Sol Summary – April 14th

Crew 314 Sol Summary Report 14-04-2025

Sol: 8

Summary Title: Sol by Sol, We Explore Further

Author’s name: Arnaud de Wergifosse (Crew executive officer)

Mission Status: ongoing

Sol Activity Summary: Today was marked by scientific advancement and teamwork. Bérengère observed early mycelium development in her fungal experiment, while Batoul obtained initial results from her microbiology study. Two EVAs supported Louis’s astronomy experiment, with Antoine scouting new sites and retrieving equipment. Odile worked on outreach content, and both Bérengère and Batoul conducted microscopic analyses in the Science Dome. The day concluded with a workout and a team meeting to plan upcoming tasks. Another productive day on Mars!

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow morning, we will go on EVA to put Antoine’s device back, since we weren’t able to install it during today’s EVA due to the area being unsuitable. We’ll also collect soil samples for Bérengère. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew will continue working on their respective experiments.

Anomalies in work : None was notified.

Weather: The weather was sunny in the morning and the afternoon. Temperatures varied between 39°F and 77°F during the entire day.

Crew Physical Status: Cf HSO report.

EVA:

Two EVAs were successfully conducted today under optimal weather and operational conditions. Both EVAs achieved their primary objectives and adhered strictly to safety and procedural standards.

EVA 1 #10 : The team began decompression at 9:32 AM and exited the habitat at 9:37 AM. Using Spirit and Curiosity, they arrived at the designated site by 9:47 AM. The primary objective was to collect individual movement data for an ongoing experiment on human motion in EVA suits. The team departed the site at 10:42 AM and re-entered the station by 10:55 AM. All procedures were followed without issue.

EVA #11 : The second EVA began at 2:09 PM. The crew used Opportunity and Perseverance, reaching the first stop at Galileo Road to conduct an experiment on human-technology interaction. Afterward, they proceeded to Cowboy Corner to scout a new location for a technical installation. Due to unsuitable soil conditions, the equipment was brought back to the station. The EVA concluded with airlock re-entry at 3:41 PM. Operations were smooth and safely executed.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, GreenHab Report, Operations Report, EVA Report, EVA Request, Crew Photos, and, if applicable, the Astronomy Report.

Support Requested: Crew was wondering if Mission Support would be interested in having a stationary bike at the station for future crews, particularly for potential physical activity research. The bike can be disassembled and stored in its original box, along with the necessary tools for easy reassembly.

Operations Report – April 14th

Crew 314 Operations Report 14-04-2025

SOL: #8

Name of person filing report: Antoine Dubois (Engineer)

Non-nominal systems :

Check that tunnels between modules are in good condition.

Problem with Curiosity rover.

Notes on non-nominal systems :

All tunnels are in good condition.

Curiosity seems to have a steering problem. Actually the steering alignment is off and if you don’t hold the wheel, the rover drifts to the left.

ROVERS

Spirit rover used:

Hours: 273.2 (0.2 used)

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 90

Currently charging: no

Opportunity rover used:

Hours: 216.6 (0,3 used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 75%

Currently charging: No

Curiosity rover used:

Hours: 309.1 (0.2 used)

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 91

Currently charging: no

Perseverance rover used:

Hours: 319.6 (0,4 used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 87%

Currently charging : No

General notes on rovers:

Summary of Hab operations: Today in the Hab, we dedicated time to cooking, socializing, making progress on our experiments and advancing our individual reports. We also did some physical exercise to maintain our shape. To wrap up the day, we held our regular team meeting to review our progress and plan the tasks ahead.

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

Time of measurements (collect data for the same time window): 6pm
1) Per formula (see notes): 23.13 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes): 19.50 gallons

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 302.98 gallons (per formula) & 319.62 gallons (Smart Home Dashboard)

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): off

Static tank heater (on or off) : off

Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): yes

Summary of internet: Research for experiments, languages learning and music listening.

Summary of suits and radios :

EVA #10 :

Suits : 7, 8, 9 and 10

Radios : 1, 2, 5 and 7.

EVA #11 :

Suits : 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Radios : 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Summary of GreenHab operations: put notes here:

I watered all the plants with water.

The door of the GreenHab was left open for 7 hours and 55 minutes (9.30 am to 5.25 pm) to reduce the temperature inside (maximum of 95 °F).

WATER USE: 10.5 gallons

Heater (On or Off): Heater on (setup temperature = 72 °F)

Supplemental light (hours of operation): 7-10 pm

Harvest (name, weight in grams): None

Summary of ScienceDome operations:

Check the condition of plantain seedlings and watering

Check the presence or absence of arbuscular fungi spores in the soil sampled during the EVAs

Counting CFU in petri dishes of Bacillus thuringiensis group 1 and 2

Exposure to UV-C of Bacillus thuringiensis group 3

Exposure to UV-C of Esherichia coli group 3

Staining of biofilms with cristal violet

Observing Bacillus thuringiensis with the microscope

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

Summary of RAM operations:

At 1:30 p.m., the Crew Engineer took 2 zip ties and a dark ribbon to repair equipment in the field if needed. However, no repair was necessary, and all materials were returned to their place.

Summary of any observatory issues: The astronomer participated in both EVAs today for a personal experiment, so no astronomical observations were conducted.

Summary of health and safety issues: Cf HSO report. There were no safety concerns to note.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Crew was wondering if Mission Support would be interested in having a stationary bike at the station for future crews, particularly for potential physical activity research. The bike can be disassembled and stored in its original box, along with the necessary tools for easy reassembly.

EVA Report – April 14th

Crew 314 EVA Report 14-04-2025

EVA #10

Author: Béatrice Hollander (Commander)

Purpose of EVA: The crew will support Louis’s research, which began on Sol 4 inside the MDRS and will continue in the field on Sol 8, focusing on the interaction between humans and technology. For this, he requires an area with minimal wind so the crew can repeat a series of movements captured by a wrist-mounted portable device. The chosen location is the intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road.

Start time: 9:32 am

End time: 10:55 am

Narrative :

The EVA team began the decompression procedures in the airlock at 9:32 AM. The actual exit from the station occurred at 9:37 AM. Two rovers were used for this mission: Spirit, driven by Batoul with Arnaud as passenger, and Curiosity, driven by Odile with Louis as passenger.

The journey to the mission site went smoothly, and the team arrived at their destination at 9:47 AM. After spending time completing the mission objectives, which involved collecting movement data for Louis’s experiment for each crew member, the crew informed CapCom at 10:40 AM that they would be leaving the area within the next two minutes. The actual departure took place at 10:42 a.m.

The return to the station was also carried out without issue. Arrival at the station was recorded at 10:48 AM, immediately followed by entry into the airlock and the start of the recompression at 10:50 AM. Recompression ended at 10:55 AM, officially marking the end of the EVA.

The entire mission was conducted under good conditions, with good adherence to procedures.

Destination: intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road.

Coordinates : 4252000N, 519000W

Participants: Louis Baltus (Astronomer), Batoul Tani (Journalist), Arnaud de Wergifosse (Executive Officer), Odile Hilgers (HSO)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Leaving the MDRS by Moonwalk Road, then taking Cow Dung Road 0110 until the intersection with Galileo Road

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

GreenHab Report – April 14th

Crew 314 GreenHab Report 14-04-2025
GreenHab Officer: Bérengère Bastogne
Environmental control (fan & heater):
Heater on (setup temperature = 72 °F)
Fan on (to keep the temperature below 94 °F)
Average temperatures (last 24h): 82.6 °F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 95 °F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 70.2 °F
Hours of supplemental light: 7-10 pm
Daily water usage for crops: 10 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0.5 gallons
Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 124.85 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 10 min
Changes to crops: None
Narrative: I watered all the plants with water.
The door of the GreenHab was left open for 7 hours and 55 minutes (9.30 am to 5.25 pm) to reduce the temperature inside (maximum of 95 °F).
Harvest: (include which crop and mass in grams) None
Support/supplies needed: None

Astronomy Report – April 13th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Louis Baltus

Crew: 314

Date: 13Apr2025

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: Most of the pictures I took this morning were the whole solar disk. Nevertheless, I zoomed in on regions where I saw prominences in order to train myself with the other scales. Sadly, I only had time to finish my first edit, combining two pictures of the same zoom in a prominences region ( see attached ).

Images submitted with this report: (2) The one I’ve just finished editing and one as an example of the problem I encountered with some of my pictures. More pictures will follow as I have a lot of them to edit in the queue. Please feel free to comment on my first final picture so I can make them even better !

Problems Encountered: In the second attached photo, you’ll see an example of the problem I can have with some of my pictures when I try to stack them on the piece of software. Maybe one of you can give me some advice in order to avoid this problem.

Journalist Report – April 13th

Crew 314 Journalist report 13-04-2025

Sea of Shells—a location named for its geological past as the floor of an ancient Martian ocean—was the focus of today’s EVA. Four crew members departed the MDRS under the soft light of the Martian morning, their objective both scientific and operational. The site offered an ideal opportunity to collect environmental data and test equipment under field conditions.

Leading the EVA was GreenHab Officer Bérengère Bastogne, whose ongoing research explores the potential interaction between Martian soil and fungal life. Her aim is to assess how fungi might contribute to future life-support systems by facilitating nutrient cycles or soil regeneration on Mars. Today, she successfully collected two soil samples from the Sea of Shells to support this investigation. Accompanying her was Crew Engineer Antoine, who inspected a technical installation exposed to the strong winds of the previous sol to ensure its continued integrity.

The EVA team split into two rover crews, with Béatrice driving Opportunity alongside Antoine, and Bérengère piloting Curiosity with Arnaud, the EVA leader. Early into the drive, Mission Support advised the crew to reduce their speed to preserve battery life. By 10:20, the team had reached their target zone. Due to unexpectedly rapid battery depletion—Opportunity had dropped to 57%—the team made the decision to park earlier than originally planned. They proceeded on foot to complete their tasks, including drone-based aerial photography of the surrounding canyon, which will aid in terrain analysis and documentation.

The return journey was completed without incident, although communications were briefly disrupted between 11:26 and 11:40. Upon regaining signal at the intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road, the team confirmed the inspection of Antoine’s installation and completed a summary of their findings. Driving duties were rotated: Antoine briefly took over Opportunity, later returning control to Béatrice, while Arnaud drove Curiosity for the full return.

Meanwhile, at the MDRS, the fourth medical emergency simulation was conducted in the Science Dome. This session focused on teamwork, communication, and decision-making under pressure, key elements of Crisis Resource Management. The scenario was led by the female crewmembers, who executed the exercise with confidence and coordination—reinforcing the importance of regular training in isolated environments.

Inside the Hab, regular activities continued efficiently. The arrival of fresh supplies, including eggs, coffee, and red peppers, allowed the crew to prepare a homemade cake for dinner—boosting morale and adding a sense of normalcy. Physical training remained a priority, with biking and strength exercises scheduled as part of daily routines. Bérengère also contributed to team identity by sewing the MDRS logo onto the crew’s flight suits. Health and Safety Officer Odile took time to engage in a creative activity, sketching a peaceful scene to capture the day’s mood and provide a moment of mental relaxation.

Astronomer Louis spent the afternoon working in the observatory, capturing high-resolution images of the sun. He compiled and refined a composite image, continuing his documentation of solar activity from the Martian surface.

Later in the day, the Science Dome experienced a temporary power outage, attributed to an energy overload caused by cloud cover and reduced solar input. As a result, experiments by Bérengère and Batoul were postponed until solar charging resumed. Nevertheless, Batoul continued her sample preparation, adding color markers to aid in future identification and microscopic analysis.

Sol by sol, the mission advances through methodical research, logistical coordination, and shared dedication. While the Martian landscape remains silent and still, it serves as an active laboratory for discovery—one shaped by both science and the human pursuit of knowledge.

EVA Report – April 16th

Crew 314 EVA Report 16-04-2025
EVA #13
Author: Béatrice Hollander (Commander)
Purpose of EVA: The crew will be collecting soil for Bérengère at Candor Chasma, as she hasn’t been able to obtain samples from that location yet. These efforts support ongoing research on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and their potential to enhance Martian soil bioactivity in future life-support systems.
Start time: 9:34am
End time : 11:49am
Narrative : At 9:34 AM, the EVA team entered the SAS for the 5-minute decompression procedure. The team was split into two rovers: Spirit, driven by Bérengère with Odile as passenger, and Opportunity, driven by Batoul with Louis as passenger.
The rovers left the MDRS at 9:43 AM. By 9:49 AM, the team reported their position at the intersection of Galileo Road. However, at 10:00 AM, they realized they had driven approximately 500 meters past the intended location and turned around to return to the correct site.
They arrived at the planned location at 10:08 AM and parked the rovers. At 10:11 AM, the crew continued on foot toward the canyon. By 10:23 AM, they had entered the canyon. At 10:54 AM, attempts to reach the team via radio were unsuccessful, and there was no communication.
At 11:02 AM, the team began heading back through the canyon. They reached the rovers at 11:28 AM and departed from Compass Rock. At 11:36 AM, they passed the Galileo Road intersection and arrived back at the MDRS at 11:42 AM.
The crew entered the SAS for decompression at 11:44 AM, and the EVA officially ended at 11:49 AM.
Destination: Candor Chasma
Coordinates : 4252000N, 520000W
Participants : Louis Baltus (Astronomer), Bérengère Bastogne (Greenhab), Batoul Tani (Journalist) et Odile Hilgers (HSO).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : The crew will depart the MDRS via Moonwalk Road, then follow Cow Dung Road 0110 before turning onto Galileo Road 1104 toward Compass Rock.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Operations Report – April 16th

Crew 314 Operations Report 16-04-2025

SOL: 10

Name of person filing report: Antoine Dubois (Engineer)

Non-nominal systems : /

Notes on non-nominal systems : /

ROVERS

Spirit rover used:

Hours : 273.4 (0.5 hours used)

Beginning charge : 90%

Ending charge: 67%

Currently charging: no

Opportunity rover used:

Hours: 216.9 (0.7 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 61%

Currently charging: no

Curiosity rover used:

Hours: /

Beginning charge: /

Ending charge: /

Currently charging: yes

Perseverance rover used:

Hours: /

Beginning charge: /

Ending charge: /

Currently charging: /

General notes on rovers : yes

Summary of Hab operations: Today in the Hab, we dedicated time to cooking, socializing, making progress on our experiments, and advancing our individual reports. We also engaged in some physical exercise to maintain our fitness. To wrap up the day, we held our regular team meeting to review our progress and plan the tasks ahead.

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

Time of measurements (collect data for the same time window): 6 pm
1) Per formula (see notes): 16.08 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes): 18.97 gallons

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 266.38 gallons (per formula) & 279.73 gallons (Smart Home Dashboard)

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: Research for experiments, mail, languages learning and music listening.

Summary of suits and radios :

Suits : EVA 13 : 7, 8, 9, 10 & EVA 14 : 10, 9, 8

radios : EVA 13 : 1, 5, 6, 7 & EVA 14 : 3,5,4

Summary of GreenHab operations: put notes here

I watered all the plants with water.

The door of the GreenHab was left open for 3 hours and 50 minutes (1:00 am to 4:50 pm) to reduce the temperature inside (maximum of 97.3 °F).

WATER USE: 8 gallons

Heater (On or Off): Heater on (setup temperature = 72 °F)

Supplemental light (hours of operation): 7-10 pm

Harvest (name, weight in grams): 6 g of parsley, 59 g of rainbow cherries

Summary of ScienceDome operations: put notes here

Observing the results in the microscope

End of experiment with UV and gravity (dismantling of equipment)

Isolation of membranes and staining of the spores to observe germination

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

Summary of RAM operations: No operations were carried out in RAM.

Summary of any observatory issues: No observation today.

Summary of health and safety issues: Everyone was in good health today, with no issues reported. There were no safety concerns to note.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None

GreenHab Report – April 16th

Crew 314 GreenHab Report 16-04-2025
GreenHab Officer: Bérengère Bastogne
Environmental control (fan & heater):
Heater on (setup temperature = 72 °F)
Fan on (to keep the temperature below 94 °F)
Average temperatures (last 24h): 84.3 °F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 97.3 °F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 71.4 °F
Hours of supplemental light: 7-10 pm
Daily water usage for crops: 8 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallon
Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 106.1 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 10 min
Changes to crops: None
Narrative: I watered all the plants with water.
The door of the GreenHab was left open for 3 hours and 50 minutes (1:00 am to 4:50 pm) to reduce the temperature inside (maximum of 97.3 °F).
Harvest: (include which crop and mass in grams) 6 g of parsley, 59 g of rainbow cherries
Support/supplies needed: None

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