A second EVA will examine anhydrite yardangs in an environmental degradation study.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Clear morning at -5 Celsius rising to mid to high teens during the day. No clouds and no precipitation. Humidity continuously dropping from near 60% to 30%. The wind was faint to gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: Nothing to report.
EVA: EVA 13 with Steve and Scott with robot rover trials at the Hab.
EVA 14 with Andrew, Clare and Alex to Tharsis Montes in search of evaporites, concretions and petrified wood.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Commander’s Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report (including an HSO report), EVA report, EVA Request(s), Astronomer report.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 9
Summary Title: Pushing the limits
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Another clear and cold (-4C) morning. Perfect for the solar observatory and EVAs. A morning EVA to Pooh’s Corner allowed a team to revisit a site last observed 18 years ago to gauge arid land degradation with a view to develop a geoheritage strategy. Concurrent with this, more robot rover traction trials were conducted over the different terrain. This EVA was most successful. The afternoon EVA sought to push the rovers to the maximum of their endurance under the current conditions, in an attempt to reach White Moon at the junction of Cow Dung Road and Brahe Highway. Here, gypsum crystals are exposed at the surface and these provide excellent targets for spectral analysis. Under the conditions, the rovers made it to approximately 800m short of the target. This distance was easily walked and 20 minutes later the team were there. Spectra were taken, samples collected and, in too short a time, the team headed back to the MDRS. However, the journey was interrupted by the appearance of a pair of (juvenile?) pronghorn antelope who crossed our path. What are they doing on Mars?. During all of this, the sun was continuously imaged in the observatory and an enhanced composite produced. Cheesy garlic scones for lunch and jambalaya for dinner was greatly enjoyed by all.
Look Ahead Plan: A day of consolidation. With no EVAs planned (except for a short one to redeploy the solar logger), we will use the time to crunch data, process samples and collect laboratory spectra for comparison to field data.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Clear morning at -4 Celsius rising to mid teens during the day. No clouds and no precipitation. Humidity continuously dropping from near 70% at sunrise to 30% in the afternoon. The wind was faint to gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: Nothing to report.
EVA: EVA 15 with Clare, Steve and Alex in search of anhydrite yardangs near Pooh’s Corner complimented with robot rover trials.
EVA 17 with Andrew, Steve and Scott to White Moon to push the rovers to their limits and collect spectra and samples for analyses.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist’s Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report (including an HSO report), EVA report, EVA Request(s), Astronomer’s report.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 10
Summary Title: Crunching the numbers
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The mornings are on repeat; clear and cold (-4C) morning and perfect for the solar observatory. A very short duration, early morning EVA to in front of the science dome’s panorama windows saw the final re-deploy of the solar logger. Despite the longer nights, the battery has been keeping the sensors working longer than anticipated. The performance data is eagerly awaited. The remainder of the morning was spent cleaning, cataloging, photographing and identifying samples and then preparing some for both non-destructive and destructive analysis. Lunch was a repeat of the scones and soup mostly because we’re getting good at this. After lunch, some of the gypsum collected the day before from the White Moon locale that had been subjected to spectral analysis, was shown to be completely different to other gypsum spectra. The repeat analyses and comparisons will be interesting. Dinner, a layered meat, vegetable and potato bake based on Hunza pie awaits.
Look Ahead Plan: Final EVAs to locate points of geological interest for GPS recording and a continuation of data analysis from spectral and physical samples.
Anomalies in work: Back pack batteries – see operations report.
Weather: Clear morning at -4 Celsius rising to mid teens during the day. Altostratus clouds with cumulus clouds on the southern horizon building in the afternoon with no precipitation. Humidity continuously dropping from near 70% at sunrise to 30% in the afternoon. The wind was faint to gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: Head bump in the observatory – see operations report.
EVA: EVA 18 with Andrew and Steve to re-deploy the solar logger.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist’s Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report (including an HSO report), EVA report, EVA Request(s), Astronomer’s report.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 5
Summary Title: Data acquisition
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 5 dawned bright clear and cold, perfect weather for EVAs. It was also Australia Day back on Earth and an opportunity for some Aussie delights. For us it was vegemite on toast with a tropical fruit platter as that was all we had. (The toast was actually bread and the fruit platter was dehydrated bananas, mango, apple and blueberries and the blueberries were actually in pancakes). Morning tea saw the unveiling of the TimTams® and, for afternoon tea, lamingtons. The hab received some tender loving care on both levels with sweeping up and vacuuming away the evidence of our external activities. The EVA for the day saw a return, along Cow Dung Road past Cowboy Corner, to the location of the spectral recordings of the previous day to collect further data and test the robot rover’s mobility on additional different slopes and surfaces. The evening meal was burgers and lamingtons. A productive day by all.
Look Ahead Plan: Weather dependent as always, tomorrow will see an EVA return to the Kissing Camel Ridge for investigation of the geological boundary between that and the Hab Ridge. This will be followed by an EVA to the Galileo Road in search of access into the Candor Chasma for geological samples and spectral targets.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Clear crisp morning at 0 Celcius rising to low teens during the day. Some minor clouds forming over the mountains during the day. No precipitation. Humidity dropping from near 80% to below 50%. The wind strengthened from gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 9 with Steve, Clare, and Rob to the Tharsis Montes area north of Cowboy Corner for robot rover testing.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA report, EVA Request(s). No Astronomer report as yet.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 6
Summary Title: The search continues
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: A repeat of yesterday, Sol 6 dawned bright, clear and cold; perfect weather for EVAs. It also allowed the solar observatory to be utilised for the first time. The morning EVA saw a return to Kissing Camel Ridge in search of access to Hab ridge and the locations of fossil beds, concretions and petrified wood. The return to the parked rovers during this EVA was via a different route that pushed the EVA into the reserve time. A lesson learned. The afternoon EVA chartered new territory into Candor Chasma (via Galileo Road) in the search for fossil beds and spectral targets. A location for fossil beds was identified as well as more green and red mudstone lithologies. Interestingly, purple mudstone beds and salt coated rocks were located and will be potential targets for spectral analysis on later EVAs. Pizza and fresh salad greeted all for the evening meal and very welcome it was.
Look Ahead Plan: A day of rest and consolidation. However, in expectation of clear weather again, the solar observatory will continue to have the idiosyncrasies worked through to allow clear observations of the solar surface. With no EVAs scheduled, the crew will be able to catch up on interpretations and conclusions as well as personal time.
Anomalies in work: An incursion by curious visitors in to the campus In the afternoon.
Weather: Clear crisp morning at -6 Celcius rising to low teens during the day. No precipitation. Humidity continuously dropping from near 60% to below 40%. The wind was faint to gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 10 with Clare and Scott to Kissing Camel Ridge en route to Hab Ridge in search of fossil beds, concretions and petrified wood.
EVA 11 to Candor Chasma via Galileo Road reconnoitering for spectral targets, fossil beds and concretions.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA report, EVA Request(s), Astronomer report and mid-Mission report.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 7
Summary Title: A day of rest
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Today was scheduled to be a day of rest and personal time. However, it didn’t quite turn out that way. One crew member awoke to a severe migraine and another to a stomach upset and their wellbeing was our main concern. Nevertheless, washing and cleaning was able to be done and a very short EVA to return the solar logger it’s recording point was carried out in the early morning. The Mars jigsaw puzzle was completed and signed and an issue with the lower level gas heater was remedied.
Look Ahead Plan: We will return to robot rover testing on the ground around the hab in the morning and an EVA to the stream draining from Tharsis Montes in search of concretions in the afternoon. If the weather holds, the solar observatory will also be operated.
Anomalies in work: Lower level gas heater anomaly – see operations report.
Weather: Clear crisp morning at -5 Celsius rising to low teens during the day. High cirrus cloud later in the day. No precipitation. Humidity continuously dropping from near 60% to below 40%. The wind was faint to gentle during the day.
Crew Physical Status: Severe migraine headache as well as stomach upset – see HSO report.
EVA: EVA 12 with Andrew and Clare to return the solar logger to it’s recording position and an external inspection of the hab tunnels.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Commander’s Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report (including an HSO report), EVA report, EVA Request(s). There is no Astronomer report for today.
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 2
Summary Title: First Sol of Operations
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Our first full sol on Mars saw an overcast day breaking to let the sun shine through – at least for a moment – before returning to complete overcast. Following breakfast of oatmeal, toast, juice and coffee, preparations for the day of EVAs commenced. These involved the deployment of environmental sensors outside the science dome and testing of traction at various slope angles of a robotic rover also outside the main hab. Inside the hab, the plants in the greenhab were regularly tended and experiments in baking bread and combining varieties of freeze dried foods were undertaken. The regular monitoring of systems within the hab is becoming a routine for all crew under the responsibility of Scott the engineer and resultant time pressures appear to be easing.
Look Ahead Plan: Weather dependent, tomorrow will see an EVA to test the physical endurance of astronauts whilst walking fully suited and continued testing of the robot rover along with a stand alone rover wheel outside the hab.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Low cloud and early showers clearing later with clouds thinning during the afternoon. Temperature increasing from low to high single digits Celsius and humidity decreasing from 80% to 60% during the day. Faint to no wind.
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 3 with Andrew and Steve to deploy a suite of sensors outside the science dome was cut short when the software failed to link to the system. A rehearsal to set out the equipment was undertaken in it’s stead, whilst the standalone solar logger was successfully deployed. EVA 4 with Steve and Rob (external) and Alex and Scott (internal) saw the operation of the robot rover outside the hab, testing traction on different surfaces at different slope angles.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA report, EVA Request(s)
Support Requested: Nothing to request.

Sol: 3
Summary Title: Testing the limits
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 3 saw us preparing to see how far Martians are able to push themselves encumbered with the means of our survival on the red planet. Traverses to a number of distinctive topographic features were made both for navigation and endurance testing. Results are pending though the EVA members were very pleased with their efforts. The second EVA saw continued traction testing of the robot rover and deployment of a wheel mounted regolith sampler for evaluation. Within the hab, maintenance inspections of the backpack and helmet combinations were undertaken and further troubleshooting of the recalcitrant environmental sensor system proved fruitless. Finally, an invitation to join a livestream event for Igniting The Space Down Under was previewed and has been set for Australia Day 26th January, which is of course, Thursday 25th January at MDRS here on Mars.
Look Ahead Plan: Weather dependent, tomorrow will see an EVA to the Kissing Camel Ridge in search of carbonate concretions and an EVA north to the gully draining west from the Tharsis Montes in search of spectrometric targets.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Clear morning clouding over during the morning. Temperature increasing from -2 Celsius in the morning to double digits in the afternoon. Humidity fluctuated between 80% and 50%. No precipitation. Faint to no wind.
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 5 with Scott, Clare and Alex . EVA 6 with Steve, Alex and Scott
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA report, EVA Request(s). No Astronomer report (too cloudy for telescopic observations).
Support Requested: See operations report.

Sol: 4
Summary Title: Expanding the Search
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 4 had the potential of denying us EVAs based on the weather forecast. Fortunately, the rain held off and we were able to get away on time. Clare had us at Kissing Camel Ridge West in search of concretions (a source of carbonates) and petrified wood (an analogue of organic remains). Previous crews had reported this location and, after some climbing around outcrops and mudstone domes, we located the stratigraphic layer that contains the concretions. GPS coordinates were taken and samples collected. The petrified wood remained elusive as only fragments in the stream wash were observed. The second EVA saw an excursion towards the north along Cow Dung Road past Cowboy Corner en route to the largest stream draining the Tharsis Montes. Operational constraints (Point of No Return is rover power levels at 55%) pulled the team up short of the proposed destination. Nevertheless, Steve was able to have the push broom spectrometer up and recording the many and varied lithologies of the nearby geology. Finally, the commander joined a livestream event for Igniting The Space Down Under timed for transmission for Australia Day 26th January back on Earth.
Look Ahead Plan: Weather dependent as always, tomorrow will see an EVA return to the Tharsis Montes area for the next stage in collecting spectroscopic data. The remaining time will be spent continuing the troubleshooting of the stubborn sensor station and collating previously collected data.
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.
Weather: Overcast morning and remained so during the day. No precipitation. Temperature increasing from 0 Celsius in the morning to high single digits in the afternoon. Humidity fluctuated between 80% and 50%. Faint to no wind.
Crew Physical Status: nominal
EVA: EVA 7 with Clare, Andrew and Scott to Kissing Camel Ridge West. EVA 8 with Steve, Alex and Rob to the Tharsis Montes area north of Cowboy Corner.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA report, EVA Request(s). No Astronomer report (too cloudy for telescopic observations).
Support Requested: Nothing to request.