Category: Sol Summary

Crew 206 March 7th 2019
Sol 11

Summary Title : Preparing for the Gale force winds

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : Waking up is becoming harder and harder for me, even if I sleep as much as before. Some of us sleep better and some of us sleep worse than usual, confinement and isolation have different effects on different people. We are nonetheless sticking to our strict daily routine : wake up at 07:00 am, sport and breakfast. The EVA’s purpose was to asses the damage on the weather station (that tipped over yesterday due to the winds) and the LOAC, and to dismantle the instruments to bring them back to the Hab. The weather cock on the station broke, but the sensor is still operationnal. The rest of the equipment is intact. For the rest of the EVA the team attached more tightly all the tarps that cover the tunnels.
Today is Cerise’s birthday, so the crew prepared a very nice lunch, and Cerise prepared a great chocolate cake. We had a very nice time. In the afternoon we were able to run a digital TELEOP session with the new computer station we received, so we are now collecting twice as much data, things all finaly looking good for TELEOP. The wind is sporadically blowing hard on the station, we hope that it won’t be too bad in the next few days.

Look ahead plan : Almost all our experiments are running fine, except the weather station. We will take advantage of the fact that the LOAC is inside to measure the quality of the air we breathe.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Sunny between 11 am and 12 am, Cloudy for the rest of the day

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : LOAC and weather station dismantling

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested : Cooking whip and pressurized air can

Crew 206 March 6th 2019
Sol 10

Summary Title : Windy day

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : We got up a little after 07:00 am to begin the work out. The sun wasn’t shining this morning, but we were feeling great. At 09:00 am we were almost ready for EVA, the new LOAC battery was fully charged. Outside the ground was pretty dry, we went straight to the weather station to do a quick maintenance. After that we went north instead of going to kissing camels, CNN’s filming crew was still arriving, so we didn’t want to hold anyone up. After 10 minutes of driving we stopped to start our exploration. We discovered that the camera had no SD card, so we couldn’t take any pictures. We walked east towards a canyon that wasn’t noted on the map. After a little walking it started raining lightly, so by precaution we decided to go back to the rovers in case the rain didn’t stop, but after 4-5 minutes it did stop. We took the rovers to go to reservoir dam, to explore it. When the CNN filming crew left the Hab we went back to the Hab. During that time the two others were in the science dome. This afternoon I was interviewed by CNN, the rest of the crew worked on their experiments. In the afternoon the wind started to go up a lot, we noticed that it had tiped over the weather station and the LOAC, we need to fix it quickly.

Look ahead plan : We hope to be able to go on EVA tomorrow to fix the LOAC, but the weather doesn’t look like it wants us to go out.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Cloudy all day, high winds in the afternoon

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : LOAC maintenance and Reservoir Dam exploration

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA
Request, Science Report

Support Requested : Tissues

Crew 206 March 6th 2019
Sol 10

Summary Title : Windy day

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : We got up a little after 07:00 am to begin the work out. The sun wasn’t shining this morning, but we were feeling great. At 09:00 am we were almost ready for EVA, the new LOAC battery was fully charged. Outside the ground was pretty dry, we went straight to the weather station to do a quick maintenance. After that we went north instead of going to kissing camels, The filming crew was still arriving, so we didn’t want to delay anyone. After 10 minutes of driving we stopped to start our exploration. We discovered that the camera had no SD card, so we couldn’t take any pictures. We walked east towards a canyon that wasn’t noted on the map. After a little walking it started raining lightly, so by precaution we decided to go back to the rovers in case the rain didn’t stop, but after 4-5 minutes it did stop. We took the rovers to go to reservoir dam, to explore it. When the CNN filming crew left the Hab we went back to the Hab. During that time the two others were in the science dome. This afternoon I was interviewed by CNN, the rest of the crew worked on their experiments. In the afternoon the wind started to go up a lot, we noticed that it had tipped over the weather station and the LOAC, we need to fix it quickly.

Look ahead plan : We hope to be able to go on EVA tomorrow to fix the LOAC, but the weather doesn’t look like it wants us to go out.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Cloudy all day, high winds in the afternoon

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : LOAC maintenance and Reservoir Dam exploration

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA
Request, Science Report

Support Requested : Tissues

Crew 206 March 5th 2019
Sol 9

Summary Title : Sleepy Commanders

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : Yesterday night we went to the observatory to take a look at the sky and take some pictures. There was almost no clouds, and the air was pretty clear. I had an issue with my camera lens, so I only took a couple nice pictures. As usual everyone got out of bed at 07:00 am for the daily workout. It’s still as hard, even if we’re getting used to it. After that we ate breakfast and prepared for the EVA. We went to attach a rain protection to the LOAC. It’s very simple, probably not as effective as I’d wish, but it’s good enough for now. After that we went up to the Hab ridge. The view is still as impressive and beautiful, even after a year. I took some great pictures. Cerise felt sick this morning, so she didn’t go on the EVA, and took advantage of this time to finish the Mars puzzle (unfortunately there is 3 missing pieces). After lunch, 5 of us took a long nap. It didn’t help me that much, I’m feeling sleepy since then and Aurélien, our XO, feels also quite sleepy. I haven’t made some progress on TELEOP today, our extra charger is supposed to arrive tomorrow. At least I have a set-up that works, I’m gathering a part of the data I planned on gathering. After that is was a quiet day.

Look ahead plan : We are now planning all our filming sessions for the mission video, it will take some time and some work, but it should look good !

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Sunny in the morning, Cloudy in the afternoon

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : LOAC maintenance and Hab Ridge exploration

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested : None

Crew 206 March 4th 2019
Sol 8

Summary Title : Executive Birthday

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : At 07:00 am everyone got out of bed easily and with energy. The 3 of us that recorded our workout scores (as planned, the 3 others will record their scores tomorrow) beat last week’s scores. The ground was too humid to go on EVA, so we had to change a few activities on the planning. The EVA was moved to the afternoon, and the TELEOP session was moved to tomorrow. In the morning we weren’t sure that we would be able to go on EVA. In the morning we worked on our expriments and prepared a nice lunch for Aurélien’s Birthday (our executive officer). Around 14:00, the afternoon EVA was approved, and Gaspard, the EVA leader, took the first step outside on a dry ground. The EVA team managed to do everything that was planned on the request. We made some bread in the afternoon. We also learned that they had been a earthquake between 10 am and 11 am, but no one noticed anything. The crew is still feeling well and motivated, but the routine has definitely settled.

Look ahead plan : Tomorrow will be a usual day, we hope to make some progress on TELEOP.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Partly sunny in the morning, sunny in the afternoon

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : LOAC maintenance and simulated space suit in the afternoon

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested : Our Astronomer would really like some sun and a clear sky.

Crew 206 March 3rd 2019

Sol 7

Summary Title: Monopoly afternoon

Author: Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status: All nominal

Sol Activity Summary: This morning there was no wake up alarms, but we all got up before 09:00 am. We ate pancakes and started looking for some fun games to play. The best one we found was Monopoly Deal, it’s simple, fast and fun, and we loved it. While some of us started working on the Mars puzzle in the morning, the rest of us prepared some bread and a "gratin dauphinois" (potatoes cooked in cream and cheese, baked in the oven). We ate really well, great for crew morale! The bread also looks great, we kept it for dinner. We played Monopoly a good part of the afternoon, Cerise made some good progress on the puzzle, and after that we read a bit and worked on our reports. To sum up it was a calm day which we really enjoyed!

Look ahead plan: Tomorrow we hope we will be able to go on EVA to finally test the prototype space suit. I also hope that I will make some progress on TELEOP.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny in the morning, cloudy and rainy in the afternoon.

Crew physical status: Fine

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: GreenHab, Journalist, Operation

Support Requested: None

Crew 206 March 2nd 2019
Sol 6

Summary Title : TELEHOPE

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status: All nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Waking up was even harder today. Even if we didn’t have a planned EVA we got up at 07:00 to workout. After breakfast, we spent a little more than an hour to clean the Hab, upper and lower deck. It was necessary, there was dust everywhere. Before lunch, half of us went to the GreenHab to plant some watercress, the rest of us helped Cerise to bake some cookies. It started raining when we started preparing lunch. After that most of us went to take a nap.

After 02:30 pm I started working on TELEOP again. I still don’t understand the connection issues I’m having, the experiment doesn’t work in the conditions I tested in Toulouse before leaving or even in the conditions that worked during MDRS mission 189. But I managed to find a set-up that worked: the rover and the subject in the science dome. It’s not ideal, it might change the analysis of the results but at least it allowed me to get some data. The simulated rover’s computer still doesn’t work, but we are not losing hope!

Tonight is going to be a rest night, we are going to watch a French comedy movie.

Look ahead plan: Tomorrow is our rest day, we will find some nice board games to play and sleep as much as we can.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Cloudy all day, started raining at 12h

Crew physical status: Fine

EVA : None, Bad Weather

Reports to be filed: GreenHab, Journalist, Operation

Support Requested: Birthday candles for two incoming birthdays (if it’s possible), Swiffer dust removers.

Crew 206 March 1st 2019
Sol 5

Summary Title : Debating Day

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : Waking up was harder this morning, we all felt
quite tired. Muscle aches have gone but sport was hard nonetheless.
Benjamin, Cerise and Gaspard went by foot on top of the Hab ridge for
their EVA. They loved the view and did a wonderfull EVA, but they were
kind of hot around 10:00 am. Aurélien, Norbert and I worked on various
projects in the Hab. Norbert worked in the GreenHab, Aurélien prepared
some lunch while I tried to fix some issues with the TELEOP experiment.
There’s some improvement, but it’s not yet done. We ate a light lunch,
and after that we talked for a while. We are all feeling some effects of
isolation and confinement, but we are doing fine. Some of us took a nap
during the afternoon while others worked on their experiment. Aurélien
prepared some bread for diner, it looks great. As the sun sets we are
more and more tired, tonight will be a long night for most of us.

Look ahead plan : Tomorrow morning 4 of the crew will go on an EVA to
test the simulated space suit, they are impatient. In the afternoon I
will try to make TELEOP work, and tomorrow night will be movie night
before the rest day.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Sunny in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon, wind
increased after 04:00 pm.

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : Hab Ridge

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA
Request, Astronomy

Support Requested : Lunar calendar (we want to take night time picture
of the sky)

Crew 206 February 28th, 2019
Sol 4

Summary Title: French bread in the Station

Author: Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status: All nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Muscle aches from the morning workout have finally passed, it feels pretty good. Our sleep patterns are getting better. This morning’s EVA’s purpose was to change the LOAC battery (which went perfectly) and to explore White Rock Canyon. The rovers performed better than yesterday, we managed to arrive at White Rock Canyon with more than 85% of charge. The exploration lasted for about 1h30, the view was exceptional and we took great pictures. The mud is still bothering, but nothing that we can’t overcome. We arrived at the Hab a little tired. For lunch, we ate pasta and we cooked our first bread!

This afternoon I worked on TELEOP again, but I encountered new issues: the computer charger is broken, and we haven’t found an equivalent one. I managed to connect the physical rover to my computer by there is still connection issues. To sum up: both TELEOP versions are currently not working. It was a hard day for me, but the rest of the crew had more luck. Cerise got a response from the BioMérieux lab: our water is not infected (we feared there were some bacteria), it’s safe to drink, but it’s not as clean as tap water. We are still experiencing internet issues, it seems to be coming from the router (I couldn’t connect before 07:08 pm).

Look ahead plan: Tomorrow will be a regular day, we will try to fix some issues on our experiments. The crew is impatient for Sol 6; they will try their space suit for the first time in real conditions.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Sunny in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon

Crew physical status: Fine

EVA: White Rock Canyon

Reports to be filed: GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA Request

Support Requested: New water filters for the jug

Crew 206 February 27th 2019
Sol 3

Summary Title : Taking care of the Hab

Author : Jeremy Auclair

Mission Status : All nominal

Sol Activity Summary : Once again we got out of bed at 07:00 am to
workout, but everybody had slept well, we went to bed early yesterday.
Our Dreem Headbands showed that we had an effective time of sleep
ranging from 6h20 and 8h20, I slept more than everyone else ! After
breakfast we prepared the EVA. It was the first EVA without a veteran,
Aurélien was EVA leader. It went very well, Opportunity’s battery
decreased quickly so they went for plan B. They explored the moon areas.
During the EVA Cerise and I cleaned the Hab’s lower and upper deck. I
then took care of the water consumption data : on Sol 2 (yesterday) we
used 77,4L (20,5 Gallons), with 41% for the GreenHab, 25% for drinking,
13% for flushes, 6% for dishes, 5% for cooking, 2% for hygiene (no
showers yet) and 8% of unmeasured consumption. Unmeasured consumption
comes from inaccuracies and small mistakes in counting, this part of
daily consumption should decrease during the mission. After lunch,
everyone worked on their experiments (except me, I took a good nap).
Aurélien, Benjamin, Gaspard and Norbert did some pre-EVA tests on their
space suit, all the vital functions work, but it still needs to be
improved the ergonomic standpoint. Cerise worked on Aquapad to measure
the microbial quality of our water. First results suggest that the water
drinkability is problematic, but it is surely a manipulation or data
interpretation, we have sent a mail to the BioMérieux laboratories to
have an explanation. Before the COMMS, as planned, we participated to the
Virtual Reality experiment.

Look ahead plan : Tomorrow is once again going to be a busy day, we have
4 experiments planned. Tomorrow’s EVA will allow us to train the last
members of the crew.

Anomalies in work : None

Weather : Mostly cloudy

Crew physical status : Fine

EVA : Beige moon area

Reports to be filed : GreenHab, Journalist, Operation, EVA Report, EVA
Request, Astronomy

Support Requested : None