Category: Sol Summary

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 08April2023

Sol: 6

Summary Title: In the spotlight

Author’s name: Agnès Dekeyser, Crew Executive Officer

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

The crew woke up again with the delicious smell of pancakes in which some chocolate chips had been added for the great pleasure of our martionautes. Then, four of them got ready and left for their EVA to the Special Region. After a few hours without any news from them because of the great distance between them and the Hab, the crew got back in touch before coming back. They used their full four hours of EVA to perform drone mapping and radioactivity measurements for Thomas and Augustin’s experiments. They found some interesting cavities in the rock as well as fossilised wood that gave off a mid level of radioactivity.

After their mission, the crew regained strength with an excellent lunch of Asian rice before taking several videos inside the Hab to add to their reportage. Then, they all finished the afternoon by progressing with their own experiments.

Ahead Plan:

For the next few days, the crew will be going every two days to North Ridge to check the bacteria that were placed there yesterday. On Sol 11 the samples will be collected for analysis. The crew will also plan next EVA’s for Thomas who need to make more radioactivity measurements in the surroundings of the MDRS and for Augustin who will continue the drone mapping of several places in the desert. The other experiments will also continue inside the MDRS including the use of the 3D printer.

Anomalies in work: nun-functional robotic observatory and the battery wires of Opportunity needs to be replaced.

Weather: Sunny, high 20°C/68°F, low 4°C/40°F

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: See above

Reports to be filed: Journalist report, Greenhab report, Operations report, EVA report, EVA request

Support Requested: None

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 07-04-2023
Sol: 5
Summary Title: To sky and beyond
Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin – Crew Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Today, on SOL 5, we conducted an extravehicular activity (EVA) to install a meteorological balloon on the North Ridge plateau. The purpose of the experiment is to expose bacteria to different conditions of temperature, pressure, and UV radiation. To study this we have placed a sensor under the balloon. The mission went well. The balloon is well in place and all the crew returned to the base on time.
This afternoon we continued the usual rhythm with all the experiments. We worked on the mid-rotation video, choosing interesting videos and making new ones to make sure we show how our mission is going. After that, our Crew Astronomer made all the modifications for future observations of the sun with the telescope. The crew Green Hab Officer made new plantations in the green hab and with help chose different plants to make them dry, and see how we can use them after.
It was a successful day for the mission, we have accomplished important tasks for the simulation.
Look Ahead Plan:
It is planned that the astronomer realizes photos of the sun’s prominence. We also plan to process the data from the balloon and test the viability of the bacteria exposed to the balloon parameters. In Sol 6, an EVA is scheduled at Special Region and Lith Canyon for Thomas to continue his radiation measurements in an old area with a lot of fossils and Augustin will make another 3D mapping.
Anomalies in work: Starlink outage
Weather: Sunny, high 17°C/63°F, low -2°C/29°F
Crew Physical Status: Nominal
EVA: See above
Reports to be filed: Journalist report, Greenhab report, Operations report, EVA report, EVA request, Astronomer report
Support Requested: None

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 05-04-2023
Sol: 4
Summary Title: An interesting and explosive journey
Author’s name: Agnès Dekeyser, Crew Executive Officer
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
The whole crew woke up after a really good night of sleep and shared some pancakes and bread for breakfast. Four of them were then getting ready for their EVA with the means of drone mapping and a reportage places. First, Kissing Kamel Ridge W followed by White Rock Canyon. After a little accident with the drone which needed some repairs, the crew lost some time and had to come back without attaining second place. In the meantime, our crew astronomer made some tests with his camera and microphone, coming back with some nice pictures and videos. After small modifications, the parameters tested should be ready for the reportage.
After a good warm lunch and a small card game, the crew members were ready to continue their own experiments going from analysis of data to 3D printing or cultivation of bacteria.
At the end of the afternoon, they were disturbed by a small issue in the science dome. It seems that the solar power system got overcharged a little and the crew had to exhaust it a little bit.
Look Ahead Plan:
The crew will continue working on their own experiments by the means of several EVA’s.
Tomorrow, the crew will expose bacteria to the MDRS environmental conditions and compare the results with their analog staying inside the MDRS. They will also launch a meteorological balloon in order to take some measurements of atmospheric pressure and temperature. Finally, they will begin their reportage with the parameters tested during the previous EVA.
In the MDRS, they will analyze the data and get prepared for the next EVA’s for radioactivity measurements, drone mapping, and monitoring of the weather balloon.
Anomalies in work: Power system overloaded by power of sun. Need to be handled.
Weather: Sunny, high 11°C/52°F, low -6°C/21°F
Crew Physical Status: Nominal
EVA: See above
Reports to be filed: Journalist report, Greenhab report, Operations report, EVA report, EVA request
Support Requested: None

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 4-5-23

Sol: 3

Summary Title: When the experiments come out of the box

Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin – Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

The day started well with a good smell of pancakes to wake us up after our evening team building on Sol 2. We made small games in order to reinforce the group spirit. The excitement to start the day was at its peak. It’s the big day to start the EVA experiments after the 2 training sessions. We did our first EVA of 3 hours to work on our experiment. It took place around the MDRS and we had 2 objectives for the expedition. Two members of the crew were working on the crew scientist experiment which consists in measuring the radiation with a scintillator at different predefined points. The rest of the group was working on a 3D mapping of the base with a drone for the GreenHab Officer experiment.
The first 3D printer tests in the RAM were a success. This marks the beginning of the astronomer’s experiment using the printer.
The rest of the crew continued to work on the experiments already underway in the base.
Look Ahead Plan:

In Sol 4 we will take an EVA to Kissing Kamel Ridge W and White Rock Canyon to perform a low-level mapping of the area with the drone. Augustin and Thomas will be able to start linking their experiments and matching the radiation measurements with the 3D mapping to create an interactive view.

Anomalies in work:
A headset needs to be repaired
Weather: Sunny and cold, low -3°C/27°F, high 8°C/46°F
Crew Physical Status: Optimal
EVA: See above
Reports to be file: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, Astronomer report

Support Requested: None at this time.

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 04April2023

Sol: 2
Summary Title: Surviving Mars temperature
Author’s name: Agnès Dekeyser, Crew Executive Officer
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
After a good night of sleep, the crew was ready to start his second day on Mars planet. The mission began at 9 am with an EVA for the martionauts that didn’t get the training the day before. The purpose was again to practice maneuvering a rover and to check communications between each other and with the base. They also got training from their Commander to learn how to rapidly and precisely point a destination or an object. The same training was given to the rest of the Crew right after lunch, along with a training by the Crew Astronomer on how to communicate in the event of a communication technology malfunction.
For lunch, the crew enjoyed the bread baked that morning by the martionauts who had stayed in the Hab. The first bread of the mission. They have 10 sol left to improve their recipe.
The rest of the day was devoted to everyone’s experiment. Martionauts were testing the 3D printer, preparing map for radioactivity measure or for drone mapping, cultivating bacteria, observing the crew behavior, listening to music and analyzing the heartbeat, or answering anonymous questionnaire
Look Ahead Plan:
Tomorrow, an EVA is planned to begin the measure of radioactivity around the MDRS. The next EVA’s will be to progress on each other’s experiences. The crew will continue the radioactivity measures, perform several drone mapping, and expose bacteria to the MDRS environmental conditions.
Anomalies in work: The EVA suit number 8 needs to be repaired: poor ventilation, battery seems to lose its condition.
Weather: Cold and windy, high 6°C/43°F, low 0°C/32°F
Crew Physical Status: Nominal
EVA: Training
Reports to be filed: Journalist report, Greenhab report, Operations report, EVA report, EVA request.
Support Requested: None

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 4-3-23

Sol: 1

Summary Title: A windy and intense start

Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin – Crew Commander

Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
First awakening for the Ares crew on the Martian soil. The night was short and turbulent because of the wind but the team started the day more motivated than ever. We are now occupying this planet and intend to discover all of its secrets. The first step on the ground came at 9:15 am during the first EVA training. The team was able to practice moving in their suits, driving the rovers and communicating with each other and with the base.
During this time, the rest of the crew could realize an inventory of the material and the food in order to organize the continuation of the simulation.
The work of the previous teams was appreciated during the tasting of the first tomatoes harvested in the GreenHab ! The end of lunch launched the start of each crew member’s experiments. While some built a 3D printer in the Ram, others developed a bacterial culture in the Science Dome.
At the end of the day the strong winds caused a breach in the tunnel blocking the commander in the science dome for the time of the repairs.
Look Ahead Plan:
In Sol 2 a second EVA training is planned for the rest of the crew. This EVA will finish the training of the crew and the outdoor experiences will start on Sol 3.

Anomalies in work:
Headset malfunction to be repaired tomorrow
Breach in the tunnel leading to the science dome. Repair already done

Weather: Very windy, high 16°C/61°F, low 5°C/41F°

Crew Physical Status: Optimal

EVA: See above

Reports to be file: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Journalist Report, HSO Report, GreenHab Report

Support Requested: None at this time.

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 03-04-2023

Sol: 0

Summary Title: Discovering of the station

Author’s name: Agnès Dekeyser, XO

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary: Crew 279 arrived at the research station and discovered its surroundings. Their training for operating all major facilities, all main procedures and learning how to drive the rovers, went well. The first reports were also completed.

Look Ahead Plan: The stimulation will start tomorrow morning at 08:00. In the morning, a training EVA will take place at Marble Ritual to practice maneuvering a rover and perform a communication check for half of the crew members. The other half of the crew will perform the practice the next day.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Windy and sunny

Crew Physical Status: Good

EVA: Training

Reports to be filed: Operations Report, Mission plan, HSO Pre-Mission Checklist, EVA request.

Support Requested: None

Sol: 6

Summary Title: Ultrasounders

Author’s name: Arian Anderson

Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Today we had specialists in emergency medicine ultrasound teach our students how to do basic diagnostics. We also demonstrated how ultrasound has used new technology to reduce learning curves
Look Ahead Plan: Morning EVA and end of mission planning
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Cold in the morning, sunny and warm in the afternoon. Blustery winds
Crew Physical Status: Crew is fatigued
EVA: N/A
Reports to be file: HSO, Operations Report
Support Requested: None at this time.

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 10Mar2023

Sol: 26

Summary Title: It’s not over until it’s over… but now it’s over!

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

For our last EVA, we had planned four hours to disassemble all the atmospheric instruments located at a site close to the MDRS. We wanted to make sure that no adverse events could happen and that the EVA crew would have enough time for all the operations needed. But they were very efficient, and did not meet any problem. As a result, everything was done in less than two hours, even though the high winds did not make the operations as easy as they could have been.

The aquaponics system has been also dismantled by our GreenHab Officer. He took this opportunity to harvest the crops that grew there during our stay. The fish are still in their bucket, waiting for Donald to retrieve them. Please keep us updated, if he is not able to retrieve them, so that we are aware of it and can bring them back to the store where we purchased them.

Once we were all gathered in the Hab, we used our last hours there to complete all the protocols remaining for our datasets to be complete, which was successfully done. Another emergency drill was performed with the help of AI4U, our assistant based on an artificial intelligence. When the alarm rang at 13:55, our Crew Journalist again took the lead of the operations. One team was sent to go through all the buildings and detect the one causing the non-nominal status. As they were in the Science Dome, they simulated another issue, as a crewmember pretended to faint. While the HSO took care of this crewmember, the others prepared for an emergency EVA. They quickly, but safely, left the Hab and fixed a fictive leak located in the GreenHab. The drill took 30 minutes, which is exactly the time limit that was fixed.

On their way back from the emergency EVA, the EVA crewmembers found some items from our burnable garbage flying around. They managed to bring some of them back to the Hab. We saw more of them along the pressurized corridors and tried to call Mission Support from 15:00. When we managed to reach them, we also took this opportunity to inform them about our wish to exit the sim, which was done a few minutes later, at 17:00.

Look Ahead Plan:

Now that we are out of simulation, we will complete the checkout list as well as the food inventory. We will also start gathering all our personal belongings and scientific material. At what time can the CrewCar be placed in front of the Hab so that we can start loading it? We plan to leave tomorrow at 12:00. We will fill the tank of the CrewCar in Grand Junction, park it at the Day’s Inn, and give the keys at the front desk.

Some water was spilled on the computer of the Commander. Now it does not turn on anymore. This computer contained the Final Mission Science Report as well as the Final Mission Summary. Would it be possible to send these to you tomorrow instead, so that we have time to write them again?

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Windy, low 3°C/37°F, high 12°C/54°F.

Crew Physical Status: One crewmember recovering from surgery after a broken collarbone.

EVA: EVA #22 dedicated to the disassembling of the atmospheric instruments conducted successfully. EVA #23 (emergency EVA) dedicated to a drill of an emergency protocol in the vicinity of the Hab also conducted successfully.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, HSO Report.

Support Requested: None.

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 09Mar2023

Sol: 25

Summary Title: Let’s (pretend to) save the station!

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

We were very excited with today’s EVA, as we were planning to explore the Special Region and the weather was very good (which we are not used to!). Our routine operations on the atmospheric instruments went perfectly and we headed North towards the Special Region, leaving the rovers before the battery level was too low. About 45 minutes of walking later, we finally had a visual on the Special Region, however, we saw a pick-up truck parked just in front of it. We thus decided not to take the risk of meeting anyone and started our way back. Rather than exploration, it was more a kind of hike with spacesuits, but we enjoyed it very much anyway!

Back at the Hab, we continued yesterday’s training about the emergency protocols assisted by AI4U, our artificial intelligence tool. An alarm was set to ring at a random time during the afternoon and we all went on with our respective tasks. It was 15:05 when the alarm rang. The Crew Journalist took the lead of the operations and, as everyone was already in the Hab, we directly formed three teams. The Crew Scientist and the Crew Engineer explored all the buildings of the campus and restarted the environmental instruments to check where the simulated hole was located. In the meantime, the Crew Botanist and the Health & Safety Officer put on their spacesuits to get ready to fix the hole, while the other crewmembers kept an eye on the procedure and communicated the instructions to the other teams. After identifying a fictive hole in the tunnel leading to the Science Dome, a call was made to Mission support to request an emergency EVA. After being authorized to exit the airlock, the EVA crew successfully identified and fixed the fictive hole in the tunnel. The overall process took about 30 minutes, which is exactly the target time.

No bad news with the fish today. It looks like they are doing fine, but they are still in the very small bucket where they were placed yesterday. We would like to reiterate our suggestion for Donald to retrieve them whenever he wants so that they can be placed in a larger aquarium.

Look Ahead Plan:

We would like to perform an EVA dedicated to the disassembling of our atmospheric instruments tomorrow morning (Sol 26).

Then, in the early afternoon, we plan to perform another test of the emergency protocols with AI4U, our numerical assistant based on artificial intelligence. An emergency EVA may thus be requested to go to the immediate vicinity of the Hab at any time between 14:00 and 16:30.

We would like to exit the simulation at 17:30 and start the checkout procedure as well as the food inventory. Is there a crew coming to the MDRS directly after us? Do you confirm that we should arrive at the Day’s Inn in Grand Junction in the early afternoon on Saturday (Sol 27)?

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Sunny, low -2°C/28°F, high 9°C/48°F.

Crew Physical Status: One crewmember recovering from surgery after a broken collarbone.

EVA: None.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, EVA Request, Operations Report, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, HSO Report.

Support Requested: None.