CREW 315 SOL SUMMARY REPORT 02 MAY 2025
Sol: 12
Summary Title: End of Mission but boy was it something!
Author’s Name: Tim Gagnon – Crew Artist
Mission Status: Nominal. All systems operational.
Sol Activity Summary:
The sunrise this morning was beautiful and bittersweet. We knew this would be the last day of a mission we had looked forward to for a year. We hope the 315 crew “raised the bar” for future analog crews. All of our goals were met and although some experiments were unsuccessful results were still educational.
We gathered around the table enjoying a continental breakfast of coffee and sweet breads. At 8am our Commander opened the meeting to discuss the plan to host CNBC. The Commander would host the tour of the Hab first floor where the spacesuits CapCom station and airlocks are. The Artist would host the tour of the second floor residence, the Engineer would host the tour of the RAM, the Journalist would host the Green Hab tour and the HSO the Science Dome.
Lucas Millikan, the videographer from CNBC arrived shortly after 9am was met by Mission Support and “shot B-roll” of the MDRS campus. He entered the front airlock and went through the five minute procedure to transition from outside atmosphere to Hab atmosphere. We all greeted him and the Commander conducted a brief tour of the various facilities as an introduction to the base. We then adjourned to the second floor residence for an introductory meeting.
The Commander, as is customary took the first interview via Zoom with the producer in NYC. In a change, the Commander conducted the entire detailed tour but individual interviews were conducted with the entire crew in the above assigned locations. When the individual interviews were completed, the Commander, Engineer and Health and Safety Officer took Lucas on an EVA to Galileo Road where the HSO will pilot her drone to Compass Rock and the Engineer will show his ability to remote 3D scan of rock samples. During the EVA CNBC interviewed the crew asking about the suit, their experiments and the location. While they were gone the Journalist and Artist completed the take down of the Green Hab for closure over the summer off season.
When they arrived back at the Hab our analog adventure came to an end. Once final photos were taken we doffedour flight suits and along with Mission Support went to Dukes Grillin Hanksville for a celebratory dinner.
LOOK AHEAD PLAN: As a child of Apollo, I approached this mission with the idea to share how the lunar missions of my childhood offered inspiration to this experience. It is only fitting that I quote the Commander of Apollo 17 as he ended the last mission of the Apollo lunar exploration program. He said:
“As I take man’s last step from the surface, back home for some time to come, but we believe not too long into the future, I’d like to just say what I believe history will record: That America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return: with peace and hope for all mankind. – Gene Cernan.
Crew Physical Status: All in Good Health + Spirits
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Crew Photos, Green Hab Report, Operations Report, EVA reports, EVA Request(s)
Support Requested: The MDRS 315 crew would like to express our appreciation to The Mars Society for this opportunity, to Mission Support David Steinhour for being a great Flight Director and our Commander David Laude for taking five strangers and turning them into a team dedicated to the experience, the mission and each other.