Day: May 9, 2025

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Operations Report – April 27th

Crew 315 Operations Report 27-04-2025

SOL: 7

Name of person filing report: Michael Andrews

Non-nominal systems: Suit Chargers (In General), Catalytic Heater, ScienceDome Radio Charger, Shower Hose

Notes on non-nominal systems:

· (Unresolved from yesterday) It was noted that Suit #7 wasn’t charging on the first day of EVAs, but further diagnosis from the Commander has isolated the issue to the #7 charger. Today, I noticed that Suit 10’s battery (my suit!) had not charged overnight. I am bumping this up in priority to resolve tomorrow afternoon.

· (Bonus project) The catalytic heater near the exercise bike in the habitat does not work. It’s an engineering project to see if this can get properly started during this mission.

· (Unresolved from yesterday) The ScienceDome radio chargers do not work. Mission support mentioned how this is a known issue. Radios will be swapped between the two structures, and I will disassemble the charger tomorrow.

· (New Project): The Commander noticed that the shower hose was leaking and spraying excess water. He tightened it and resolved about 80% of the leakage, but I’d like to take apart the system and remove the other 20% with plumber’s tape.

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: No

Opportunity rover used: No

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: No

Curiosity rover used: Yes

Hours: 315.8 hours (0.7 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 50%

Currently charging: No

Perseverance rover used: Yes

Hours: 331.0 hours (1.1 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 39%

Currently charging: No

General notes on rovers: None

Summary of Hab operations: The team made egg cups for breakfast, apple cinnamon bread, and kanji with spam and glaze. Module 6 of the 100cameras project was completed. The team mainly stayed inside to weather out the day’s high winds.

Water Use

Time of measurements: 1945
1) Per formula: 24.51 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard: 30 galons

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 278.80 gallons

Static tank pipe heater: No

Static tank heater: No

Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): Yes

Summary of internet: Used to complete reports, learn languages, share team photos via Google drive, researching projects, and complete professional work.

Summary of suits and radios:

· EVA 12: Suits 7, 10 and Radios 1, 4

· EVA 13: Suits 9, 10 and Radios 3, 4

Summary of GreenHab operations: The Crew Journalist watered the plants, harvested some chives, and set out soil samples to dry on the bench.

WATER USE: 8.0 gallons

Heater: On

Supplemental light: 1900-2200

Harvest: 20g chives

Summary of ScienceDome operations: The Crew Journalist worked on her desiccated soil experiment samples this afternoon and the Crew Artist used the ‘Dome for sketching and journaling.

Dual split: Off

Summary of RAM operations: not many operations as I did double-EVAs, but I do have quite a bit of engineering debt to focus on tomorrow afternoon, as mentioned by the off-nominal systems above.

· Tunnel Zip Ties: the recent high winds have worn down the tunnel components more than normal. 14 zip ties were consumed from the RAM to repair the tunnel, and snips were used to trip them to size. Future work is needed on EVA #14 to patch some pre-existing holes in the tarp with duct tape from both sides.

Summary of any observatory issues: None

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: I did notice that the electrical conduit in the airlock runs over the American flag that is painted on the wall. The conduit has some flexibility in it, and I would like to try to unbolt it from the wall and re-route around the flag so it’s not obstructed. I believe this can be done without pulling on the conduit or editing it. However, I would like to get alignment before I tried that.

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EVA Report – April 27th

Crew 315 EVA Report 27-04-2025

EVA # 12

Author: David Laude

Purpose of EVA: Into Lith Canyon area to access higher vantage point on ridge to view the Monolith as seen by Commander in previous missions. This is needed as a final compass reading for triangulation of it.

Start time: 0932

End time: 1225

Narrative: We arrived at closet point to ridge we wanted to access and hiked up to top. The Monolith was in view. Sometimes it was barely visible, blending into back ground color while other times black. Took azimuth reading, 303 degrees magnetic, and the last we need to triangulate position on map. We also found Monolith ceremonial artifacts or so it seems! We found three short (2-3 feet) purposely erected vertical stone monoliths along the ridge line where the Monolith is easily seen.

Destination: Lith Canyon:

Coordinates: 4257000N, 519000W

Participants: David Laude (Commander) and Michael Andrews (Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit MDRS onto Cow Dung Road, then take a left to head North. We will proceed until Lith Canyon side road on left.

Mode of travel: Curiosity and foot.

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EVA Report – April 27th

Crew 315 EVA Report 27-04-2025

EVA # 13

Author: Michael Andrews

Purpose of EVA: Gather rock samples at the Skyline Rim for 3D scanning and attempt to find new views of the Monolith to take compass headings.

Start time: 1400

End time: 1605

Narrative: The EVA crew departed the airlock right on time, aware that high winds could abort the mission at any time. As a result, we promptly departed the station and proceeded to the destination with no delays. HSO Koi snapped photos of the terrain on the way in the passenger seat while Engineer Andrews drove.

As we approached the Overlook, the terrain changed from the red Martian terrain to more of a gray prairie. The road was flat and rolling, allowing us to keep the pedal to the metal. We reached the destination in about 25 minutes and set out on foot.

The Skyline View location is the foot of a cliff face, with several washout areas to explore. Although the area was unique, many of the rocks were similar to those scanned from previous missions, so none were collected. Andrews did take a photo for Crew Artist Gagnon of HSO Koi emulating one of his favorite Apollo paintings.

Upon parking at this site, we did notice a van parked there. At first we attempted to keep our distance, but as we headed back to our rover, one of the Martian “aliens” ran up to us and attempted to communicate. We realized their van was stuck in the soft sand near the cliff face, and they were looking for help. Engineer Andrews assured them that we would send help and gathered their information, and HSO Koi radio’ed CapComm to ask for Mission Support to head over to assist.

With the area fully explored and help on the way, we left the site and returned to the station – entering the airlock at 1605.

Destination: Skyline Rim

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): Easting 515400, Northing 4251500

EVA Participants: Michael Andrews (EVA Lead) and Urban Koi (HSO)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exited MDRS onto Cow Dung Road, then traveled north until reaching Brahe Hwy. Turned left on Brahe Hwy and proceed until reaching Copernicus Hwy, then took another left. Proceeded along Brahe Hwy until Sagan Hwy, then took a left. The road ended at Skyline Rim. The route was repeated in reverse on the return trip.

Mode of travel: Rover was be used to travel to the destination above, and the EVA team walked around each site on foot, never traveling more than 1 kilometer away from the rover.

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GreenHab Report – April 27th

Crew 315 GreenHab Report 27-04-2025

GreenHab Officer: Elena Saavedra Buckley

Environmental control (fan & heater): On

Average temperatures (last 24h): 82.95

Maximum temperature (last 24h): 94.8

Minimum temperature (last 24h): 71.1

Hours of supplemental light: 7-10pm

Daily water usage for crops: 8 gal

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 800ml for soil project, misting mushrooms

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 120.3 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 8am / 5pm

Changes to crops: Minor drooping

Narrative: I watered the plants a bit less today considering that they’ll be torn down soon. I also set out my soil samples to dry on the bench!

Harvest: 20g chives

Support/supplies needed: None

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GreenHab Report – April 26h

Crew 315 GreenHab Report 26-04-2025

GreenHab Officer: Elena Saavedra Buckley

Environmental control (fan & heater): On

Average temperatures (last 24h): 90

Maximum temperature (last 24h): 109.8

Minimum temperature (last 24h): 72.9

Hours of supplemental light: 7-10pm

Daily water usage for crops: 10 gal

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: Misting the mushrooms

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 128.3 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 8:30am / 8:15pm

Changes to crops: None other than looking a little parched

Narrative: We had another big heat spike in the GreenHab today, so I left the door open for quite a while around 5pm. Sorry about this—it’s tough to monitor the temperature when it spikes quickly in the afternoon, but we can try to keep an eye on the Smart Home program more consistently. The remaining vegetables seem a little shriveled, but I’ll give the beets a shot tomorrow.

Harvest: 7g basil

Support/supplies needed: None

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Sol Summary – April 26th

CREW 315 SOL SUMMARY REPORT 26-04-2025

Sol: 5

Summary Title: What We Have Lost, Found, and Dared to Imagine on the Red Planet

Author’s Name: Urban Koi, HSO

Mission Status: Nominal. All systems operational.

Sol Activity Summary:

Sol 5 began under a pristine, cloudless sky, the vast Martian expanse stretching endlessly, bathed in the soft clarity of early morning light. Crew Phoenix rose super early, a choice that proved wise, for soon after, the winds began their relentless ascent-gusts that would have made any subsequent EVA a no-go. In those quiet, cool hours before the tempest, the day’s great journey unfolded.

The Millennial EVA team—Crew Engineer, Journalist, and HSO—set forth with purpose, their rovers carving a path across the burnt orange dust and shadowed dunes. The goals were clear: to test the Crew Engineer’s Starlink connection at the edge of the Moon Overlook and conduct 3D scanning for his project, visit one of the HSO’s favorite locations which she unofficially calls the “Red Peaks” area, and push the HSO’s drone to its limits, seeking the distant Monolith that the Commander holds dear. The wind, however, had its own agenda. As the drone soared in “Sport Mode,” it drank greedily from its battery, the gusts tugging at its wings and draining its power with every meter gained.

Suddenly, the drone’s journey ended with a forced landing—approximately 650 meters from its launch site, lost amidst thousands of indistinguishable hills in the Moon Overlook. Only a single, black and white image remained: a landscape of gray dunes, as anonymous as the Martian silence itself. Yet adversity breeds resolve. The crew fanned out, boots pressing new stories into the dust, eyes scanning the endless sameness. Guided by GPS, persistence, and a measure of hope, the HSO pressed on. At last, she found her drone—its return a small hard-won victory, a testament to determination and the courage of not giving up.

The wind howled as the team returned, thirty minutes ahead of schedule—a mark of their growing efficiency and unity. Inside the habitat, warmth and welcome awaited. The Crew Artist, ever the alchemist of comfort, had conjured a circle of chocolate chip oatmeal bars, their aroma a balm against the Martian chill. The Journalist also spiced up some savory tuna melts, a growing comfort food for many crew members. The crew gathered, laughter and gratitude mingling with crumbs and stories.

As they indulged, the Commander led a Show & Tell, a journey through the relics of his career as a microelectronics engineer. Circuit boards, transistors, a stack of floppy discs and punch cards were passed around—artifacts from his college days, now illuminated by the pink-tinged light of a distant world. Reflection deepened. Module 5 of the 100cameras Curriculum invited each crew member to look inward, to consider how they see themselves, now, in the future, and within their community. The exercise and journaling were noted to be not easy tasks for some; self-portraiture through nature and our otherworldly environment taps into our psyche and imagination in profound ways. The Commander, pensive, admitted he had never considered these questions or perspectives through the lens of photography before.

We concluded our day with a satisfying plate of spaghetti and biscuits, while watching an episode of Moonbase 8. The day’s wind may have scattered dust and challenged machines, but it also carried something intangible: the memory of perseverance, the sweetness of union, and the quiet, ongoing work of self-discovery. As the Martian night settles, we rest changed, if only a little, by what we have lost, found, and dared to imagine on the Red Planet.

LOOK AHEAD PLAN:

Anomalies in Work: Drone fighting the tempest.

Weather: Temperature: 71º, 0930; Sky: Clear Sky, 0930; Gust: 23 mph; 0930; Wind: 12 mph, 0930

Crew Physical Status: All in Good Health + Spirits

EVAs to Be Completed:

EVA 12: 0930-1230
Purpose: Explore Lith Canyon area to access higher vantage point on ridge to view the Monolith as seen by Commander in previous missions. This is needed as a final compass reading for triangulation of it.
Destination: Lith Canyon
Coordinates (UTM WSG 84): Lith Canyon: 4257000N, 519000W
EVA Participants: David Laude (Commander), Michael Andrews (Engineer)

EVA 13: 1400-1730
Purpose: Gather rock samples at the Skyline Rim for 3D scanning and attempt to find new views of the Monolith to take compass headings.
Destination: Skyline Rim
Coordinates (UTM WSG 84): 515400E, 4251500N
EVA Participants: Michael Andrews (Engineer), Urban Koi (HSO)

Reports to Be Filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, GreenHab Report, Operations Report, EVA reports, EVA Request(s)

Support Requested: None at this time.

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Journalist Report – April 26th

Journalist report sol 6

We learned a lot about technology today—what it sees from its own eyes, and how it has evolved. An earlier EVA started at 8:30, in which our Engineer, HSO, and Journalist (aka the millennial EVA crew) went out to the sea of shells and surrounding areas. The Engineer wanted to test a makeshift tent to use his 3D scanner in the field—he constructed it out of a bedsheet and two sawhorses—and release the shells he’d collected earlier back into the wild. Our HSO wanted to try flying the drone out to the Monolith, largely to get better images and to better determine its location for mapping. She had two batteries, the first of which managed to get the drone temptingly close to the object of interest. To uncover more of its secrets, she tried a second flight on sport mode, having a better sense of the best trajectory. As the drone launched, however, the winds picked up. The little drone battled gusts and its power drained unpredictably fast. The weather proved too much despite our HSO’s careful piloting, and the device performed a forced landing in an anonymous spot some 600m from our perch, sending a lonely, black and white, probe-like image from its final gasps on the ground. Knowing that the winds might make it even harder to find the next day, the crew calmly tracked their bootprints all over the Martian soil in search. The HSO found the thing after about 15 minutes. (She is its mother after all.) The Journalist managed to get some lowtech footage of the Monolith on her cell phone, aimed through her binoculars, and the EVA finished with some compass readings off Galileo Road, which doubled as another test for the Engineer’s Starlink.

The wind halted any other EVAs. We sat around the table after an ad hoc lunch (tuna melts for some) and completed our sixth 100cameras module. Then our Commander unleashed his box of tricks: a collection of old electron tubes, early transistors, and integrated circuits, including ones he’s worked on, to show us how technology—and the relationship between analog and digital tools—has shifted over time, become smaller and more ornate, yet no less impressive. We’re now digesting our spaghetti, having watched an episode of Moonbase 8, hearing the wind rush over the hab’s roof vent and remind us of the hostile conditions outside.

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Operations Report – April 26th

Crew 315 Operations Report 26-04-2025

SOL: 6

Name of person filing report: Michael Andrews

Non-nominal systems: Suit Charger #7, Catalytic Heater, ScienceDome Radio Charger

Notes on non-nominal systems:

· (Unresolved from yesterday) It was noted that Suit #7 wasn’t charging, but further diagnosis from the Commander has isolated the issue to the #7 charger. I was able to observe that all chargers appear to work, so more formal diagnoses are required. (Note: this one has been on here a while, but we don’t any issues with chargers anymore, so this is low priority to work.)

· (Bonus project) The catalytic heater near the exercise bike in the habitat does not work. It’s an engineering project to see if this can get properly started during this mission.

· (Unresolved from yesterday) The ScienceDome radio chargers do not work. Mission support mentioned how this is a known issue. Radios will be swapped between the two structures, and I will disassemble the charger tomorrow.

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: No

Opportunity rover used: No

Hours: N/A

Beginning charge: N/A

Ending charge: N/A

Currently charging: No

Curiosity rover used: Yes

Hours: 314.9 hours (1.1 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 48%

Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: Yes

Hours: 329.9 hours (1.4 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 56%

Currently charging: No

General notes on rovers: None

Summary of Hab operations: The team took this as a day of rest, performing only one EVA and working on other projects and personal time. The 5th (of 8) 100cameras project was held, and the team made cookies and spaghetti throughout the day. We also enjoyed Commander Laude’s show-and-tell of electronic hardware over the decades and an episode of Moonbase 8.

Water Use

Time of measurements: 1930
1) Per formula: 24.51 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard (see notes): 23.75 gallons

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 303.3 gallons

Static tank pipe heater: Off

Static tank heater: Off

Toilet tank emptied: No

Summary of internet: Used to complete reports, learn languages, share team photos via Google drive, researching projects

Summary of suits and radios:

· EVA 11: Suits 8, 9, 10 and Radios 1, 4, 5

Summary of GreenHab operations: Watered plants and fungal project, kept the door open for most of the day to drive down temperature. Also harvested a small amount of basil for dinner.

WATER USE: 10.0 gallons

Heater: Yes

Supplemental light: 1900-2200

Harvest: 7g of basil

Summary of ScienceDome operations: I attempted to 3D scan the sample collected from EVA #10, but had difficulties with computer storage and had to abort the activity to be attempted later tonight.

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

Summary of RAM operations: No notable RAM activity today besides receiving a resupply of duct tape, flour, and raisin bran cereal. I also did want to report a broken plastic clamp that cracked when I was attempting to prototype the 3D scanning shroud earlier. I have tossed it in the RAM trash, and there are still 2 metal (and more resilient) clamps in inventory.

Summary of any observatory issues: None

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: None

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EVA Report – April 26th

Crew 315 EVA Report 26-04-2025

EVA # 11

Author: Michael Andrews

Purpose of EVA: We plan to accomplish several objectives on this morning’s EVA before high winds arrive in the afternoon:

· The Engineer will return shells collected from EVA #7 to the Sea of Shells.

· The Engineer will attempt to set up the en situ 3D shroud for future en situ scanning.

· The HSO will operate the drone at various destinations listed below in an attempt to photograph and measure the heading of the monolith from these destinations.

· The Engineer will take several analog compass readings of the Monolith’s location.

· The Journalist may take additional desiccated soils samples at one of the locations below.

Start time: 0840

End time: 1135

Narrative: The EVA crew departed MDRS at 0840 and took two Rovers to Sea of Shells. They stopped at the Red Peaks location that the HSO had seen on a previous EVA and took some photos. Next we traveled to the Sea of Shells to return the shell specimens from our 3D scanning project. After being there only a few minutes, we then proceeded to the Overlook for our remaining objectives.

We stopped about 0.5 kilometers north of Overlook and began to accomplish several objectives in parallel. Engineer Andrews set up Starlink and was able to assemble the 3D scanning shroud in 9 minutes, although it is susceptible to winds over 10 mph and may need weights to anchor it. He also took a manual compass heading of the Monolith’s location and captured the GPS coordinates of the rover location via smartphone. HSO Koi began her drone flight to document the Monolith.

This Overlook-adjacent spot was advantageous, as she was able to fly closer to the Monolith than before. On her first of three battery packs, she determined that reaching the Monolith would be possible with some modifications. However, on the second battery pack attempt, southerly winds provided too much drag against the drone, and it had to perform a forced landing approximately 0.6 kilometers north of our Overlook point. The team repositioned the rovers to the base of the Overlook and set out on a quick hike, spreading out and surveying the landscape for the downed drone. Fortunately, HSO Koi was able to locate the drone within 15 minutes and we returned to the rovers to proceed to our final destination.

The stop at Galileo Road was short: only taking 5 minutes to take a compass heading (which Journalist Saavedra-Buckley confirmed with a Starlink-connected smartphone) and GPS coordinates before returning to MDRS at approximately 1130.

Destination:

· Sea of Shells (and nearby Red Peaks area that HSO has taken photos of)

· Overlook

· Galileo Road (Monolith viewing location)

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):

· Sea of Shells: Easting: 516400, Northing: 4255250

· Overlook: Easting: 516000, Northing: 4254500

· Galileo Road: Easting: 519500, Northing: 4252200

Participants: Michael Andrews (EVA Lead and Crew Engineer), Urban Koi (HSO) and Elena Saavedra-Buckley (Crew Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Left MDRS and travel north along Cow Dung Road until Brahe Hwy. Took a left onto Brahe Hwy until the road ends, then took a right onto Copernicus Hwy. Proceeded along Copernicus Hwy until arriving at Sea of Shells. Once done at that location, headed back south along Copernicus until reaching the fork in the road to stop at Overlook. Once done at that location, traveled east along Brahe Hwy, then south along Cow Dung Road until reaching Galileo Road. Traveled east along Galileo Rd for 0.5 kilometers until reaching the final coordinate. Once done at that location, traveled west along Galileo Rd to Cow Dung Road, then south along Cow Dung Road until reaching MDRS.

Mode of travel: Rovers Perseverance and Curiosity were used to travel to the destinations above, and the EVA team will walk around each site on foot, never traveling more than 1 kilometer away from the rovers.

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