Category: Sol Summary

 

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 15Feb2023

Sol: 3

Summary Title: Waiting for a Martian spring.

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary:

Another very busy day starting with a health status check at 6:45, followed by the daily physical activity session organized by our Health & Safety Officer. We managed to solve a few technical problems during some tests of the Echofinder experiments, whose purpose is to allow non-experts to perform ultrasound measurements using artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Our crew scientist spent a lot of energy reorganizing the schedule due to the snow and the cold temperatures. The crew engineer continued to work on the deployment of environmental sensors that will measure humidity, temperature, and luminosity from different places in the station. But the most important task of the day was certainly the preparation of tomorrow’s EVA, with the labeling of the different parts of the MegaAres instrument and an extensive rehearsal to build it, performed in the lower deck of the Hab.

Look Ahead Plan:

With the snow slowly melting, we decided to keep tomorrow’s EVA dedicated to the deployment of the MegaAres instrument, meant to measure the electric field in the atmosphere. However, we postponed it to the afternoon, so that the temperature is more compatible with the planned activities. If no additional precipitation occurs until Friday, we will go ahead with the deployment of the meteorological mast, which will be necessary for the contextualization of the data from the two atmospheric instruments Mega-Ares and LOAC.

Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.

Weather: Cloudy, low -3°C/27°F, high 1°C/33°F.

Crew Physical Status: Optimal.

EVA: None.

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

Support Requested: None.

 

 

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 14Feb2023

Sol: 2

Summary Title: Journey to the poles.

Author’s name: Jeremy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary: Today the crew was surprised by the snow. With the solar panels covered by a blanket of a few inches/centimeters, we had to pay even more attention than usual to our power consumption. Before real-life deployment during a dedicated EVA, the crew trained to build a first device dedicated to atmospheric measurements in the RAM. However, the temperature became too cold for long activities to be conducted in there (2°C/36°F). We limited navigation between the different modules as much as possible, as snow started to also cover the floor in the different tunnels. As a result, most of the crew had to adapt their activities and gathered in the Hab to work from there, which made the atmosphere a bit more noisy than usual.

However, we remain productive and managed to calibrate the first sensors that will monitor the environmental conditions within the station. They are now connected to the local network. In the GreenHab, the activities were successfully conducted, and we now have a fully operational aquaponics system, containing 28 plants and 8 fishes. As for the astronomy project, even though the robotic observatory has been fixed yesterday, no observations were performed during the night (both at the MDRS and at the other observatory in New Mexico).

Look Ahead Plan:

The weather conditions have already impacted the schedule of the different activities and it is to be expected that this impact will extend to the next few days. If the land remains covered with snow, it may not be possible to proceed with the deployment of at least one of the two devices dedicated to atmospheric studies (LOAC). Depending on the width of snow at the targeted observation site on Thursday, the whole EVA may have to be postponed for safety reasons.

Some temperature sensors have been installed in the Science Dome and on the Lower Deck of the Hab. They are connected to the local network and will record data every few minutes during the whole night so that tomorrow we wan check if there were any problems, in particular regarding network.

Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.

Weather: Snowy, low -5°C/23°F, high 2°C/35°F.

Crew Physical Status: Optimal.

EVA: None.

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

Support Requested:

Requesting the possibility to add the following email address to the Mission Support mailing list (we apologize for not already including in the previous request):

alexandremdrs275

 

 

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report

13th Feb 2023

Sol: 1

Summary Title: The owl has landed.

Author’s name: Jérémy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary: The crew entered the simulation with high spirits at 9:00. Most of the Sol was dedicated to EVA training, with three crew members taking part in the morning EVA and the remaining four crew members taking part in the afternoon EVA. All of them managed to safely perform basic operations while wearing their spacesuit, which includes kneeling down, drawing, taking pictures, and driving the rovers. Inventories of most of the material and consumables available have been performed. The GreenHab activities have started with the first harvest and the safe transfer of the fishes to their tank, while the installation of the aquaponics system is ongoing.

Look Ahead Plan: A safe place has been identified to install the meteorology instruments at 150-200 meters from the Hab and close to Marble Ritual. After training inside the Hab, two EVAs are planned for Sol 4 and 5 to install these instruments on the identified location. In the GreenHab, the installation of the aquaponics system is ongoing and should be completed in the next few days.

Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.

Weather: Slightly Cloudy, high -5°C/23°F, low 4°C/39°F.

Crew Physical Status: Optimal.

EVA: None.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Journalist Report, EVA report, HSO Pre-Mission Checklist, HSO Report, GreenHab Report, Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None.

 

Crew 275 Sol Summary Report 12Feb2023

Sol: 0

Summary Title: From one planet to another.

Author’s name: Jérémy Rabineau, Commander.

Mission Status: Nominal.

Sol Activity Summary: Crew 275 safely arrived on site this afternoon and has received training for operating all major facilities and for all main procedures. All crewmembers were trained in properly operating the rovers, which were taken out for a test run.

Look Ahead Plan: The simulation is due to start tomorrow morning at 09:00.

Two training EVAs at Marble Ritual are planned (one in the morning, the other one in the afternoon).

Anomalies in work: Nothing to report.

Weather: Sunny, high 11°C/52°F, low -5°C/23°F.

Crew Physical Status: Optimal.

EVA: None.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report, Journalist Report, Mission Plan, EVA request, HSO Pre-Mission Checklist.

Support Requested: Requesting the possibility to add the following email addresses to the Mission Support mailing list, as we will not be checking our personal email addresses (already included in the list):

alice.astro275
marieastro275@gmail.com
quentin.royer.mdrs@gmail.com
corentinastro.275@gmail.com

 

 

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-10-2023

Sol: 12

Summary Title: Preparations for Egress

Author’s name: Nicholas S. Pender (“X-Man”), HSO

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: The crew began their day conducting their daily surveys and finishing up their entries for the Final Mission Summary Report. The crew also took time today to clean all habitat spaces in preparation for tomorrow’s egress. At 2:00 PM the crew finished simulation and were cleared to exit the habitat to clean the rovers. They also took this time to start loading research equipment in their private vehicles. At 5:00 PM the crew gathered for group photos at the front of the habitat. This evening the crew participated in one last mediation session for Engineer Lojek’s research project.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew is making final preparations for egress tomorrow morning.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, 5C High, -9C Low; sunny

Crew Physical Status: Healthy

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: Final Mission Summary Report, Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None

 

 

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-09-2023

Sol: 11

Summary Title: Finale

Author’s name: Sarah E. Guthrie (“Ceres”), Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: As the crew closes up research projects for this mission, they completed the last EVA this morning. Two teams retrieved the logistics cache which rested for a week in the “Martian” desert. The Greenhab Officer Tyler gathered a few more fresh tomatoes to add to the crew’s dinner and Crew Journalist DiBernardo wraps up final documentary videos and interviews of the crew. Astronomers Pena and Loy captured massive promenices and large sunspot groupings from the solar telescope bringing an exciting end to their projects.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew prepares for wrapping up its first mission at the Mars Desert Research Station with final reports, cleaning, and spending their last night together.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, 0C High, -8C Low; sunny

Crew Physical Status: Energetic

EVA: EVA #12, retrieval of the cache completed – successful

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, EVA Report, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None

 

 

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-08-2023

Sol: 10

Summary Title: Save KURT

Author’s name: Sarah E. Guthrie (“Ceres”), Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Two EVAs were completed with the remaining crew members for the rescue study utilizing the specialized rescue vest and medical sled for extracting incapacitated astronauts from the surface in locations not easily accessible by rovers, with special consideration for suit design. HSO Pender’s extra cache supplies at the Habitat (base supply) came in handy for the EVA crew as they were able to utilize the hydration packs for the strenuous EVAs today. Hab Specialist O’Hara continues his evaluation of habitats for this post-doctoral study and for Blue Origin. GHO Hines is monitoring the germination of the ldEF seeds which have surprisingly germinated after being exposed to the cosmic radiation of space for six years. Astronomers Pena and Loy are finally collecting night sky images of their HADS variable star after the NEW Mexico site was down for snowy weather. The crew looks forward to the last days of the mission.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew is closing up projects as this mission comes to a close and retrieving the cache on the last EVA of this mission (approval pending).

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, 0C High, -3C Low; sunny

Crew Physical Status: Optimal

EVA: EVA #10 & 11 completed – successful

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, EVA Request, EVA Report, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-07-2023

Sol: 9

Summary Title: Sunspots, Rescues, and Focused Breathing

Author’s name: Sarah E. Guthrie (“Ceres”), Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: The crew performed the first in a series of rigorous EVAs which evaluate the use of rescue of a vest which hopes to assist lifting an incapacitated astronaut from the surface. The vest was engineered with multiple lift points for the ease of a one person rescue or two-member team. Additionally, the test uses a medical sled to transport the incapacitated astronaut of various terrain. The astronomy team captured amazing solar images with dozens of sunspots and prominences, unfortunately mechanical failure has closed the remote telescope for night time observations at MDRS leaving the team to use a different remote telescope located in New Mexico. As noted, this crew is particularly larger with 8 members and Mission Support kindly supported the team with an additional replenishment of water. Starting on Sol 7, the crew will continue to meditate in the evenings as part of Engineer Lojek’s study which hopes to reduce stress in high stress moments.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew looks forward two completing more rescue EVAs in the final days of this mission(pending approval).

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, 1C High, -3C Low; Sunny

Crew Physical Status: Energized

EVA: EVA #9 completed for incapacitation rescue – successful

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, EVA Request, EVA Report, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-06-2023

Sol: 8

Summary Title: Public Outreach Day

Author’s name: Sarah E. Guthrie (“Ceres”), Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: The crew hosted a public outreach day with multiple briefings that filled the day. The crew completed sessions with elementary and middle schools from the Dakota Nation and Maryland, SpaceX, Civil Air Patrol, university leadership, families, friends, and colleagues. The crew completed surveys and prepared for possible EVA tomorrow.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew looks forward to the emergency rescue of KURT and the assessing the cache system (pending approval).

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny, 1C High, -6C Low; partly sunny, windy (16 mph)evening clouds

Crew Physical Status: Excited

EVA: EVA #6 completed for logistics cache assessment – successful

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, EVA Request, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None

Crew 274 Sol Summary Report 02-03-2023

Sol: 7

Summary Title: Logistics Drop Successful

Author’s name: Sarah E. Guthrie (“Ceres”), Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: The crew completed EVA #7 which was a complex logistics cache scenario which involved the assessment of using the cache on a 3-hr hike for emergency rations. The test was a success and the crew was ecstatic with the results. While the research is in its first stages, the proof of concept leads to exciting larger applications for Lunar and Martian operations. The astronomy crew processed solar images earlier today, unfortunately the overcast that rolled in the evening has blocked night sky observations again. The crew closed the evening with debriefs, surveys, and prepped for the public outreach day scheduled for Monday (Sol 8).

Look Ahead Plan: The crew looks forward to its public outreach day tomorrow and speaking with elementary and middle school students, families, friends, and colleagues who have supported this mission and made it possible.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: 3C High, -3C Low; Sunny until the evening, currently raining with 15mph winds

Crew Physical Status: Optimal

EVA: EVA #7 completed for logistics cache emergency scenario – successful

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, HSO Report, EVA Report, GHO Report, and Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: Use of the MDRS Starlink to boost the signal for the public outreach event.