Day: March 22, 2025

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Supplemental Operations Report – March 16th

Date: 3/16/2025
Name of person filing report: David Steinhour
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Crew car. Power system battery, invertors, generator. Robotic observatory. HAB outer shell, tunnels.

Power system: "Solar: The battery bank does not hold charge when sun is down and low on the horizon. Inverter Slave 1 and 2 went offline and did not restart, which limits us to 5kW when on solar.
Main generator has been monitored for oil leaks; minor leaks observed, need to add oil every 2 days. Generator is limited to 8kW, see previous reports for details.
Main generator:
1) Oil, oil filter changed on 3/12/2025.
2) Current hours – 8874.0"

Propane Readings: "Refilled 2/26/2025
Station Tank: 57%
Director Tank: 49%
Intern Tank: 77%
Generator Tank: 34%"

Water: "Hab Static Tank – 550 gallons
GreenHab – 200 gallons
Outpost tank – 550 gallons"

Rovers: "Sojourner rover used: No
Hours: 209.5
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 100 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: Perseverance tire patched 3/13, holding air well. Parking brake tightened. Battery maintenance performed on Sojourner and Perseverance."

Cars: "Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
Crew Car used and why, where: No.
General notes and comments: Crew car driver’s side front ball joint is bad. Low oil pressure is most likely caused by a bad sensor (it does not change due to RPM or temperature like it should)."

Summary of Internet: Nominal
EVA suits and radios: "Suits: Nominal.
Comms: Nominal.
T-Echo EVA-link: Astro8 is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced."
Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Tunnel tarp is once again ripped between science dome and solar observatory.
Summary of Hab Operations: Small cracks in the wall of the Hab in the loft area are allowing cold air intrusion.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Nominal
Summary of SciDome Operations: Nominal
Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory offline.
Summary of RAM Operations: Nominal
Summary of Outpost Operations: Nominal
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nominal

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Sol Summary – March 17th

Crew 309 Sol Summary Report 17Mar2025

Sol: 1

Summary Title: First day of work

Author’s name: Co-Commander A

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

  • This morning Co-Commander A and Scientist completed an EVA while the remainder of the crew worked on tasks in the hab. In the afternoon, Engineer and Medic completed an EVA, followed by a final EVA completed by Co-Commander B and GreenHab.
  • The team is adjusting to life on Mars. We encountered a number of technical issues and are working to learn our crew responsibilities. Despite these challenges, the team remains optimistic.

Look Ahead Plan: We will be conducting two EVAs tomorrow in the morning and afternoon

Anomalies in work:

  • Solution for eye tracking device 681 is to use an external battery pack while they are on EVA so that it doesn’t deplete and turn off. The MC external battery packs need a lot of time to charge, so we are using Jesus.
  • This is not a possibility for the device 691 because it does not have an external charging port. The solution for this one is to add the battery as late as possible. The battery packs are dead right now, but Jesus is using his personal.
  • The depressurization door opened, need to close it more securely.

Weather: Sunny and windy, 43F / 70F

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: 3 EVAs completed

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

Support Requested: None

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Operations Report – March 17th

SOL: 1

Name of person filing report: Jesús, Engineer

Non-nominal systems: All systems nominal

Notes on non-nominal systems: No notes

ROVERS

Spirit rover : used

Beginning Hours: 268.8

Beginning charge: 73%

Ending Hours: 268.9

Ending charge: 72%

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover: used

Beginning Hours: 208.6

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending Hours: 209

Ending charge: 84%

Currently charging: no

Curiosity rover: Used

Beginning Hours: 301

Beginning charge: 95%

Ending Hours: 301.7

Ending charge: 71%

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover:

Beginning Hours: 311

Beginning charge: 93%

Ending Hours: 311.4

Ending charge: 77%

Currently charging: yes

General notes on rovers: Worked as expected.

Summary of Hab operations: Equipment troubleshooting, exercise activities, cooking

Water Use (please use both methods to estimate water usage)

Time of measurements (collect data for the same time window): 4:50 pm
1) Per formula (see notes): 111.1 gal
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes): 71.63 gal

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 438.91 gal

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off

Static tank heater (on or off) : off

Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): no

Summary of internet: used from 7 pm to 10 pm for reports

Summary of suits and radios:

Suits :

1 -> 100%, used

2 -> 100%, used

3 -> 100%, used

Suits : For EVA 2, had to use MDRS suit due to equipment malfunction.

Radios : Nothing to report.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Plants were watered.

WATER USE: 5 gallons

Heater (On or Off): On

Supplemental light (hours of operation): 5 to 10 pm

Harvest (name, weight in grams):

Basil: 4 g

Cherry tomatoes: 80 g

Radishes: 115 g

Scallions: 57 g

Summary of ScienceDome operations: None

Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off): Off

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): None

Summary of any observatory issues: None

Summary of health and safety issues: None

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Crew biographies, photos and mission patch

[title Crew biographies, photos and mission patch – March 17th]

Prachi.jpg

Prachi Dutta, Greenhab Officer
Fascinated by space, Prachi developed a strong passion for human exploration early on. She joined MDRS 319 as GreenHab Officer and is excited to use this analog mission as an opportunity to further deepen this passion. With a strong interest in both research and engineering, Prachi aims to work in bioastronautics and human factors engineering. Throughout the mission, she will be responsible for monitoring plant health, conducting experiments related to food production, and contributing to research on sustainable life-support systems for long-duration missions.

Jesus.jpg

Jesús E. Meléndez Gil, Crew Engineer
As an aspiring astronaut from the small island of Puerto Rico, Jesús has always dreamed of being one of the first humans to visit Mars. Having the opportunity to simulate his dream, he jumped at the chance to visit MDRS as part of Crew 309. Using his experience as Chemical Engineering PhD student at CU Boulder, Jesús will be participating as Crew Engineer for this analog mission. He will be responsible for maintaining all habitat systems in working order and assisting the crew with any technical issues that may arise. With his curiosity and sense of humor, he is determined on making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a joyful and memorable weeklong experience for the whole crew.

Priyanka.jpg

Priyanka Vasu, Health and Safety Officer
Priyanka is a first-year master’s student in the department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, focusing on Bioastronautics. With a drive to venture further and beyond, her work entails understanding the harsh environment of space and its physiological and psychological impacts on humans. As the Medic/Health Safety Officer of Crew 312 onboard the MDRS habitat, she will ensure the safety of the crew and will work on an autonomous delivery drone for medical supplies, thereby steering Crew 312 through a successful completion of the mission.

Lydia.jpg

Lydia Rader, Science Officer
Lydia Rader received her dual PhD in behavioral genetics and neuroscience from University of Colorado Boulder. Her research centers around genetic and environmental risk factors of chronic pain and its overlap with mental health traits. She runs a science communication nonprofit called Knowing Neurons.

Louisa.jpg

Louisa Smith – Co-Commander A
Louisa received her PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research uses both MRI and behavioral methods to understand how individuals flexibly and adaptively engage cognitive control. In particular, she seeks to elucidate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in cognitive flexibility.

Caroline.jpg

Caroline Austin, Co-Commander B
Caroline is a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Aerospace Engineering Sciences with a focus in Bioastronautics. Her PhD research primarily focuses on spatial orientation and characterizing vestibular analogs for gravity transitions. She is also a Pathways Intern at NASA Glenn Research Center where she models human performance risks for Lunar and Martian missions like those conducted at MDRS. Caroline previously visited the MDRS as part of a space medicine course and hopes to use her prior experience to help lead her team through a successful week-long mission on Mars.

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Journalist Report – March 17th

Journalism Report

After a late night of transit and training the crew awoke on Mars ready to try our best to complete our mission. When we signed up for this Mars mission, we were excited about all of the possibilities and today those possibilities began to unfold – good and bad. Today we all successfully completed our first set of paired EVAs and got to know the exhilaration of exploring the unknown; the wonder of Martian vistas; and accomplishment of completing a mission. We also got to know the challenge that comes with being encumbered by a space suit; the frustration of not being able to talk to the person next to you without hopping on the comm system; the insane appetite that accompanies the end of a spacewalk; and unique to our mission, navigating the secrecy of the social-behavioral experiment that is our purpose here on Mars this week.

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Mission Plan – March 17th

Crew 309 Lookahead Report 16-03-2025

Sol 0

Author: Aaron Allred & Erin Richardson (Experimental Designers for 3/16-3/22 Crew Mars Analog Experiments)

Sunday MARCH 16, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-16-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 19:30

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Practice navigation task and familiarize participants with EVA procedures

Destination: Marble Rituals

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518250 E, 4250750

EVA Participants: Everyone including 3 support crew

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110,

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity

MONDAY MARCH 17, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-17-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 8:00

Requested end time for EVA: 11:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform navigation task

Destination: Zubrin’s Head

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°22’59"N 110°46’47"W

EVA Participants: Commander A, Scientist

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110 and Zubrin’s Head

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity

MONDAY MARCH 17, EVA 2

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-17-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 11:30

Requested end time for EVA: 14:30

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Task

Destination: Phobos Plains

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°24’16"N 110°47’24"W

EVA Participants: Medic and Engineer

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Spirit

MONDAY MARCH 17, EVA 3

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-17-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 18:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform navigation task

Destination: Zubrins Head

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°22’59"N 110°46’47"W

EVA Participants: Commander B, GreenHab

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110, park at Zubrins Head and walk nearby

Mode of travel: Rover, on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Perseverance

TUESDAY MARCH 18, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 03-18-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-18-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 8:00

Requested end time for EVA: 11:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Task

Destination: Cowboy Corner

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°25’29"N 110°47’17"W

EVA Participants: Commander A and Engineer

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on Foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity

TUESDAY MARCH 18, EVA 2

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-18-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 18:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Task

Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°23’32"N 110°47’27"W

EVA Participants: Scientist and Medic

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on Foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Perseverance

WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 3-19-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 8:00

Requested end time for EVA: 11:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Tasks

Destination: Compass Rock

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°25’03"N 110°46’31"W

EVA Participants:Commander B And Engineer

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on Foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity

WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, EVA 2

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 3-19-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 18:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Tasks

Destination: Poohs Corner

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):

EVA Participants: GreenHab and Medic

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Perseverance

THURSDAY MARCH 20, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-20-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 8:00

Requested end time for EVA: 11:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Tasks

Destination: Pooh’s Corner

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):

EVA Participants: Commander A and Commander B

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Curiosity

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable):

THURSDAY MARCH 20, EVA 2

Today’s Date: 03-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-20-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 18:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Task

Destination: Phobos Plans

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°24’16"N 110°47’24"W

EVA Participants:Greenhab and Scientist

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Perseverance

FRIDAY MARCH 21, EVA 1

Today’s Date: 3-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-21-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 8:00

Requested end time for EVA: 11:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform Navigation Task

Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°23’32"N 110°47’27"W

EVA Participants: GreenHab and Engineering

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity

FRIDAY MARCH 21, EVA 2

Today’s Date: 13-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-21-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 11:30

Requested end time for EVA: 14:30

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform navigation task

Destination: Compass Rock

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°25’03"N 110°46’31"W

EVA Participants: Commander A and Medic

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Spirit

FRIDAY MARCH 21, EVA 3

Today’s Date: 13-16-2025

Requested EVA Date: 03-21-2025

Requested start time for EVA: 15:00

Requested end time for EVA: 18:00

Does the weather report support EVA at this time?: Yes

Purpose of EVA: Perform navigation task

Destination: Cowboy Corner

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 38°25’29"N 110°47’17"W

EVA Participants: Commander B, Scientist

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road 0110, park at Cowboy Corner and walk nearby

Mode of travel: Rover and on foot

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Perseverance

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Crew 309 HSO Beginning Of Mission Checklist

[title HSO Beginning Of Mission Checklist- March 17th]

Submitted by: Priyanka Vasu, Medic/Health and Safety Officer
Crew: 312
Date: 17Mar2025

Part 1
Locate and confirm the emergency escape routes in the Hab are functional and clear:
Stairs (between lower end upper deck): Functional and clear
Emergency window (upper deck, east side): Functional and clear
Commander’s window (located in the commander’s crew quarter): Functional and clear
Part 2
Inventory First Aid kit and note what needs to be refilled: Refilling is not required at the moment
Part 3
Note any safety issues: Nil
Note any health/environmental issues: Nil
Note any missing or recommended health and safety supplies: Nil
Part 4
Safety Equipment Inventory: All equipment are available and functional

Posted on

Operations Report – March 19th

SOL: 3

Name of person filing report: Jesús, Crew Engineer

Non-nominal systems: None

Notes on non-nominal systems: None

ROVERS

Spirit rover : not used

Opportunity rover: not used

Curiosity rover: Used

Beginning Hours: 302

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending Hours: 302.4

Ending charge: 75%

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover: used

Beginning Hours: 311.8

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending Hours: 312

Ending charge: 92%

Currently charging: yes

General notes on rovers: Worked as expected.

Summary of Hab operations: Exercise activities, cooking, EVA preparation, equipment troubleshooting

Water Use (please use both methods to estimate water usage)

Time of measurements: 5:00 pm
1) Per formula (see notes): 22.22 gal
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes): 32.83 gal

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 418.19 gal (based on Smart Home)

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on

Static tank heater (on or off) : off

Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): no

Summary of internet: used from 7 pm to 10 pm for reports

Summary of suits and radios:

Suits :

1 -> 100%, used

2 -> 100%, used

3 -> 100%, not used

Suits : Bolts on helmet hinges were very loose during/after the first EVA but were tightened for the second.

Radios : Radio 1 stopped working during the last portion of second EVA but resumed functionality after it was turned off and on upon return to HAB. Cause unknown.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Plants were watered.

WATER USE: 6 gallons

Heater (On or Off): On

Supplemental light (hours of operation): 5 to 10 pm

Harvest (name, weight in grams): None

Summary of ScienceDome operations: None

Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off): Off

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): None

Summary of any observatory issues: None

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Posted on

Sol Summary – March 18th

Crew 309 Sol Summary Report 18Mar2025

Sol: 2

Summary Title:

Author’s name: Co-Commander A

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

  • This morning commander A and crew engineer went on their 2nd EVA of the week. Today was especially windy and so the crew was mainly upstairs to keep warm because the heaters were struggling to keep up. Following lunch the crew noticed the smell of propane down stairs and began investigating the heater. We determined that the high winds were affecting the heating system. The high winds also knocked down a safety ladder which the crew had to secure. Eventually we had to shut off the heater for a few hours and just use a small space heater upstairs. As the winds began to slow we were able to turn the heat back on and our second EVA, which was delayed by the weather, was completed successfully. In the evening we had a good dinner and conversed about lessons learned from the day.

Look Ahead Plan: We will be conducting two EVAs tomorrow in the morning and afternoon

Anomalies in work:

  • The heating system was set to 70 and then 72 but the hab stayed consistently at 67. We believe this is due to the strong winds. An hour later it has risen to 68 but has not reached 72. Upon examination, the heating system is not consistently blowing hot air. Current time is about 10:00 AM.
  • Crew smelled a propane smell, and a gas alarm went off. Engineer used a gas detector and no leaks were detected. Crew examined the HVAC system and found an error code blinking. The diagnosis is that the excessive winds are affecting the pressure switch of the HVAC causing it to turn on and off. This diagnosis explains the HVAC not staying continuously on until target temperature is reached and the propane smell. Current temperature is set to reach 72 degrees, but the temperature is at 67. Winds are at about 30 mph and should be less tonight. Current time is about 1:00 PM.
  • Crew communicated with Mission Support to replace the HVAC filter. Crew has replaced the air filter for the HVAC. Current time is about 2:45 PM.
  • The propane smell persisted and became substantial at 3:00 PM. We are turning the HVAC off and using the space heater on the green/low setting.
  • Around 5:30 PM, the wind reduced and the crew turned the HVAC system back on. We have experienced and has had no issues going

Weather: Windy, 27F / 48F

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: 2 EVAs completed

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

Support Requested: None

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