Category: Sol Summary

Crew 215 Sol Summary Report 13-NOV-2019
Sol: 3
Summary Title: A birthday on Mars.
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 3 had Jennifer wake to a Martian birthday. After a special pancake breakfast, activity in the GreenHab occupied our attention. During this time we were advised of a possible G1 storm the might affect us on the 16/17th. Though we were being filmed and videoed for publicity, we continued with our data collection and preparations for experiments. Equipment designed to retrieve a disabled marstronaut was laid out in preparation for practice. If approved, we will be working through this scenario at the end of the engineering EVA tomorrow. The afternoon saw us returning to the White Moon location (517724E 4254500N) at the junction of Brahe Hwy and Cow Dung
Road where we retrieved gypsum for further experimentation. Unfortunately, our prior activities had been closely monitored and, on arrival, we found that wheel tracks had cut through our previous sample locations and across our boot prints. On return to the hab, Opportunity rover displayed a warning light and cut power 200m from the hab, meaning that the EVA ended on foot. This evening saw a special dinner of focaccia, soup and birthday cake for Jennifer.
Look Ahead Plan: Planning an EVA to MM5 (518462E 4248949N) to resume collection of micrometeorite samples and a demonstration of returning a disable marstronaut into the hab during the afternoon engineering EVA. See EVA requests. Continue monitoring of psycho-social stressors.
Anomalies in work: Opportunity depowered during EVA return to hab.
Weather: Marginally below freezing overnight, light winds, clear skies.
Crew Physical Status: Healthy
EVA: Gypsum sampling EVA. See EVA report
Reports to be file: Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, Science Report, GreenHab
Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photos.
Support Requested: N/A

Crew 215 Sol Summary Report 12-NOV-2019
Sol: 2
Summary Title: Experimenting gathers pace.
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary: Sol 2 saw an intensification of our data collecting. More plants were sown in the Green Hab, acoustic samples were acquired throughout the hab, a site analysis of the hab layout work was undertaken and, in the morning, an EVA to the MM5 site (518462E 4248949N) allowed us to complete deploying the sampling grid and collect the first 10 samples. In the afternoon, the micrometeorite samples were processed and packaged for dispatch whilst the monitoring of psycho-social stressors in isolated environments continues. With the ingredients and equipment on hand we continue to create delicious though unusual cooked meals to keep us happy and healthy.
Look Ahead Plan: Return EVA to White Moon (517724E 4254500N) to collect further gypsum samples. See EVA request. Continue monitoring of psycho-social stressors.
Anomalies in work: N/A
Weather: Marginally below freezing overnight, no breeze, clear skies.
Crew Physical Status: Healthy
EVA: Reconnaissance EVA. See EVA report
Reports to be file: Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, Science Report, GreenHab Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photos.
Support Requested: N/A

Crew 215 Sol Summary Report 11-NOV-2019
Sol: 1
Summary Title: Operational
Author’s name: Andrew Wheeler

Mission Status: Active

Sol Activity Summary: First sol on Mars saw us hitting the ground running. After a morning brief, we headed south of the hab in search of locations for setting up a sampling grid for micrometeorites and a source of hydrated minerals. No locations for hydrated minerals were identified, however two sites MM5 (518462E 4248949N) and MM6
(519990E 4248036N) for a sampling grid were identified and a grid established at MM5.

This being Remembrance or Armistice Day, activity was interrupted at 1100 with one minute’s silence for the fallen. Lest We Forget. Back at the Hab, the afternoon was spent preparing for fully deploying the sampling grid, troubleshooting space suits and preliminary monitoring of psycho/social stressors in isolated environments. A curry dinner followed by fruit salad rounded out our day.

Look Ahead Plan: Science EVA to MM5 site to set out of the micrometeorite sampling
grid. Monitoring of psycho/social stressors.

Anomalies in work: N/A

Weather: Marginally below freezing overnight, slight breeze, clear skies.

Crew Physical Status: Healthy

EVA: Reconnaissance EVA. See EVA report

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary Report, Operations Report, Science Report, GreenHab Report, EVA Request, EVA Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photos.

Support Requested: See Operations Report

[title Sol Summary – November 9th]

[category sol-summary]

Sol:13
Summary Title: New Crew Arrives
Author’s name: Guy Murphy
Mission Status: Simulation mode ended first light this morning.
Sol Activity Summary: Two of the crew members travelled to Grand Junction this morning to collect the new crew. After stopping at Hanksville for lunch, the four new crew members Steve Whitfield, Jennifer Lane, Shane Usher and Larissa Wilson arrived at the MDRS at around 3pm. The remainder of the afternoon was spent settling them into the campus. In the evening, the crew put on a special dinner for the new crew, Shannon, Atila and David.
Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow Sandy Dance and Dianne McGrath will depart the station and orientation of the new crew will occur in preparation for commencing the full simulation on Monday morning.
Anomalies in work: –
Weather: Another sunny, clear day on Mars
Crew Physical Status: Crew in excellent health.
EVA: None undertaken
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations Report.
Support Requested: None

Sol:12

Summary Title: Final Day on Mars

Author’s name: Guy Murphy

Mission Status: Final day in full simulation mode before waking up on Earth again tomorrow morning.

Sol Activity Summary: Today was dedicated to cleaning the campus infrastructure, including both levels of the Hab, the Science Dome and the RAM. Dianne completed her food waste data collection in evening. 3 cooked meals were prepared today.

Look Ahead Plan: Changeover to Crew 215 will occur tomorrow, with 4 new crew members arriving, and 2 departing on Sunday.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Another sunny, clear day on Mars

Crew Physical Status: Crew in excellent health.

EVA: None undertaken

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalists Report, Greenhab Report, Science Report,

Operations Reports, Photos.

Support Requested: None

Sol:10
Summary Title: Water from Stone
Author’s name: Guy Murphy

Mission Status: Active.

Sol Activity Summary: Today Andrew succeeded in extracting water from gypsum crystals in the Science Dome for the first time this mission. Collection of samples for the micro-meteorite study continued during the morning EVA. Various Hab maintenance tasks were undertaken. 3 cooked meals were prepared, with Sandy baking a second loaf of bread.
Look Ahead Plan: We hope to complete the micro-meteorite sample collection from the active sample site by Friday. We are also planning the checkout process for our crew members who are leaving.

Anomalies in work: Broke sim briefly at around 4 pm to speak with 2 unexpected visitors in the hab environs, who were in fact lost.

Weather: Clear sunny day, no precipitation.

Crew Physical Status: Crew continues to be in good health.

EVA: Successfully completed.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, Journalists Report, Science Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Reports, Photos.

Support Requested: None.

Sol:8

Summary Title: The Greenhab Comes Alive
Author’s name: Guy Murphy
Mission Status: Active.

Sol Activity Summary: A long morning EVA was undertaken to collect samples as part of the micro-meteorite samples. The Greenhab was partially planted up yesterday and routine watering commenced today. 3 cooked meals were prepared today, including a special dinner to mark Melbourne Cup. Information was collected on radio inventories and the condition of several space suits at the request of Mission support.

Look Ahead Plan: We are planning the remaining week tightly to complete our planned sample collection and allocate time to complete end-of mission tasks.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Another clear sunny day on Mars.

Crew Physical Status: Crew continue to be in excellent health.

EVA: See EVA report.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, Journalists Report, Science Report, Operations Reports, Photos.

Support Requested: Special delivery of supplies were greatly appreciated, especially the milk. There are 3 bags of rubbish to be collected from the back air lock (2 burnable, 1 non-burnable).

Sol:7

Summary Title: Day of Rest

Author’s name: Guy Murphy

Mission Status: Active.

Sol Activity Summary: Today was the crew’s first scheduled day off work since arriving on Mars. No EVA’s were consequently scheduled. Apart from some leisure activities, the crew caught up on Hab cleaning, washing and also prepared food for the following day. 3 cooked meals were prepared and consumed today.

Look Ahead Plan: The crew will return to its normal work program tomorrow, with a long morning EVA planned to continue the search for micro-meteorites.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Clear skies, no precipitation. Below freezing overnight.

Crew Physical Status: All in good health.

EVA: No EVA’s scheduled.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalists Report, Science Report, Operations Reports, Photos.

Support Requested: No further support requested.

Sol:6

Summary Title: Boomer 1 & 2 go on EVA
Author’s name: Guy Murphy
Mission Status: Active.
Sol Activity Summary: The morning was spent attending to hab maintenance, cleaning tasks. During the afternoon, two crew members (Boomer 1 and 2) undertook an EVA to continue collecting micrometeorite samples. 3 meals were prepared today, including toasted sandwiches with Spam & Polish pickels.
Look Ahead Plan: Sunday 3 November (Sol 7) is a rostered day of rest for the crew, with no EVA’s scheduled. We will resume our normal work schedule on Monday 4 November.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Clear skies, no precipitation. Below freezing overnight.
Crew Physical Status: All in good health.
EVA:Afternoon EVA completed successfully, no problems encountered.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, Journalists Report, Science Report, Operations Reports, Photos.
Support Requested: No further support requested. The crew is enjoying the new dietary items that were provided to us in yesterday’s delivery.

Sol:5

Summary Title: About the Science
Author’s name: Guy Murphy
Mission Status: Active.
Sol Activity Summary: Deliveries of both hardware and food supplies arrived today, many thanks to Capcom for arranging these. Today was about the science, which we hope our selection of photographs illustrate. Key milestones were reached in two research projects, with collection of our first magnetic samples from the field as part of the micro-meteorite study and the cataloguing of the remaining food inventory by Dianne McGrath. Two cooked meals prepared today, with a cold breakfast. Routine internal hab cleaning was undertaken during the afternoon.
Look Ahead Plan: We hope to complete a large proportion of our planned micro-meteorite collection tomorrow.
Anomalies in work: None.
Weather: Clear skies all day, no wind, ideal for field work. Crew Physical Status: The crew continue to be in excellent health EVA: Successfully undertaken, see EVA report.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, EVA Report, Journalists Report, Science Report, Operations Reports, Photos.
Support Requested: Some milk would be appreciated if there are any further incoming deliveries. We do have alternative sources of calcium (including 2 cans dried cheese), so the lack of milk will not be detrimental to bone density for the foreseeable future.