Author: jburk

Posted on

EVA Report – April 13th

EVA Report

EVA #7 – 12Apr2018 – Sol 5 ‒ Cancelled due to mix-up in schedule

Crew members: Joe Dituri, Ashok Narayanamoorthi, Victoria Varone

Objectives:
N/A

Operations:
None

Narrative:
None

Vehicles
None
_______________

EVA Report

EVA #8 – 13Apr2018 – Sol 5

Crew members: Richard Blakeman, Andreea Radulescu

Objectives:
– Check out Kissing Camels site
– RAM activities upon return
– Hab survey upon return

Operations:
1500 – 1800

Narrative:
Explored the region and confirmed ability to establish base comms when at the top of the ridge. Found evidence of missing crew member and produced for discussion with team. Proceeded into the RAM upon return to further clean the water tank and then looked at the skirt of the HAB to find out what is required to repair.

Vehicles
– Blue ATV #1
– Blue ATV #3

Posted on

Sol Summary – April 13th

Crew 192 Sol Summary Report 13Apr2018

Sol 5

Summary Title: The Winds of Mars

Author: Victoria Varone

Mission Status: Our Mars mission has been slightly inhibited by approximately two and a half days of strong winds (paging Mark Watney), but like most scientists, the crew is keeping themselves busy and happy finding other things to do (repairs, cleaning, organization, cooking) until the weather calms down.

Sol Activity Summary: With strong winds blowing again today, the crew attempted to gather a weather report before heading out on their first EVA of the day. Unfortunately, a sluggish connection prevented us from obtaining this prior to the EVA (Martian technology, right?). We left a little later than planned but were instructed to call off the outing, so we headed back inside to make a new plan for the morning and afternoon.

The winds started to pick up again a bit, so the crew used the extra time inside to conduct a day of cleaning and organizing the hab. This turned out to be a worthwhile task as we removed layers of dust from many areas and long-unused objects and organized some of the boxes and bins in the lower deck. After this, the crew enjoyed a delicious brunch of nachos crafted by their own Richard Blakeman.

We went ahead with our afternoon EVA as scheduled as the winds were slower than they were yesterday and our two crew members remained perfectly safe during their outing. Upon their return, we had a nice dinner, checked out the GreenHab together, looked through some of our many amazing mission photos so far, and planned for weekend EVAs and activities.

Look Ahead Plan: The forecast says that the winds will die down tonight and the weather will be beautiful over the weekend. We’ll use that time to make up for the EVAs and other activities that were prohibited over the last couple of days due to the strong winds.

Anomalies in Work: None

Weather: Chilly and windy. Winds blowing at approximately 23 mph with gusts 30 mph.

Crew Physical Status: All crew are physically healthy and safe.

EVA: See EVA Report.

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary Report, GreenHab Report, EVA Request, EVA Report Journalist Report, Photo Report

Support Requested: See Operations Report

Maintenance request: See Operations Report

Posted on

Greenhab Report – April 13th

GreenHab Report
Name: Andreea Radulescu
Date: 13 Apr 2018

Environmental control:

Ambient with door open
Shade cloth: on
Fan: not on.

Average temperatures: 23℃
Low 14.6℃
High 53.2℃

Hours of supplemental light: None

Changes to crops: None

Daily water usage for crops: 8 gal

Time(s) of watering for crops: Twice: In the morning around 10:15 am and afternoon 4:30pm

Moringa research observations: None

Changes to research plants: No

Aquaponics: None

Narrative: None

Support/supplies needed: None

Posted on

Commander Report – April 13th

Happy Friday the 13th CAPCOM….Today we had two scheduled EVAs. We aborted one EVA due to a miscommunication on our part with mission control. Communication delays and network issues will always hamper us on Mars …we will persevere amd continue efforts to improve coms always.

The crew remains in good spirits and in my opinion a BUSY crew is a HAPPY crew. Since our EVA was aborted we took the opportunity to field day and straighten up the HAB. We organized the tool box placing tools correctly as written on outside of draws. (I know…a bit anal on our part…but everything has a place….) A few items of gear adrift were removed from the HAB and placed in pickup spot for mission control as directed by mission control.

We recieved answers to our request for maintenance and we will T/S the sink hot water as well as attempt a repair to the skirt on HAB. We removed and cleaned the moths / bugs from all upper deck light fixtures. It is so bright now…;*) We want to do all we can to improve the state of this living facility.

IMPRESSED: I am so impressed with our new call sign assignment of “Poison Ivy” for Andreea (Greenhab officer – Blue 03). She brought the garden back from a dry less productuve state (due to water issues last rotation) to a garden that continues to produce many small tomatoes despite our ability to consume them daily. BZ Poison Ivy….

LEARNED I learned that the internet is not reliable and I need to be much earlier to be proactive about weather.

POA&M We intend to perform two sets of EVAs tomorrow and if approved continue training crew and repairs to HAB. We may even be able to finish cleaning the water tank in the RAM and return to service for next crew. If approved we will also perform skirt repairs at end of EVA 2.

~Dituri sends

Warm Regards,

Joseph Dituri, PhD(c)
CDR, U.S. Navy Diving Officer (ret)
Director – IBUM

Posted on

Crew Photos – April 12th

Posted on

Journalist Report – 12 April 2018

Author: Victoria Varone

Today was one of those days that highlights just how passionate, adaptable, and hard-working space dreamers really are.

In the face of weather that disrupted our EVA plans, the whole crew stepped up to the plate, offering up an unbelievable variety of skills and ideas to make repairs and adjustments with a limited supply of tools and hardware. They pooled their backgrounds, areas of expertise, physical capabilities, and improvisation skills to come up with a solution to the problem at hand.

Nothing brings out the strength of such dreamers more than a problem that needs to be solved, be it an Earthly issue or a Mars mission. I’m incredibly proud of this crew today and never except anything less than amazing when we’re together.

In honor of Yuri’s Night: “When I orbited the Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is. Mankind, let us preserve and increase this beauty, and not destroy it!”

Posted on

GreenHab Report – 12 April 2018

Name: Andreea Radulescu
Date: 12 Apr 2018

Environmental control:

Ambient with door open
Shade cloth on
Fan not on.

Average temperatures: 39.7℃
Low 14.2℃
High 53.2℃

Hours of supplemental light: None

Changes to crops: Was able to pick a lot of tomatoes.

Daily water usage for crops: 5 gal

Time(s) of watering for crops: Once in the morning around 10:00 am

Moringa research observations: None

Changes to research plants: No

Aquaponics: None

Narrative: Picked few more tomatoes for the team which we will consume at dinner.

Support/supplies needed: None

Posted on

EVA Report – 12 April 2018

EVA #6 – 12Apr2018 – Sol 4

Crew members: Andreaa Radulescu, Ashok Narayanamoorthi, Richard Blakeman

Objectives:
Scout for good sites to perform medical emergency simulations.

Operations:
0845 Start EVA
0900 Surveyed URC North Site
0930 Returned to HAB at request of commander
1000 EVA end, transfer to engineering EVA.

Narrative:
This EVA was meant for scouting sites for a medical emergency situation. One site was surveyed before the crew members on the EVA were recalled to help with a repair in the HAB from damage caused by severe winds.

Vehicles
1. Blue #1
2. Blue #2
3. Blue #3
_______________

EVA #7 – 12Apr2018 – Sol 4

Crew members: Richard Blakeman, Ashok Narayanamoorthi, Joe Dituri, Andreaa Radulescu, Victoria Varone

Objectives:
– All crew transfer to the RAM and clean and sanitize the water tank.
– Garbage pails tied to trailer as they were blowing away in the strong wind.

Operations:
1630 – 1745

Narrative:
Today’s second EVA was a productive engineering EVA. The tank is 85% cleaned and we intend to complete further final cleaning tomorrow.

Vehicles
– None

Posted on

Operations Report – 12 April 2018

SOL 4

Name of person filing report: Joe Dituri

Non-nominal systems: 1. The main hab door broke during the wind.
2. The circuit breaker tripped.

Notes on non-nominal systems: During severe winds again today, the door swung open HARD and almost came off its hinge. We’ve performed a sturdy and strong repair that is holding beautifully so far.

After it became very cold in the hab, we checked the circuit breaker and noticed it had tripped. It was reset.

Generator (hours run): 13 hours

Solar ‒ SOC 98%

Diesel – 75% fuel

Propane – 66% (telemetry reported by Shannon) psi.

Ethanol Free Gasoline (5 Gallon containers for ATV) –

Water (trailer) – Empty, tank being cleaned in RAM.
Water (static) – 960 gallons (two external tanks)
Trailer to Static Pump used – No
Water (loft) – Static to Loft Pump used – Yes
Water Meter: 133383.5

Toilet tank emptied: Yes. Last emptied April 11, 2018.

ATV’s Used: Blue ATVs #1, #2, and #3

Oil Added? No But checked and OK.

ATV Fuel Used: 10%

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 2

Notes on ATVs: All working well and ready for use.

Deimos rover used: No
Hours: 119.8
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes

Spirit rover used: No
Hours: 31
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: No

Opportunity rover used: No
Hours: 29.8
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No
Hours: 25.2
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 100%
Currently charging: No

HabCar used and why, where? No

General notes and comments: Crew is doing well, we had to stay on alert today for the strong winds. Will remain alert for continued winds tomorrow.

Summary of internet: 198MB at 1930.

Summary of suits and radios: Suits all charging, 4 one-piece suits and 1 two piece suit used today, radios working fine.

Summary of Hab operations: Repaired main hab door latch and wooden rail after strong winds blew the door all the way out, broke the latch, and knocked the rail off the stairs. Cleaned and decontaminated the trailer water tank in the RAM. The tank requires further cleaning.

Summary of GreenHab operations: See GreenHab report.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: None

Summary of RAM operations: The trailer water tank was cleaned in the RAM.

Posted on

Sol Summary Report – 12 April 2018

Sol 4

Summary Title: Whatever It Takes

Author: Victoria Varone

Mission Status:

Sol Activity Summary: It was quite a busy day for Crew 192 as we spent almost all of our time literally “battening down the hatches” as severe winds caused the HAB some physical wear that needed repair and periodic observation.

It began at ~0220 when the wind peeked. We had to tie down the center wooden cap for the structure because it kept slamming against the ceiling and being pulled up by the wind. It is now secure.

We had an approved short morning scouting EVA …The commander recalled the team when the front airlock door vibrated and broke free from its hasp and the door swung open so hard that it broke the banister and damaged the habitat. The commander decided to have the team emergent repair the HAB by reattaching the hasp and screwing the banister back in place. The external repairs to the HAB must be made at a later date because they were not emergent and beyond the ability of the crew.

We completed another engineering EVA (ALL HANDS EFFORT) to clean the trailer water tank in the RAM so that our next crew can maintain a large and safe supply of water. This involved stringing 550 cord to make a safety line which allowed all personnel to get to the HAB without issue in the mounting wind.

Look Ahead Plan: The strong winds are forecast to continue into tomorrow and should slow down after that. Once it does, we will resume our exploration EVAs, continually exploring new sites and familiarizing ourselves further with ones we’ve already seen.

Anomalies in Work: None

Weather: Chilly and extremely windy. Winds blowing at approximately 30 mph with gusts 46 mph.

Crew Physical Status: All crew are physically healthy and safe.

Copyright © The Mars Society. All rights reserved. | Main Site