Category: Sol Summary

Sol: 2
Summary Title: Sim Commences
Author’s name: Kshitij Mall
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: The crew completed the final leg of the training starting at 1000 after completing the daily exercises and breakfast routine. After completing the necessary rover training the crew entered the sim at 1100 after bidding adieu to Shannon, Sergii, and Don. Two EVAs were then successfully completed at Marble Ritual by 1600 hours. Right after the EVAs the crew filled out the daily personal survey and cognitive performance tests requested by the XO. After coming back from their EVAs at 1530 the XO set up the air quality monitors in the Hab, Science dome and her room, while the Greenhab officer planted more items in the Greenhab.
Look Ahead Plan: Embark on a longer EVA and further provide training to the crew members for such EVAs
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Mostly sunny with overcast conditions at around 1600 and later
Crew Physical Status: Good
EVA: Two
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, Journalist, EVA Reports, EVA Request, Greenhab.
Support Requested: None

Sol: 1
Summary Title: Redusters Training and Photoshoot
Author’s name: Kshitij Mall
Mission Status: Nominal, will enter the sim tomorrow when weather permits
Sol Activity Summary: The crew is well situated in the hab and started getting used to living in their Martian home while conserving energy to carefully utilize the solar power on cloudy sols. Training on radio comms, suits, and MDRS maps was completed. Furthermore, the protocols to safely and properly use the GreenHab, Science Dome, RAM, and Hab were further explained, and all necessary training was successfully completed. Since weather was not conducive for EVAs and for rover training due to muddy and damp Martian roads, both these events have been pushed to tomorrow. We instead got some drone testing done and some cool drone videography of MDRS with an amazing backdrop of the Sun spot-lighting the North Ridge and surrounding areas. Additionally, the crew completed cognitive performance tests and personal surveys requested by Crew Scientist/XO, Arly "Maple" Black, pre-mission and evening questionnaires requested by Andres Kaosaar (a doctoral student in the TRACE lab, University of Central Florida) doing his approved research at MDRS, and Off-Road Vehicle Certification mandated by Utah officials.
Look Ahead Plan: Complete the rover training tomorrow at 1000 and enter sim at 1200 if the weather permits. Then, embark on 2 EVAs upon approval to get all the crew members well versed and comfortable with using radio comms, rovers, and work with suits.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Rainy in the morning, intermittent sunlight after 1200
Crew Physical Status: Good
EVA: None
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, Journalist Report, HSO Checklist, EVA Request, Greenhab Report.
Support Requested: Would need some information about the transmitting frequencies of MDRS Ham and the repeater in order to analyze using them for the Radio Navigation project.

Sol: 0
Summary Title: Successful Entry, Descent, and Landing on MDRS
Author’s name: Kshitij Mall
Mission Status: Awaiting good weather to start the EVAs for training
Sol Activity Summary: Crew 272 safely arrived at MDRS by1200 and got situated. The crew completed training about the habitat including safety measures and precautions to be taken. The crew also undertook power saving measures as the weather was non-nominal for good solar power.
Look Ahead Plan: Based on weather and upon approval, embark on 2 EVAs to get the crew members trained on using suits, radio comms, and rovers.
Anomalies in work: None
Weather: Unseasonably warm with on and off rain from 1230
Crew Physical Status: Good
EVA: None
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, HSO, Mission Plan, Crew Bios, Crew Pictures, and Crew Mission Patch.
Support Requested: None

Sol: 3

Summary Title: Rocketry and Field Trips

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

The crew woke up on Mars where they started their day with rocket ship building in the science dome. Everyone was able to assemble his/her rocket as well as a bigger display rocket. These will fly tomorrow morning. After lunch, the crew broke Sim to go to Stan’s Burger Shak for lunch. With full bellies they stopped at Rockin Riddle Rock Shop where Cathy warmly greeted the crew and let them rummage amongst her thousands of rocks. Shannon led the way and took the crew through an adventure of Factory Butte, Valley of the Stars, San Rafael Overlook, and Salt Wash. The quest was to find the magical gypsum that encased the extremophile. The crew was able to successfully gather samples as well as some other treasures along the quest. The night ended with a conglomerate dinner of leftovers and Nutella frosted brownies.

Look Ahead Plan: Launch rockets, clean up campus, and go home!

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, windy and cold!

Crew Physical Status: good physical health for the remaining crewmembers

EVA: none

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 2

Summary Title: All About the Biosignatures

Author’s name: Jen Carver-Hunter and Jenny Sumsion

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

Our second day on Mars began with a hearty breakfast of blueberry oatmeal made by Commander Jen. Morning meeting laid out the plans for another exciting day! The weather was beautiful and we decided to start our EVA directly after lunch. In the meantime, the group had a lively discussion about ways teachers could bring the MDRS experience to more students. Many great ideas were generated as we hashed out the subtle nuances involved in the process of program/contest planning. Hopefully, we moved Shannon closer to a productive, possible probability for her grant.

After lunch of a parmesan tuna casserole made by Jonathan and Jenny, we suited up for our EVA. Setting out across the Martian landscape and our adventures are covered in today’s EVA report by Jen2.

The team returned to the Hub at 3:45 exhausted, sweaty, and happy. Many team members took showers and settled down for an hour of personal time before a dinner of fried rice made by Jordan, Commander Jen, and Amy. There will be more games tonight for the partiers in the group.

Look Ahead Plan: Continuation of fieldwork lab, rocketry (build), end sim, Great Adventure to Salt Wash

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, calm

Crew Physical Status: mostly good, one crew member left MDRS due to onset of illness symptoms

EVA: field work to locate and identify

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Request, EVA Report

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 1

Summary Title: Science in Sim

Author’s name: Jen Carver-Hunter and Jordan Chaves

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: This morning the crew was all up and gathered for breakfast at 8:30. Commander Jen and Jordan made breakfast (freeze dried eggs were weird). It was a bright sunny morning, and the sunrise colors made the sky pink and orange. In the morning we heard a presentation from an aerospace engineer, which also inspired good conversation about applications on mars and mars rovers. Afterwards, we did a training on spacesuit set up and usage, chose our style and got prepared for afternoon EVA. We took a short break followed by a weird lunch of canned ham and ketchup (aka soggy tomatoes).

After lunch we prepped for EVA. We bundled up in order to be warm and packed waters and cameras. We went through the airlock and exited the hab in 2 groups.

When we came back from EVA the hab smelled like shit because the toilet had just been cleaned/emptied and everyone had to pee. We took another break before going to the science dome to sort rocks and set up a lab. We collected beginning data for our selenite samples, and each put one in moving water and one in the oven. This evening we ate Italian for dinner, followed by funfetti cake for dessert. Games tonight for those of us who can stay awake.

Look Ahead Plan: Lab Continuation of fieldwork lab, biosignature identification EVA, Education + MDRS roundtable discussion

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, calm

Crew Physical Status: good physical status for all

EVA: Geologic sample collection at Road to Barranca Butte and near Kissing Camel Ridge

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Request, EVA Report

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 0

Summary Title: Welcome Spaceward Bound Cohort 4

Author’s name: Jen Carver-Hunter

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Today we set sim expectations and trained the crew on all facets of the upcoming sim. Crew begin conducting research for the lab activity they will conduct later this week and write up for future indicators.

Look Ahead Plan: First day of sim, geology EVA, introduction to field work

Anomalies in work: No anomalies

Weather: Chilly (approx. 40 deg F), partly sunny, windy

Crew Physical Status: good physical status for all

EVA: Training EVA to Brahe Hwy to collect Gypsum

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Request

Support Requested: None at this time

Sol: 12
Summary Title: Can You Bring Pets to Mars?
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: Broke simulation at dawn.
Sol Activity Summary: Live STEM outreach and Q&A event with 1000+ K-12 students.
Look Ahead Plan: Final cleaning and departure.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout under brilliant sunshine.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: None.
Reports to be filed: Operations, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 11
Summary Title: Winds Aloft
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Inventorying station supplies, high altitude balloon flight, final mirror inspection.
Look Ahead Plan: STEM outreach event.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout under brilliant sunshine.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 15 with the Commander, XO, and GreenHab Officer to launch the high altitude balloon and to retrieve the mirror experiment. 2 1/2 hour duration.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A

Sol: 10
Summary Title: Snow Day
Author’s name: Matt Eby
Mission Status: In-Simulation
Sol Activity Summary: Brief excursion to flip and reset the mirror experiment, drafting final report, adjusting plant supports in the GreenHab.
Look Ahead Plan: Balloon flight, cleaning, preparation for STEM outreach event.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Calm winds throughout. Snow early, transitioning to drizzle for much of the day.
Crew Physical Status: Crew is in good shape, nothing of concern to note.
EVA: EVA# 1 led by the Crew Engineer, with Health and Safety Officer, traveled by foot to the mirror experiment. 1 hour duration.
Reports to be filed: Journalist, Commander, Operations, Photos, EVA report, EVA request, GreenHab
Support Requested: N/A