Category: Sol Summary

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 22-04-2023

Sol: 6

Summary title: Loud and Clean

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary:

The Hypatia I crew celebrated the start of the weekend with homemade pancakes and both savory and sweet combinations. After finishing breakfast, Carla Conejo González (Executive Officer & Biologist), Ariadna Farrés (Scientist & HSO), and Laia Ribas (GreenHab Officer) conducted an EVA around the base.

As the rest of the crew continued their scientific work indoors, the EVA team ventured outside to hone their drone flying skills and clear the area around the station, where there was a lot of space debris due to the high Martian winds of the past few days.

The team gathered for a well-deserved lunch at around 1PM. Today, Cesca Cufí ( Engineer) and Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Commander) served up a hot and hearty lunch of lentils infused with a tomato and vegetable sauce. This meal nourished the crew’s spirits and provided the perfect backdrop for a lively discussion about the future of the Hypatia Mars Association.

Later today, the crew will prepare dinner and play an exciting cardboard game, inspired by the very mission they are part of.

Look ahead plan: The crew is planning on holding a meditation session as well as a creative workshop dedicated to creating origami roses for St. George’s Day (also known as The Day of the Rose in Catalonia).

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Sunny. Low 42F/High 63F.

Crew physical status: Nominal.

EVA: We conducted an EVA around the base to fly a small drone and clean the terrain from space-debris.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: None.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 21-04-2023

Sol: 5

Summary title: Together in Isolation

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: We kicked off the day with a nice breakfast followed by a 2-hour EVA to Roberts Rock Garden, where four crew members (Núria Jar, Neus Sabaté, Ariadna Farrés, and Cesca Cufí) explored the region with two main goals in mind: on the one hand, create a navigation map for future orientation challenges, and on the other, collect iron-rich rocks to create innovative Martian batteries.

At the end of the EVA, the team returned to the base, ready to refuel with a lunch prepared by Carla Conejo González (Executive Officer and Biologist) and Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Crew Commander & Astronomer). For this meal, the crew ate dehydrated scrambled eggs with a salad of greens and tomatoes from the GreenHab. In the afternoon, everyone worked on their research, with some members continuing to prepare their experimental setups.

Just before communicating with Mission Support, we enjoyed some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Tonight, Carla and Mariona have planned a “space” surprise for the team and everyone will watch a movie to welcome the start of the weekend. In a few days, Hypatia I will have spent a full week on Mars, conducting research, learning from each other, and adapting to a new lifestyle on the Red Planet.

Look ahead plan: The crew is looking forward to celebrating the day of St. George on Sunday. This Catalan celebration involves giving roses to friends, but given that roses do not exist on Mars, they will make them by hand with origami. In addition, the crew will organize a meditation workshop and an informal research symposium.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Sunny. Low 35F/High 62F.

Crew physical status: Nominal.

EVA: We conducted an EVA to Roberts Rock Garden to collect iron oxide samples and plan a navigation GPS challenge.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: Retrieval of trash in the rear airlock.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 20-04-2023

Sol: 4

Summary title: A Martian home in the Making

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: As the Sun rose over the Martian desert, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm, homemade bread filled the upper deck. Soon after, the crew gathered around the table to have a delicious breakfast and get ready for the day ahead.

During the morning, Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist) managed to turn on her iron-based batteries in the Science Dome, while Cesca Cufí (Engineer) started building a container for her “Blob.” Meanwhile, Laia Ribas (GreenHab Officer) met with Núria Jar (Journalist) and Carla Conejo González (Executive Officer & Biologist) to discuss how to communicate her MDRS research with the public. In the observatory, Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Commander & Astronomer) aligned the telescope with Ariadna Farrés’ (Health & Safety Officer) help and was able to observe a beautiful Sunspot through the eyepiece (see Astronomy Report).

The crew reconvened for lunch, when they savored a fresh salad from the GreenHab and dehydrated scrambled eggs with vegetables. At 2PM, some crew members (Laia Ribas, Carla Conejo, Ariadna Farrés, and Mariona Badenas) started an EVA, heading to Cowboy Corner to fly a small drone, test our Midland radios, collect sand samples, and develop navigation strategies. The rest of the crew supported the EVA team and continued their research from the Hab. After returning to the base, everyone continued to work on their research.

As the Sun sets and SOL4 is drawing to a close, the crew is excited to prepare homemade pizzas with fresh tomatoes and basil from the GreenHab, complemented by a few dehydrated ingredients from the pantry. It has been a productive day, and Hypatia I looks forward to continuing their journey of exploration on the Red Planet. Building a home away from home may not be easy, but with a lot of work, effort, and (dough)-determination, anything is possible!

Look ahead plan: The crew will perform an EVA and continue their experiments throughout the day. Tomorrow, we will prepare some workshops for the weekend, including a celebration of Saint George’s special Catalan festivity.

Anomalies in work: Non-functional robotic telescope and Spirit needs a new battery wire.
Weather: Sunny, but high winds in the afternoon. Low 26F/High 55F.

Crew physical status: Nominal.

EVA: Not applicable today.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report, Astronomy Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: (i) Replacement of stove knobs, if possible; (ii) retrieval of trash in the rear airlock.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 19-04-2023

Sol: 3

Summary title: Indoor Adventures for a Windy Day on Mars

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: The Hypatia I crew woke up with high spirits and a renewed sense of adventure. As the crew began their day, some members attended a yoga class taught by Ariadna Farrés (Health & Safety Officer), while others had the chance to take their first shower in days. The refreshing feeling of clean skin was a welcome change from the usual routine of sponge baths and hygiene wipes!

Once everyone was ready for the day, the crew gathered on the upper deck to have breakfast and attend a group meeting. Originally, the Hypatia I crew had planned to perform an EVA to Compass Rock with three main goals in mind: (i) collect sand samples for Laia Ribas’ (GreenHab Officer) CatMart project, (ii) evaluate the feasibility of different navigation strategies developed by Ariadna Farrés (Scientist & HSO); and (iii) test our own Midland radios for long-distance communication. However, as they checked the forecast, they realized that high winds were expected throughout the day. Therefore, the crew decided to be conservative and cancel their EVA. It was a tough call, as they were excited to work on their experiments outside the habitat. But safety always comes first on Mars, and they did not want to risk the well-being of anyone on the mission.

As the afternoon progressed, the crew took advantage of their time and focused on their experiments inside the habitat. At some point, the heater stopped working, causing the Hab to become quite cold. Cesca Cufí (Crew Engineer) was able to troubleshoot this problem with the assistance of Mission Support, but it is now failing again. We hope to be able to fix it, as temperatures will continue to drop during the night.

Despite the unexpected challenge, the crew remained positive, looking forward to a relaxing evening ahead. They will have homemade bread for dinner and are now excited to wind down with a delicious meal and a movie, ready for whatever challenges that tomorrow might bring.

Look ahead plan: We are planning on conducting two EVAs and continuing our experimental work.

Anomalies in work: Non-functional robotic telescope and Spirit needs a new battery wire.

Weather: Sunny, but high winds. Low 37F/High 53F.

Crew physical status: Nominal

EVA: Not applicable today.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, HSO Report, Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: Replacement of stove knobs, if possible.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 18-04-2023

Sol: 2

Summary title: "Hypatia on Air: Mars, Camera, Action"

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: The crew woke up very early in order to welcome a media visit from Earth. Before this visit, some members had the opportunity to take their first shower, which was a nice reminder of the luxuries that we have on Earth and that we sometimes take for granted. After everyone got ready, we had breakfast and started working on our experiments.

At about 11:15AM, Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Crew Commander), Carla Conejo (Executive Officer), Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist), and Núria Jar (Journalist) conducted an EVA. The original plan was to drive to Cowboy Corner, but we requested a change to the initial plan due to the high winds around the station. Our plan was approved, and the EVA team drove to Marble Ritual instead, using Curiosity and Spirit rovers.

The goal of today’s EVA was to take geological samples for Neus’ research experiments and get more familiar with the EVA protocols and spacesuits. At the same time, the EVA offered the media team a chance to obtain beautiful pictures and high-quality drone videos. We are looking forward to seeing their results.

At around 1PM, the EVA group returned to the Hab and had a delicious meal with the rest of the team. Laia Ribas (Greenhab Officer) and Cesca Cufí (Crew Engineer) prepared pasta with roasted vegetables and parmesan cheese and fruit. We then rested a bit before everyone continued to prepare their scientific experiments.

Soon after 5PM, the media team left the Hab and the crew participated in Carla’s psychological experiment. This evening, we will get in touch with Mission Support, have our second dinner together, and organize a debate about the future of Hypatia and our Association.

Look ahead plan: These past few days have been so intense that most crew members have not had the chance to finish the setup of their experiments. Now that our team is alone on Mars, everyone is excited to finally kick off their research without any interruptions.

Anomalies in work: Non-functional robotic telescope.

Weather: Sunny, but very high winds. Low 54F/High 71F.

Crew physical status: Everyone is feeling well, and our Crew Engineer is feeling much better than yesterday. She is nearly recovered!

EVA: We conducted an EVA to Marble Ritual in order to collect iron oxide samples.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report, HSO Report, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, Journalist Report, Astronomy Report, Pictures of the Day (with Photo of the Day)

Support Requested: We need new batteries for the gas detectors. We would also like to notify that all the stove knobs are broken and constitute a safety hazard (see HSO and Operations Report).

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 17-04-2023

Sol: 1

Summary title: Do you copy, Earth?

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Crew Commander), Carla Conejo (Executive Officer), Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist), and Laia Ribas (Greenhab officer) woke up early in order to start preparing their scientific experiments. In the meantime, Ariadna Farrés (Health and Safety Officer), Núria Jar (Journalist), and Cesca Cufí (Engineer) drove back to the MDRS after Cesca was discharged from the hospital yesterday evening. Fortunately, she is now feeling much better and is on her way to a full recovery!

The full crew was reunited around 11:30 AM, at which point we attended our second training session. This time, we learned about EVA procedures, including how to wear the spacesuits, drive the rovers, use the radios to communicate with the Earth, and navigate the Martian terrain. At lunchtime, Mariona and Carla prepared mashed potatoes with egg as well as a broccoli & cheddar soup –a well-deserved break after a morning of intense emotions.

Crew 280 officially kicked off their Martian simulation in the early afternoon, and soon after, the team performed their first EVAs. For this purpose, they drove the rovers to Marble Ritual, where they had an opportunity to walk around, become familiar with the landscape, perform basic movements for the suit, and test their communications protocol. This evening, we are looking forward to having our first dinner on Mars with the full crew! It will be our first night on the Red Planet.

Look ahead plan: Crew 280 will receive a media visit tomorrow. We will first invite them to our group meeting, and they will then accompany us to our morning EVA (provided that Mission Support grants us permission). In the afternoon, the media team will interview members of the crew to better understand their research projects. We are convinced that it will be a busy day, but we are excited to share our mission with them so that they can help us bring space closer to society.

Anomalies in work: (i) Non-functional robotic telescope, (ii) radio #2 and #5 lost communication temporarily (we highly suspect that the headphones were slightly disconnected; our Crew Engineer and Mission Specialist have tested the radios inside the hab and they made sure that they work well — see Operations Report); (iii) the collar of helmet #2 was upside down and one metallic wire is missing (see Operations Report); (iv) the zebrafish of our Greenhab officer were killed by the high temperatures (see Greenhab Report).
Weather: Sunny, with a bit of wind in the late afternoon. Low 58F/High 75F.

Crew physical status: Our Crew Engineer is back to the station and is feeling much better.
EVA: We conducted two EVAs to Marble Ritual to put into practice all the lessons learned during our EVA training session.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report #1, EVA Report #2, HSO Report, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: We would like to know how to dispose of the fish in an appropriate manner without violating state law.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 17-04-2023

Sol: 1

Summary title: Do you copy, Earth?

Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.

Mission status: Nominal

Sol activity summary: Mariona Badenas-Agusti (Crew Commander), Carla Conejo (Executive Officer), Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist), and Laia Ribas (Greenhab officer) woke up early in order to start preparing their scientific experiments. In the meantime, Ariadna Farrés (Health and Safety Officer), Núria Jar (Journalist), and Cesca Cufí (Engineer) drove back to the MDRS after Cesca was discharged from the hospital yesterday evening. Fortunately, she is now feeling much better and is on her way to a full recovery!

The full crew was reunited around 11:30 AM, at which point we attended our second training session. This time, we learned about EVA procedures, including how to wear the spacesuits, drive the rovers, use the radios to communicate with the Earth, and navigate the Martian terrain. At lunchtime, Mariona and Carla prepared mashed potatoes with egg as well as a broccoli & cheddar soup –a well-deserved break after a morning of intense emotions.

Crew 280 officially kicked off their Martian simulation in the early afternoon, and soon after, the team performed their first EVAs. For this purpose, they drove the rovers to Marble Ritual, where they had an opportunity to walk around, become familiar with the landscape, perform basic movements for the suit, and test their communications protocol. This evening, we are looking forward to having our first dinner on Mars with the full crew! It will be our first night on the Red Planet.

Look ahead plan: Crew 280 will receive a media visit tomorrow. We will first invite them to our group meeting, and they will then accompany us to our morning EVA (provided that Mission Support grants us permission). In the afternoon, the media team will interview members of the crew to better understand their research projects. We are convinced that it will be a busy day, but we are excited to share our mission with them so that they can help us bring space closer to society.

Anomalies in work: (i) Non-functional robotic telescope, (ii) radio #2 and #5 lost communication temporarily (we highly suspect that the headphones were slightly disconnected; our Crew Engineer and Mission Specialist have tested the radios inside the hab and they made sure that they work well — see Operations Report); (iii) the collar of helmet #2 was upside down and one metallic wire is missing (see Operations Report); (iv) the zebrafish of our Greenhab officer were killed by the high temperatures (see Greenhab Report).
Weather: Sunny, with a bit of wind in the late afternoon. Low 58F/High 75F.

Crew physical status: Our Crew Engineer is back to the station and is feeling much better.
EVA: We conducted two EVAs to Marble Ritual to put into practice all the lessons learned during our EVA training session.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA request, EVA Report #1, EVA Report #2, HSO Report, Operations Report, Greenhab Report, Journalist Report, Pictures of the Day.

Support Requested: We would like to know how to dispose of the fish in an appropriate manner without violating state law.

Crew 280 Sol Summary Report 16-04-2023
Sol: 0
Summary Title: A rough but hopeful start
Author’s name: Mariona Badenas-Agustí, Commander.
Mission Status: N/A (the simulation has not begun yet)
Sol Activity Summary: Crew 280 arrived at the MDRS in the early afternoon. After settling in, we received training for all the facilities and main procedures. Unfortunately, a crew member was not feeling well, so our Health & Safety officer drove her to the hospital in Moab, accompanied by our Crew Journalist. If everything goes well, they will come back to the base tomorrow in time for the start of the simulation.
Look Ahead Plan: We will continue our training tomorrow morning at 10AM. In the afternoon, the crew will conduct two training EVAs at Marble Ritual (one at 2-3PM, and the other one at 4-5PM).
Anomalies in work: Nothing to report besides the robotic telescope and autoclave not working.
Weather: Sunny with a few clouds. Low 36F/High 72F.
Crew Physical Status: Our mission specialist is not feeling very well, but we are confident that she will feel better soon! More updates to follow tomorrow.
EVA: None.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Mission Plan, EVA request, HSO Pre-Mission Checklist, Operations Report.
Support Requested: None

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 14-04-2023
Sol: 12
Summary Title: Last sunset on Mars
Author’s name: Ioana Dimitrova, Crew Engineer
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
After a difficult night, the team had to say goodbye to one of its crew members a little bit early. We can’t wait to reunite after the end of the mission!
Our astronauts had a hard time waking up after a short night, but were motivated as ever to complete the last EVA. Three of us took the rovers out to Charitum Montes. Augustin was able to map out the plateau and Ttele and Ioana used the scintillator. Suddenly, they lost sight of the drone and then realized it probably went back to land at its departure point. Augustin had to sprint back to retrieve Ingenuity and make it to base on time. It was pretty intense! They enjoyed the magnificent martian views one last time before coming back to base and eating with the rest of the crew.
The afternoon was dedicated to cleaning, packing and making sure the station is ready for the next crew. We will enjoy a last meal with good company and reminiscence over what a good time we had here. Mars is unforgettable. Time passed so fast during this mission, but at the same time we feel at home here like we’ve lived here forever.
Look Ahead Plan:
The crew will finish packing and cleaning the station. Tomorrow, they will end the simulation and take the CrewCar back to Grand Junction to continue their adventures elsewhere.
Anomalies in work: nun-functional robotic observatory, the battery wires of Opportunity need to be replaced.
Weather: sunny, low -2°C/28°F, high 16°C/61°F

Crew 279 Sol Summary Report 13-04-2023

Sol: 11
Summary Title: Roller Coaster
Author’s name: Antoine de Barquin , Crew Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary:
Today was a very productive day for us! We managed to complete two experiments with great success. Agnes ventured to the top of the North Ridge to collect her bacteria, and everything went smoothly. During the excursion, we even had the opportunity to capture some stunning images with a drone. Once back at the Hab thanks to the rovers, we made the last measurements for Thomas’ experiment right next to the Hab. All in all, a job well done!
The second EVA of the day was at Candor Chasma for the rest of the team. This expedition was important to confirm the presence of a cave identified upstream by Augustin’s mapping of the area. We found the cave ( cfr photos of the day ) which confirms the operating protocol of Augustin’s experiment. The four members of the crew stayed in the Hab to prepare the end of the simulation and their experience.
Look Ahead Plan:
For our last Sol on Mars, an EVA is planned in the region of Charitum Montes to finish the Augustin’s mapping. While the rest of the team will finish its experiment in the morning. The afternoon will be reserved for the tidying of the station.
Anomalies in work: nun-functional robotic observatory, the battery wires of Opportunity needs to be replaced.
Weather: partly cloudy, low 10°C/50°F, high 20°C/68°C