Spruha worked late into the night installing the OS on her Raspberry Pi, so most of us didn’t stir until around 8:00 AM. By then, Monish had already made omelettes for everyone, customizing each just a bit—more veggies for some, extra cheese for others. We had three tracks playing quietly in the background, including that song Spruha, Monish, and Hunter all really like, which helped us start the day on a good note.
After breakfast, we reviewed our plans. Mission Support advised that the day would be cloudy, so we agreed to keep the Hab running in low power mode. Spruha’s code, which had reached 85% overnight, still had 15% to go. We were all hoping it would be done by 11:30 PM. Meanwhile, Rashi continued expanding her research document, now at four pages. Monish focused on sensor tests for his experiment. Peter tidied up the Hab and planned to send out exit surveys for the human factors study.
Before the EVA, Ian prepared a simple lunch of rice and chicken. On EVA, Ian and Hunter took stream measurements and collected paleosol samples, while Spruha scouted a site for rover tests and our upcoming media day. The good news came in while they were still outside: Spruha’s code finished uploading around 12:45 PM.
Back inside, Rashi kept working through her notes, and Peter did another round of dishes, occasionally glancing through the windows to check on the team. Monish set up the global dashboard. After the EVA crew returned at about 1:35 PM, they took out the rovers and headed over to Zubrin’s head. The comms team recorded the rover range and battery levels. Once everyone got back, we took a short break.
Later in the afternoon, Spruha returned to the rover, and Hunter slipped over to the GreenHab for his own research tasks. Ian and Rashi spent some time on their schoolwork. Spruha and Monish teamed up to inspect the rover’s wiring and may have pinpointed the source of a persistent issue. By 6:00 PM, it was time for reports and dinner. Rashi prepared black bean burger patties, and we settled in for a quiet evening, looking back on another busy day
GreenHab Report – December 15th
GreenHab Officer: Hunter Vannier
Environmental control (fan & heater): Heater and fan on automatically.
Average temperatures (last 24h): 88 F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 94.8 F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 77.2 F
Hours of supplemental light: 1700 – 2200
Daily water usage for crops: 5 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: None
Water in Blue Tank (200-gallon capacity): 142 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 7:50 am, 6:02 pm
Changes to crops: None
Narrative: In the morning, there was no cucumber wilting, but by 6:00 PM they were quite wilted despite their soil still being damp. This is consistent with the weather being very sunny with no clouds and a high of ~95 F in the GreenHab, in contrast to yesterday’s weather (overcast) and the plant conditions (not wilted). I am going to water only two of them to see how well they recover with/without water given the cooler temperatures at night. All the tomatoes are still doing great.
I am happy to report the water monitoring system will be up and running tomorrow morning thanks to a soldering tutorial from the engineering-minded crew members; I had a lot of fun. I will also end the blackout period for the peas and sunflower microgreens tomorrow.
Harvest: none
Support/supplies needed: none
Operations Report – December 15th
Crew 305 Operations Report 15-12-2024
SOL:07
Name of person filing report: Spruha Vashi
Non-nominal systems: None!
Notes on non-nominal systems:
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: No
Opportunity rover used: Yes
Hours: (before EVA): 197.3
Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging) 69
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: Yes
Hours: 291.4
Beginning charge: 100
Ending charge: 73
Currently charging: Yes
Perseverance rover used: No
General notes on rovers: Curiosity’s tire looked great today.
Summary of Hab operations: Operations were standard.
Water Use (please use both methods to estimate water usage)
Time of measurements: 7pm
1) Per formula: 15.55 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard: 16.38 gallons
Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 378.456
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): On
Static tank heater (on or off): On
Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): No
Summary of internet: No internet issues
Summary of suits and radios: Suit #2 charging worked with the cable kept in an upwards tension.
Summary of GreenHab operations: No major greenhab operations, Hunter spent some time harvesting and checking on the crops.
WATER USE: 5 gallons
Heater (On or Off): On
Supplemental light (hours of operation): 5-10pm
Harvest (name, weight in grams): None
Summary of Science Dome operations: No science dome operations.
Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off): Automatic functions running.
Summary of RAM operations: No RAM operations except for moving some equipment back to the Hab. Monish and Spruha’s work is still out on the tables in the Hab as there will be continued work for the following days.
Summary of any observatory issues: No issues.
Summary of health and safety issues: No issues.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Spruha’s research, the small rover, needs to be tested on the days when it is not scheduled for EVA testing. Is it possible to test the rover in the terrain in the tunnels outside, with 1-2 crew members in observation? I understand that the tunnels are meant for travel only, but it would provide extra testing opportunities for the rover, especially since parts of the tunnels have more rocky terrain. This would also help with observations, as Rashi is looking to oversee the rover functionalities for her research, but there is a chance she would not be available to observe during a scheduled EVA.
Answer from Mission Support: Yes, preliminary testing of the rover in the tunnel system is permitted. Please only do as much as you need, as this is somewhat outside of the design domain of the tunnel system.
Journalist Report – December 15th
“Step by Step, Cable by Cable”
After a late night pushing through MDRS research, wrapping up abstracts, and chipping away at Ph.D. dissertations, Crew 305 rose this morning at around 7:45 AM. Spruha started the day by making eggs for everyone—a simple but welcome breakfast—before returning to the challenge of wiring up the rover for its first EVA test. When we hit a snag with the Raspberry Pi (no proper cables on hand), Monish stepped in to help. He quickly pivoted to installing ROS on Spruha’s desktop, ensuring the Pi’s software configuration could move forward without delay.
Meanwhile, Rashi balanced her COMMS duties with some kitchen creativity, putting together a veggie side dish to accompany leftover spaghetti for lunch. Out on EVA 07, Ian, Hunter, and Peter ventured to Kissing Camel to collect stream measurements and soil samples. They returned around 1:00 PM, and we all shared a midday meal before getting on with the rest of the day’s tasks.
Peter set up his experiment on the lower deck for a round of cognitive tests, and everyone took turns tackling the challenges. Upstairs, Spruha and Monish pressed on with the rover’s wiring until and got it done by 5:00 PM. With that done, Peter introduced two more team puzzles as part of his human factors research. This time, we felt good about our performance and the cooperative energy in the Hab.
As a break from the day’s more serious work, we turned to Peter’s VR headset—a tool for his research that has also become a source of group entertainment. Beat Saber sessions, set to a soundtrack of Britney Spears hits, have been a surprising hit and a way to unwind. Tonight, Hunter, Monish, and Rashi took their turns in VR, taking a moment to laugh and reconnect.
By early evening, Ian had assembled a Tuna Spinach Pasta that provided a comforting, hearty dinner. At 7:00 PM, we gathered together, and dove into writing our reports. The day may have started with a few technical hiccups, but problem-solving and teamwork carried us through—step by step, cable by cable.
Sol Summary – December 15th
Crew 305 Sol Summary Report 15-12-2024
Sol: 7
Summary Title: Let’s Carpe Some Diem
Author’s name: Peter Zoss
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary:
Ian, Peter, and Hunter left on an EVA in the morning. Spruha, Monish, and Rashi monitored comms from the HAB during the day. Spruha and Monish spent a lot of time in the RAM working on their research projects. Rashi helped make some dishes for lunch to go with the leftover spaghetti. Ian put together a nice pasta dinner in the evening then. The VR headset used for Peter’s research was a big hit with Beat Saber, so it was set up for some post-dinner fun once again.
Look Ahead Plan:
The next EVA will be tomorrow, Sol 8. Ian will lead Spruha and Hunter on a walking mission to test out Spruha’s rover and collect some paleosol samples for Hunter around the HAB. Monish, Rashi, and Peter will monitor comms from the HAB. After some strong collaborative work from the team today, all the wiring for the rover has been completed and it is in the final stages of assembly now for tomorrow’s EVA.
Anomalies in work:
None.
Weather:
Today was the warmest yet by the end of the EVA, with no clouds blocking the sun. Winds peaked at 10 MPH during the EVA.
Crew Physical Status:
Everyone appears in good health.
EVA:
EVA 07 saw a semi-successful trek south of Kissing Camel Ridge for dry stream channel measurements and paleosol sample collection led by Ian who had Peter and Hunter accompanying him. The morning started off cold but quickly heated up under the sun for a hot trip.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Crew Photos, EVA Report, and EVA Request
Support Requested:
None
Sol Summary – December 20th
Crew 305 Sol Summary Report 20-12-2024
Sol: 12
Summary Title: Are You Calling Me on the Cellular Phone?
Author’s name: Peter Zoss
Mission Status: Completed
Sol Activity Summary:
Our last night in sim on Sol 11 saw us finish the movie we started the night before and play a round of Coup again. Today, Ian, Monish and Hunter left on the last EVA at our usual time around 10, heading back up to Compass Rock for some more dry stream measurements and paleosol samples. Peter, Rashi, and Spruha monitored comms from the HAB. Spruha made a nice Italian lunch for everyone. We will be exiting sim soon after we complete our end-of-mission reports. The 12 Sols of in-sim mission days felt long at first, but it is hard to believe the end is already here. The most important thing to note is that we wouldn’t have made it this far without all the help from everyone at mission support! Thank you!
Look Ahead Plan:
N/A
Anomalies in work:
None.
Weather:
Today was another sunny one again, but it was a little colder than the previous few days.
Crew Physical Status:
Everyone appears in good health.
EVA:
EVA 12 saw Ian, Monish and Hunter head to Compass Rock for the final set of dry stream measurements and paleosol sample collection.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Crew Photos, EVA Report, Mission Summary and Research Report
Support Requested:
None
Operations Report – December 19th
Crew 305 Operations Report 19-12-2024
SOL:11
Name of person filing report: Spruha Vashi
Non-nominal systems: None!
Notes on non-nominal systems: None!
ROVERS
Spirit rover used: Yes
Hours: (before EVA): 258.6
Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging):66
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: Yes
Hours: (before EVA): 198.3
Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100
Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging):58
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: No
Perseverance rover used: No
General notes on rovers: None.
Summary of Hab operations: Operations were standard. We noticed that the stove light was flickering. Unfortunately, a ceramic bowl (smaller one, not the large serving bowl) was broken today, we apologize for the inconvenience!
Water Use (please use both methods to estimate water usage)
Time of measurements: 7:20pm
1) Per formula:13.07 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard: 17.82 gallons
Water (static tank, remaining gallons):304.94
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): On
Static tank heater (on or off): On
Toilet tank emptied (no or yes): No
Summary of internet: No internet issues
Summary of suits and radios: Suit #3’s cable that attaches the headpiece collar to the backpack is missing/broken on one side. We did not end up using that Suit on today’s EVA. It seems like a simple fix, although I am not sure if there are cables with which I can fix the issue with. I will check the RAM tomorrow.
Summary of GreenHab operations: No major greenhab operations, Hunter spent some time harvesting and checking on the crops.
WATER USE: 6 gallons
Heater (On or Off): On
Supplemental light (hours of operation): 5-10pm
Harvest (name, weight in grams): Cilantro, 8 grams.
Summary of Science Dome operations: No science dome operations.
Dual split (Heat or AC, On or Off): Automatic functions running.
Summary of RAM operations: No operations.
Summary of any observatory issues: No issues.
Summary of health and safety issues: No issues.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Based on estimation it’s looking like we have 300 gallons left in the tank, meaning we will have approximately 50 gallons left for Sol 12 and onwards-could you confirm this estimation?
Please advise on the cable for Suit #3, I would be happy to fix the issue if I had the correct supplies.
Mission support response: water level should not be an issue, and Suit #3’s cable routing bracket is likely on the ground outside the HAB.
GreenHab Report – December 19th
Crew 305 GreenHab Report 19Dec2024
GreenHab Officer: Hunter Vannier
Environmental control (fan & heater): Heater and fan on automatically.
Average temperatures (last 24h): 87 F
Maximum temperature (last 24h): 94.8 F
Minimum temperature (last 24h): 76.5 F
Hours of supplemental light: 1700 – 2200
Daily water usage for crops: 6 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: none
Water in Blue Tank (200-gallon capacity): 119.75 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 9:15 am, 5:22 pm
Changes to crops: harvested cilantro
Narrative: The crops are doing well today; I have a well-established watering schedule for the current crops in the GreenHab that I will include in my final report. One of the cucumbers is about 4 inches long! It will be ready to be harvested soon, hopefully before we leave. The microgreen raised beds continue to make progress, but not enough to harvest yet. The soil moisture experiment looks more promising, as the microgreens’ growth rate seems to be significantly impacted by the water content, which I hope is reflected in the soil moisture measurements. The arugula should be harvested ASAP; it is not growing any larger and wilts quickly. I might pull a couple containers before I leave to improve water efficiency. 8 g of cilantro were harvested to be used in our chicken curry dinner.
Harvest: 8 g cilantro
Support/supplies needed: none
Sol Summary – December 19th
Crew 305 Sol Summary Report 19-12-2024
Sol: 11
Summary Title: We Came, We Spooled, We Conquered
Author’s name: Peter Zoss
Mission Status: Active
Sol Activity Summary:
Last night ended with a movie and some banana bread, courtesy of Spruha. Today, Ian, Spruha, and Rashi left on an EVA at our usual time around 10, heading further south of Kissing Camel Ridge for some more dry stream measurements. Peter, Monish, and Hunter monitored comms from the HAB. They also visited the GreenHab as Hunter collected some data for his research project and danced to help everything grow better. Monish put together a nice dinner in the evening with Spruha’s help. It is hard to believe there are less than 24 hours before the sim ends!
Look Ahead Plan:
The last EVA will be a shorter one tomorrow, on Sol 12. Ian will lead Monish and Hunter on a mission back to Compass Rock for dry stream channel width measurements. Spruha, Rashi, and Peter will monitor comms from the HAB.
Anomalies in work:
None.
Weather:
Today was another sunny and warm one with a little wind.
Crew Physical Status:
Everyone appears in good health.
EVA:
EVA 11 saw Ian, Spruha, and Rashi head south of Kissing Camel Ridge for more dry stream measurements.
Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Crew Photos, EVA Report, and EVA Request
Support Requested:
None
Crew Photos – December 19th
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