EVA Report – May 1st

Crew 315 EVA Report 01-05-2025

EVA # 20

Author: Michael Andrews

Purpose of EVA: To return rock samples collected at Robert’s Rock Garden for the 3D scanning project and further explore Candor Chasma based on results from EVA 19. At Candor Chasma we searched for more rock samples and performed more drone flight operations.

Start time: 0905

End time: 1150

Narrative: The crew departed the airlock with caught mouse in tow and headed to Robert’s Rock Garden. The last collected rock sample was quickly deposited in the location that it was collected from, and the team headed towards Candor Chasma.

At our destination, HSO Koi released the mouse (affectionately named Remi) in the surrounding environment. He quickly scurried out of sight and we began our hike through the Chasma.

The environment was technical at first to get to the riverbed below, but then quickly became flat and easy to traverse. We traveled down the chasma for about 35 minutes before stopping and heading back. No interesting rock samples were collected, and HSO Koi was not able to get the drone adequate signal for launch.

On the return trip, we stopped at a location above Compass Rock to survey it before exploring it for EVA #21 tomorrow. The team returned mouseless to the airlock at 1150.

Destination: Robert’s Rock Garden and Candor Chasma

Coordinates:

· Robert’s Rock Garden: Easting 518500, Northing 4249500

· Candor Chasma: Easting 520500, Northing 4251500

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

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Take Cow Dung Road south until reaching Robert’s Rock Garden, then complete first objective. Next, proceed north along Cow Dung Road until Galileo Road, then turn right. Proceed along Galileo Road until reaching Candor Chasma and setting out on foot (due east). To return to MDRS, take Galileo Road north and then Cow Dung Road south.

Mode of travel: Take one rover to the destinations above, then travel no more than 2 kilometers from the rovers on foot at each destination.

Vehicles you will be using: Opportunity and Curiosity

Supplemental Operations Report -May 4th

Date: 5/4/2025
Name of person filing report: David Steinhour
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Crew car. Power system battery, inverters, generator. Robotic observatory. HAB outer shell. Spirit. Guest Wifi not turning on.

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 do not restart, which limits us to 4kW when on solar.
Main generator has been monitored for oil leaks; minor leaks observed, Moreover, generator is consuming oil because of worn piston rings. Adding oil every day is necessary. Generator is limited to 8kW, see previous reports for details. No further leaks have been observed.
1) Oil, oil filter changed on 05/02/2025. Hours: 9484.3
2) Current hours – 9496.6"

Propane Readings: "Refilled 4/24
Station Tank: 79%
Director Tank: 75%
Intern Tank: 85%
Generator Tank: 53%"

Water: "Hab Static Tank – 170 gallons
GreenHab – 0 gallons
Outpost tank – 550 gallons"

Rovers: "Sojourner rover used: no
Hours: 213.4
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 100 %
Currently Charging: No
Notes on Rovers: Spirit is not charging"

Cars: "Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
Crew Car used and why, where: Transporting crew to Grand Junction.
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: Guest WiFi is not turning on despite all attempts, and most likely needs a firmware reset.
EVA suits and radios: "Suits: Nominal.
Comms: Headset #3 push-to-talk button nonfunctional.
T-Echo EVA-link: Nominal"
Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Nominal
Summary of Hab Operations: Small cracks in the wall of the Hab in the loft area are allowing cold air intrusion. Static tank and pipe heaters unplugged. Thermostat setup for 60F due to warm weather.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Greenhab plants removed for summer temps. New potting soil resupplied.
Summary of SciDome Operations: Dual split is being turned on during day time for cooling.
Summary of Observatories Operations: Robotic observatory offline.
Summary of RAM Operations: Nominal
Summary of Outpost Operations: Nominal
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nominal

Journalist Report – April 28th

Journalist report sol 8

Mars delivered animal, vegetable, and mineral on sol 8—a day that, to this Journalist’s eye, hinted at what things might be like if we were here for way longer. The animal was a small, adorable mouse the Journalist spotted under the lower kitchen cabinets. After a supply drop, we set out a metal trap including a chunk of a cookie prepared days ago by our Crew Artist. Nada yet; we’re hoping for a successful hair trigger by morning. The vegetables were in fact fruits (tomatoes), used in the chili our Artist made for a wildly successful dinner that went along with mac & cheese. The minerals were—yes—rocks, scanned by our Engineer during EVA just outside the Hab. With our Artist, our Engineer also repaired some tears in the walkway tarps during EVA, which the Journalist found somewhat Buddhist considering the whole set-up will be torn down shortly.

Our Commander and HSO piloted the drone, resulting in one premature crash that ended up being unserious. The two of them and the Journalist set out for Compass Rock, where the HSO used a new filming technique and took a beautiful 360 video of the formation. Sporadic and indecisive rains, along with the simple task being completed, brought them home early. The crew took group photos (cute); ate said chili-mac; and, now, are zeroing in on our Commander’s object of interest with Google Earth and various compass readings to use during tomorrow’s grande-monolith-finale EVA.

Earlier in the day, the Journalist asked her crewmates what they would be doing at this point in the mission on a longterm Mars stay. We assumed it would still be mostly preliminary tasks—health tests, Hab set-up, water measurements. Whether or not we find the Monolith, we’re grateful to make so much progress in two nearly-complete weeks.

GreenHab Report – April 28th

Crew 315 GreenHab Report 28-04-2025

GreenHab Officer: Elena Saavedra Buckley

Environmental control (fan & heater): On

Average temperatures (last 24h): 83

Maximum temperature (last 24h): 94.6

Minimum temperature (last 24h): 70.7

Hours of supplemental light: 7-10pm

Daily water usage for crops: 10 gal

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

Water in Blue Tank (200 gallon capacity): 110.3 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 8:30am / 7:15pm

Changes to crops: None

Narrative: Not much to report today in the GreenHab! Tomatoes contributed to delicious chili and we’ll likely start tearing it down soon.

Harvest: 20g tomatoes, 5g chives

Support/supplies needed: None

EVA Report – April 28th

Crew 315 EVA Report 28-04-2025

EVA #15

Author: Urban Koi, HSO

Purpose of EVA: (1) Fly drone to a target in the distance (previously set by Commander) from the MDRS Habitat Observatory with no EVA suit via a specific flight pattern and compare performance to the same flight pattern with the EVA suit. (2) Next, drive along Galileo Rd and hike a few meters and pilot drone to capture photography of Compass Rock (360º) as the second component to the joint Commander x HSO’s projects.

Start Time: 1455

End Time: 1540

Narrative: Commander and HSO began their EVA with drone piloting to a target in the distance (previously set by Commander) from the MDRS Habitat Observatory: No EVA suit vs. EVA suit on a specific flight pattern and compared performance to the same flight patterns. Each conducted 5-6 flights with and without EVA suit, for a total of approximately 12 flights (take off and landing). Next, Commander, HSO, and Journalist drove Perseverance and Curiosity to Galileo Road, stopped a few meters before where the drop-off point begins near Compass Rock, and conducted a 360º circle flight path around the Compass Rock formation. Journalist stumbled upon an otherworldly plant with an unusual pod; she and HSO marveled at the strange, yet beautiful plant.

Destination: (1) MDRS Habitat Observatory, (2) Compass Rock

Coordinates: Galileo Rd (4252100N, 519000W)

Participants: David Laude (Commander), Urban Koi (HSO), Elena Saavedra Buckley (Journalist)

Road(s) & Routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road, Galileo Road

Mode of Travel: Perseverance + Curiosity (Rovers)

EVA Report – April 28th

Crew 315 EVA Report 28-04-2025

EVA # 14

Author: Michael Andrews

Purpose of EVA: The crew was to explore the area surrounding the station and accomplish the following objectives:

· Scanned a rock sample with a constructed shroud out on EVA.

· Crew Artist took photos for more artwork and sketches to be composed post-mission.

· Repaired some tunnel tarp rips from the exterior surface.

Start time: 1010

End time: 1158

Narrative: Crew Artist Gagnon and Engineer Andrews departed the airlock at 1010 and brought their supplies out onto the station porch. Gagnon began looking for suitable rock samples while Andrews began to set up the shroud.

The sampling exercise was mostly successful. The first two scans ran nominally, and the third time took some time to upload and rebuild. During this time, Andrews unplugged the camera from the laptop prematurely, which caused the third scan to build incorrectly. This third scan was meant to capture the bottom surface of the rock, so that surface was not properly captured. The entire exercise took about 40 minutes.

After packing up the 3D scanning supplies, Gagnon and Andrews pivoted to tunnel exterior side repairs. Gagnon mainly held all supplies or braced the ladder while Andrews applied zip ties or duct tape patches. At times where the tunnel tarp was tight, they radio’ed CapComm to press on the tarp to relieve the tension from the inside of the tunnel. The science dome tunnel had the largest gaps, and Gagnon expertly created a weave of duct tape patches to seal this tightly.

The team worked right up to the end of the EVA window on repairs, entering the airlock at 1158.

Destination: Area around Hab

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): Easting 518200, Northing 4251000

EVA Participants: Michael Andrews (Crew Engineer and EVA Lead) and Tim Gagnon (Crew Artist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: None, the crew walked around the station, never leaving more than 1 kilometer from the station.

Mode of travel: Walking

Operations Report – April 28th

Crew 315 Operations Report 28-04-2025

SOL: 8

Name of person filing report: Michael Andrews

Non-nominal systems: Catalytic Heater, Two Piece Space Suits

Notes on non-nominal systems:

· (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. Barring any more impactful repairs needed, this project will be worked tomorrow.

· (New Project): Some of the two-piece suits have slight variations in functionality. One of the suit’s battery displays don’t work, and another one has a rather noisy fan. I’d like to focus on these two tomorrow to see if I can fix them like I did with suit #10 today.

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: 316.1 hours (1.3 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 85%

Currently charging: No

Perseverance rover used: Yes

Hours: 354.5 hours (1.3 hours used)

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 81%

Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: None

Summary of Hab operations: We performed two EVAs today, including one of which was focused on repairing the exterior surfaces of the hab tunnels. We had cereal for breakfast, leftovers for lunch, a frito/pasta/chili concoction for dinner.

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

Time of measurements: 1845
1) Per formula: 26.4 gallons
2) Smart Home Dashboard: 24.5 gallons

Water (static tank, remaining gallons): 252.66 gallons

Static tank pipe heater: No

Static tank heater: No

Toilet tank emptied: No

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 14: Suits 7, 10 and Radios 1, 2

· EVA 15: Suits 7, 8, 9 and Radios 2, 3, 4

Summary of GreenHab operations: Watered plants and fungal projects, harvested chives and tomatoes, started to review the closeout list for GreenHab teardown.

WATER USE: 10 gallons

Heater: Yes

Supplemental light: 1900-2200

Harvest (name, weight in grams): 5g chives, 20g tomatoes

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Scanned an additional rock from Robert’s Rock Garden.

Dual split: Off

Summary of RAM operations:

· Space Suit: I performed a bit of troubleshooting and realized that all suits were functional and nominally charging, except for Suit #10. After opening up all one-piece suits, I realized that Suit #10 had an extra wire to power an embedded EVA Link unit (Astro #10). I removed that unit and unlinked the wire from the circuit, and it still had a weaker powered fan than the other suits. I finally swapped the Suit #10 battery with a fresh one and resolved the issue. All other one-piece suits function similarly. The dead battery was labeled as such and added to the existing dead 12V batteries in the space suit room.

· ScienceDome Radio Charger: I tried many different techniques to repair the charger but had no luck and ultimately returned it to the ScienceDome with a “Broken” tag taped on the front. I disassembled the unit and swapped power cords with functioning chargers and isolated the issue to the circuit board of the charger. I even re-soldered some components that I perceived as loose with no success. All work was done in the RAM, so no tools were removed.

· Showerhead Leak: After investigating the leaks, it was discovered that the three threaded ports were leaking. Plumber’s tape on each thread – along with cleaning the most upstream seal – removed all leaking. This will be a minor reduction in water consumption for the rest of the mission. A good amount of plumber’s tape was removed, and the roll was returned to the RAM afterwards.

· Golf Club: Crew Artist Gagnon has requested a 9-iron golf club to recreate a famous Apollo photo of golfing on the moon. I was able to craft a club out of a broom handle, a wall hook, and duct tape – although it does look more like a putter to me. I will return all these components to their respective locations after the photo is taken on a future EVA.

· Tunnel Zip Ties: I used 5 zip ties on the interior of the tunnel, and then an additional 10 on the exterior to secure the outer tarps to the tunnel mesh better. Snips were taken on EVA and returned.

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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