Author: jburk

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GreenHab Report – February 12th

Crew 221 GreenHab Report 12FEB2020

GreenHab Officer: Jessica Todd

Environmental control: Heating. GreenHab door shade cloth (40%) (30%) on. Door opened today from 1:20 pm to 5:20 pm.

Average temperatures: 26°C

Hours of supplemental light: 19:30 to 00:00

Daily water usage for crops: 8.98 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0.53 gallon

Water in Blue Tank: 169.3 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 1

Changes to crops: We planted some fresh lettuce, chamomile and mint! A new cucumber is growing on one of the plants. Also, the avocado seed has sprouted but there’s a prickly leafy plant also growing in the pot. Do I have permission to remove it? It’s definitely not avocado.

Narrative: Today we planted some more lettuce, since we’ve harvested quite a bit this mission. We also planted some chamomile and mint so the next crew can make some lovely fresh tea! Our corn is growing nicely, we now have corn growing out of purely Martian soil. Unfortunately no progress for our mungbeans, apparently they don’t like Mars.

Harvest: 21g Rosemary, 26g Butter lettuce, 2g Oregano, 1g Basil, 2g Chives.

Support/supplies needed: NA

Other Notes: Still a bit worried about the water level in the GreenHab tank (see previous GreenHab report). Please advise.

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Journalist Report – February 12th

Crew 221 Journalist Report 12Feb2020

Author: Hemani Kalucha, Crew Journalist

Sol 10

Title: Hilarious Heads Up

This morning, the all girl (Maria, Hemani, Jess) EVA team headed out to complete radio assembly. The team successfully built the radio tower without help from HabCom in two different locations. After the mission objective was complete, the team made some pit stops on the way back to film their dance video, set to the music of “We Are Not Alone” from the move, the Breakfast Club. This will be used for outreach. The music fit perfectly, because we are trying to survive as life on Mars, and we are in a remarkably similar situation to the characters of the breakfast club – six strangers getting to know each other in a confined space.

After a yummy lunch, the girls got back into programming the robot, and with the help of Crew Engineer Luis, solved the software issue! This was such encouraging news, and we are hoping to test it out in the field tomorrow! Then GHO Jess and Hemani planted new crops in the Greenhab – Chamomile, Spearmint, and Lettuce. Before dinner, the crew played a little Heads Up, which lead to some hilarious charades. We are about to sit down to a dinner of delicious German cuisine and cultural night by our very own Commander!

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Operations Report – February 12th

Crew 221 Operations Report 12Feb2020

SOL: 10

Name of person filing report: Luis D. Monge

Non-nominal systems:

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Generator: on (at 7:40 pm)

Hours run: 13:00

From what time last night: 7:40pm

To what time this morning: 7:00am

List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run : 0

Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night) 79%

Diesel Reading – 85%

Station Propane Reading – 50%

Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A

Water (loft tank): 35 gallons

Water Meter: 148 units

Water (static tank) – 215 gals

Static to Loft Pump used – no

Water in GreenHab – 169.3 gals (water is probably lower than estimated, please refer to greenhab report)

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: no

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: no

Hours: (before EVA) : 130.4

Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100%

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no

Hours: n/a

Beginning charge: n/a

Ending charge: n/a

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: no

Hours: 136.6

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge:

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers:

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3) not used

Reason for use: not used

Oil Added? not used

ATV Fuel Used: Gals not used

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: not used

Notes on ATVs:

HabCar used and why, where? not used

CrewCar used and why, where? not used

General notes and comments: not used

Summary of internet: operational

Summary of suits and radios: operational; 4 blue radios and

Summary of Hab operations: nominal.

Summary of GreenHab operations: operational, black corn experiment continues, now watered with 2l/day. watering of the plants carried out as per procedure

Summary of ScienceDome operations: one oven is operating in the lab, the incubator is non-functional, microbiology experiments going on and cultures are bieng grown in agar plates.

Summary of RAM operations: robot assembly almost completed and expected to continue, radio comunication experiment continued expected to finish tomorrow.

Summary of any observatory issues: nominal

Summary of health and safety issues: crew memeber with flu continues recovery.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: nothing to report

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Astronomy Report – February 11th

Astronomy Report

Name: Ghanim Alotaibi

Crew: 221
Date: 11 Feb 2020

One image was obtained last night for V0960 Mon. Crew astronomer tried to perform a photometry measurement but was unable to do so.

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening:

  1. V CAS (Resubmitted last night)
  2. V0960 Mon (Resubmitted today)

Images submitted with this report: seeing profile of V0960 MON

Problems Encountered: As seen from the seeing profile, AstroImage j was unable to differentiate the target star from the background noise, however, it was possible to differentiate the star visually. This might be because the target star is too faint. The focusing of the image overall looks good and the seeing profile for random stars also looks good.

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GreenHab Report – February 11th

Crew 221 GreenHab Report 11FEB2020

GreenHab Officer: Jessica Todd

Environmental control: Heating. GreenHab door shade cloth (40%) (30%) on. Door opened today from 12:15 pm to 4:06 pm.

Average temperatures: 22°C

Hours of supplemental light: 19:30 to 00:00

Daily water usage for crops: 15.85 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0.53 gallon

Water in Blue Tank: 178.8 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 2

Changes to crops: We have a cucumber! The zucchinis and cucumbers are flowering, and the strawberry plant has begun growing a strawberry. The tips of the narcissus are incredibly dry and browning. They have been watered regularly so I’m concerned the heater is drying them out. Should we move them to a lower level?

Narrative: Today was exciting as we harvested quite a bit from the GreenHab on Shannon’s recommendation for tonight’s dinner. Rosemary potatoes and salad! We are feasting like kings! The plants were watered this morning and this evening, and excitingly one of our Blue corn plants in Martian soil has begun to sprout. That’s right; Crew 221 has officially grown crops on Mars.

Harvest: 71g Cucumber, 20g lettuce, 6g butter lettuce, 14g onions, 4g rosemary.

Support/supplies needed: NA

Other Notes: Myself and the Crew Engineer noticed the water level in the GreenHab tank is much lower than expected. The water has just dropped below the level of the upper tap, meaning it is around 1/3 full (~100 gallons). We have been basing our water amount each day on subtracting the amount used every day from a full tank at the start of Sol 0. Due to the busy schedule of Crew 220, and the repairs being done by David and Atila, Crew 221 did not complete all the water refilling of the station prior to the start of our mission, and the GreenHab tank had to be refilled by Atila on Sol 1. We were told the GreenHab tank was filled to full (300 gallons), however we have kept a careful record of our water usage, and while our numbers tell us we should have 178.8 gallons, this is clearly not the case. We should have sufficient water in the GreenHab to get us to the end of our mission, however it will be cutting it close.

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Science Report – February 11th

Crew 221 Science Report 11-FEB-20
Crew Science Officer: Hemani Kalucha

1. Microbiology Research
Today, we completed our sample catalogue: we identified the probable bacteria species for each sample that showed growth. One of the interesting samples was the bacteria growth from a sample taken from the Candor Chasma canyon floor. The bacteria is called Flavobacterium Capsolatum.

2. ISRU project
Today, corn sprouted from the half earth soil half grey martian soil today!

3. Mung Beans

Nothing Further to report.

4. Radio Communication

Today, we disassembled the radio and Crew Engineer Louis and Crew Astronomer Ghanim reassembled the radio on an EVA, proving that it is compatibly as a mobile communication device!

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Journalist Report – February 11th

Crew 221 Journalist Report 11Feb2020

Author: Hemani Kalucha, Crew Journalist

Sol 9

Title: Corn on Mars (with a little bit of help)

This morning, we tested radio operations outside the hab. Crew Engineer Louis had already successfully built an engineer and got it working inside the hab over the last few days. The test then involved seeing if it could be reassembled with ease on an EVA in a short period of time. It was exciting to see that the radio could be reassembled in under an hour on EVA in two bulky astronaut suits. The second EVA was supposed to test if a team could reassembled the radio with no prior knowledge of radios (this team was Commander Grulich, Hemani, and Jess), however, due to a typo error in the request, the EVA had to be cancelled. We hope to recover this EVA tomorrow. Meanwhile, the rover was successfully built, but the team ran into several issues while trying to program it, and will try again to get the rover running tomorrow. On a happier note, the team spent the day filming various activities, which they will use in outreach videos, and also took some awesome astronaut profile pictures. Also for dinner tonight, we have the luxury of eating tons of leafy greens, all harvested from our very own greenhouse! The sunny, warm days on Mars are keeping our spirits up as we edge closer to the end of the mission!

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EVA Report – February 11th

Crew 221 EVA # 10 Report 11 Feb 2020

EVA # 10

Author: Luis Monge (Engineer)

Purpose of EVA: We will be performing the deployment of a dipole antenna and document the whole process. The antenna and required implements will be carried in the rovers and assembled close to them at the destination.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:30 pm

Narrative: Today we conducted the first of the two EVA for antenna deployment exercises. L.Monge, and G.Alloitabi went out to drive towards Cowboy Corner with the aim to practice long wave antenna installation. The Martian weather was sunny and chilly during the EVA. L.Monge took the lead and drove directly to the spot, once there proceeded to assemble the antenna.

The procedure was documented with video and pictures, the antenna was disassembled the components stored in the rovers and the crew headed back home on time.

Destination: Cowboy Corner

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4252600/518770 (Cowboy Corner)

EVA Participants: Luis, Ghanim

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Park along Cow Dung Road (0110) to stop at Cowboy Corner

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity and Spirit

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Operations Report – February 11th

Crew 221 Operations Report 11Feb2020

SOL: 9

Name of person filing report: Luis D. Monge

Non-nominal systems:

Notes on non-nominal systems:

Generator: on (at 7:40 pm)

Hours run: 13:00

From what time last night: 6:00pm

To what time this morning: 7:00am

List any additional daytime hours when the generator was run : 0

Solar— SOC % (Before generator is run at night) 78%

Diesel Reading – 85%

Station Propane Reading – 54%

Ethanol Free Gasoline – N/A

Water (loft tank): 35 gallons

Water Meter: 148 units

Water (static tank) – 215 gals

Static to Loft Pump used – yes

Water in GreenHab – 178.8 gals (water is probably lower than estimated, please refer to greenhab report)

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Toilet tank emptied: no

Deimos rover used: no

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging:

Sojourner rover used: ASSIGNED TO DIRECTOR

Hours:

Beginning charge:

Ending charge:

Currently charging: yes

Spirit rover used: yes

Hours: (before EVA) : 130.4

Beginning charge: (Before EVA) 100%

Ending charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging) 51%

Currently charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: no

Hours: n/a

Beginning charge: n/a

Ending charge: n/a

Currently charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: yes

Hours: 136.6

Beginning charge: 100%

Ending charge: 31%

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers:

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 300, 350.1, 350.2, 350.3) not used

Reason for use: not used

Oil Added? not used

ATV Fuel Used: Gals not used

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: not used

Notes on ATVs:

HabCar used and why, where? not used

CrewCar used and why, where? not used

General notes and comments: not used

Summary of internet: operational

Summary of suits and radios: operational

Summary of Hab operations: nominal.

Summary of GreenHab operations: operational, black corn experiment continues, now watered with 2l/day. watering of the plants carried out as per procedure

Summary of ScienceDome operations: 1 incubator runing, microbiology experiments going on and cultures are bieng grown in agar plates.

Summary of RAM operations: robot assembly almost completed and expected to continue, radio comunication experiment continued today.

Summary of any observatory issues: nominal

Summary of health and safety issues: crew memeber with flu continues recovery.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: a mouse trap is installed at the kitchen, as we suspect additional mouse is at the kitchen.

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