Category: Sol Summary

SOL 3 June 5th, 2019

Crew: Peter Detterline

Gary Becker

Peyton Zankel

Cole Armstrong

Power: Soc = 88% at 22:40 We will keep tabs and turn the generator on if it reaches 75%.

After last night’s observing, today became a new day of work. Last night’s observations through the robotic telescope produced some great images, but there was a focus issue and a mount error during the night.

This morning, Armstrong and I took the time to practice more with the solar scope and go through the steps of processing what we found. It was definitely a more successful day since now we had more of an idea of what to do. While we were doing our work, Becker and Detterline were working on theirs; maintaining the robotic observatory. The optics and equipment were cleaned, the seams were caulked, and the walls and floor got a good wipe down. Tomorrow, the solar observatory will get the same treatment.

This evening we took a trip to Capitol Reef to get our minds off Mars for a while and go see the petroglyphs. Many laughs were had there and over dinner at a nearby restaurant. We returned at about 22:45. Tonight we have another night of observation, and the sky is so clear. It will be perfect for watching the night sky with both the naked eye and hopefully the robotic observatory. So far, she is cooperating with us, and we hope she will continue to. If not, at least we have a pretty view.

Accomplished:

Zankel and Armstrong used the Solar Observatory
Becker and Detterline cleaned Robotic Observatory

Cleaned optics

Cleaned equipment

Caulked seams

Wiped down walls and floors

Problems: Focus issue with the MDRS-WF. Detterline will be working with that tonight, and is confident it will be fixed quickly.

Pictures:

First and third pictures provided by Peter Detterline. The first is of Peyton Zankel and Cole Armstrong working in the Solar Observatory and the third is of Cole Armstrong last night under the clear sky. The second picture is provided by Cole Armstrong of Peter Detterline and Gary Becker cleaning the Robotic Observatory.

Astronomy Refit Crew – Sol 2, June 4th, 2019

Crew: Peter Detterline

Gary Becker

Adam Jones

Peyton Zankel

Cole Armstrong

Narrative: Slower day at the Hab. Armstrong and I took a brief hike around the site before learning how to use the Musk Observatory. We went in alone so that the new user manual could be tested and we could each get a feel for it. Becker and Detterline worked on other projects today. Becker and Armstrong set up a new Bloomsky camera, and set up Becker’s telescope. Detterline and Jones fixed the weather station and replaced the batteries in the robotic observatory. Detterline also organized the robotic observatory.

Accomplished:

Zankel and Armstrong took and processed their first solar images. See attachment.

Cables were changed in the Musk observatory for the new camera.

Adam Jones got the Davis weather station working with the computer in the robotic observatory. We now have a back-up weather station again.

Bloomsky is operating, see attachment.

Organized the robotic observatory.

Gary set up telescope mount for observing.

Power:

SOC = 94% at 8 PM

Problems:

An antenna broke off the robotic observatory computer; a replacement part is being brought up by Ed Thomas in a few days.

Pictures:

“Sky Image” is from the Bloomsky camera. “Jones fixing the weather” is of Adam Jones working in the observatory, courteously provided by Peter Detterline. “SUN” is a solar image by Cole Armstrong with his use of the Musk Observatory. Finally, “Detterline with the Robotic Telescope” was taken by Adam Jones as they examined the equipment.

Astronomy Refit Crew

Sol 1

June 3rd, 2019

Crew: Peter Detterline

Gary Becker

Adam Jones

Peyton Zankel

Cole Armstrong

Power: Soc = 76%

Generator on at 22:18

My name is Peyton Zankel and I will be writing the narrative for the Astronomy Refit this week. I am a junior at Moravian College and I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today at approximately 15:00 Peter Detterline, Gary Becker, Cole Armstrong, and myself arrived on site. Shannon Ruppert gave us a short tour of the facility. After unloading our gear and personal items, Armstrong and I moved into our staterooms before taking a short walk around the site. During this time, Becker and Detterline went into town to collect water for the tanks. After their return, we drove the rovers into town for storage in the off season. We grabbed dinner before we returned to the habitat. We were joined by Adam Jones around 21:00. Armstrong and I called it a night. Becker and Detterline attended to their own projects during the evening.

Accomplished: Moved four rovers to Hanksville

Curiosity: 102.6 Hours 89%

Sprit: 97.7 Hours 92%

Opportunity: 63.8 hours 97%

Sojourner: 61.4 hours 92%

Problems: N/A

Pictures: Picture 1 is of Peyton Zankel’s stateroom, and Picture 2 is of the Habitat during today’s walk. Both pictures were taken by Peyton Zankel.

Astronomy Refit Crew

Sol 1

June 3rd, 2019

Crew: Peter Detterline

Gary Becker

Adam Jones

Peyton Zankel

Cole Armstrong

Power: Soc = 76%

Generator on at 22:18

My name is Peyton Zankel and I will be writing the narrative for the Astronomy Refit this week. I am a junior at Moravian College and I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today at approximately 15:00 Peter Detterline, Gary Becker, Cole Armstrong, and myself arrived on site. Shannon Ruppert gave us a short tour of the facility. After unloading our gear and personal items, Armstrong and I moved into our staterooms before taking a short walk around the site. During this time, Becker and Detterline went into town to collect water for the tanks. After their return, we drove the rovers into town for storage in the off season. We grabbed dinner before we returned to the habitat. We were joined by Adam Jones around 21:00. Armstrong and I called it a night. Becker and Detterline attended to their own projects during the evening.

Accomplished: Moved four rovers to Hanksville

Curiosity: 102.6 Hours 89%

Sprit: 97.7 Hours 92%

Opportunity: 63.8 hours 97%

Sojourner: 61.4 hours 92%

Problems: N/A

Pictures: Picture 1 is of Peyton Zankel’s stateroom, and Picture 2 is of the Habitat during today’s walk. Both pictures were taken by Peyton Zankel.

Crew 212 Sol 11 Summary Report 16-MAY-2019

Sol: 11

Summary Title: Martian Lessons

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok

Sol Activity Summary: Today was a windy day for EVAs. After asking permission to the Director (with the previous anouncement to Mission Support after an issue with pasta beating), some crew members went to the walking EVA. We’re happy to notice that, today, we kept communication all the time. Radios where performing fine and the Hab could always communicate with the EVA crew.

Look Ahead Plan: Trying to use the most of our last days in MDRS. EVA requests for tomorrow.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Windy, really windy.

Crew Physical Status: A-ok

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: EVA report, Space Suit Report, Operations report, Green Hab report, Journalist report, Daily Pictures, EVA requests

Support Requested: There’s a delivery for Saturday for one of the crew members. They have sent it to the PO Box.

Crew 212 Sol 10 Summary Report 15-MAY-2019

Sol: 10

Summary Title: Wary of the winds

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok

Sol Activity Summary: An EVA was done in the morning. It didn’t go as planned. A report will be sent to inform the details. We’re also trying to make pizza with the ingredients we have. A new pump was installed, which means that the water leaking has stopped.

Look Ahead Plan: Staying in the hab.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Strong winds in the afternoon.

Crew Physical Status: A-ok

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: EVA report, Space Suit Report, Operations report, Green Hab report, Journalist report, Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: None.

Crew 212 Sol 9 Summary Report 14-MAY-2019

Sol: 9

Summary Title: Mars is teaching us stuff

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok

Sol Activity Summary: An engineering EVA was done today. The objective of this EVA was to test the three rovers we have at the hab, to know which ones are ideal for short or long EVAs. We are elaborating a specific report refered to these rovers and their current status. An afternoon EVA was performed with two crew members. They report they had inconveniences to return to the hab at time (please, see EVA report for more details).

Look Ahead Plan: An EVA will be requested for tomorrow to continue with the experiments. We’ll also have to get creative with our food.

Anomalies in work: Opportunity overheated again in the engineering EVA. It was safely retrieved this afternoon. More details in the report.

Weather: The day was sunny. Afternoon is showing a lot of clouds.

Crew Physical Status: A-ok

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: EVA report, Space Suit Report, Operations report, Green Hab report, Journalist report, EVA request

Support Requested: None.

Crew 212 Sol 8 Summary Report 13-MAY-2019

Sol: 8

Summary Title: Sun is really strong right now

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok, one rover is down

Sol Activity Summary: For today, we had an EVA in the afternoon. Opportunity has overheated and had to be left on the road. Right now, one crew member and the director are going to retrieve it.

Look Ahead Plan: Right now, our priority is to a) discuss the issues in this EVA and b) retrieve the rover. We’ll probably be doing this.

Anomalies in work: Opportunity overheated and the crew members in EVA had to return without it. We’re also having trouble with the pump, because it has been leaking more water than usual.

Weather: Sun is strong.

Crew Physical Status: Although Opportunity overheated, crew members had water with them so they arrived from the EVA safe and hydrated.

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photo Report, EVA report, Astronomy report (please, wait while we’re trying to solve the trouble with Opportunity)

Support Requested: None.

Hi, CapCom! Thanks for being for us tonight.

Crew 212 Sol 7 Summary Report 12-MAY-2019

Sol: 7

Summary Title: We have a birthday crewmember.

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok

Sol Activity Summary: An EVA was programmed to explore the plant diversity around the hab. We also had the protagonism of our birthday crewmember. We will be celebrating him with cookies and Nutella. Experiments are advancing and reports are being written. Today has been a calm day.

Look Ahead Plan: EVA for tomorrow, and continue with the experiment.

Anomalies in work: We had a martian mouse. He was cute. We called him El Peanut. We had to free him.

Weather: A shining sun is looking upon us.

Crew Physical Status: We’re all fine.

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Astronomy Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photo Report, EVA Request, Space Suit Report, EVA Report, Commander Report

Support Requested: We’ve got bags of burnable and non-burnable trash in the airlock.

Crew 212 Sol 6 Summary Report 10-MAY-2019

Sol: 6

Summary Title: Finally, some nice sky

Author’s name: Marlen Castillo Vilcahuaman

Mission Status: A-ok

Sol Activity Summary: For today, we had an EVA in the afternoon. We decided to experiment with some new recipes in the kitchen. We’re glad there’s some sun after some cloudy days.

Look Ahead Plan: An EVA for exploring around the hab some other plant sites.

Anomalies in work: Today, we found that there were 2 missing parts from the Rovers (see Operations Report). This was communicated by the Director. One part was found. The director is currently searching for the other one.

Weather: Sun is shining up.

Crew Physical Status: OK

EVA: 1

Reports to be file: Operations Report, GreenHab Report, Journalist Report, Daily Photo Report, EVA Request, Space Suit Report, EVA Report, Astronomy Report

Support Requested: We have 1 bag of burnable trash and 1 bag of non-burnable trash.