Category: Announcements

Crew 271 Photos 24-DEC-2022

Crew 271 GreenHab Report 24-12-2022

GreenHab Officer: Alicyn Grete

Environmental control: heater

Average temperatures: 76 degrees F, about 25 degrees C

Hours of supplemental light: 4 hours

Daily water usage for crops: 7 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in Blue Tank 144 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 1100, 1630

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: Watered plants

Harvest: N/A

Support/supplies needed: N/A

Crew 271 Mid-Mission Research Report 24-12-2022

Submitted by: Marc Levesque, Crew Commander

Titles: Coping Strategies for Long-Duration Space Exploration (Study 1); Team Challenge Resolution Mechanisms in Isolated and Confined Space Analog Mission Through Ethnographic Methods (Study 2)

Crew member: Andres Käosaar

The projects are going great. For the first project, the subjects have been filling in the questionnaires as requested. For the second project, although no big challenges have been encountered, there have been smaller challenges that the crew has resolved well and thus provided the research some useful data.

Title: Drying trends of a clay-rich surface

Crew member: Helen Eifert
A location was selected north of the Hab for the experiment and the initial wetting was conducted on Sol 4. The immediate drying trends were measured for an additional two hours following saturation of the surface on this first EVA using an ASD FieldSpec3. This data shows visible near-infrared surface reflectance in order to better understand whether water is being trapped in the chemical structure of clays and how long it can be retained. Return EVAs were conducted on Sol 5 and Sol 6 for an additional two measurements each day. As far as what is left, since the surface still appears wet, additional measurements will be taken in two days, hopefully capturing the soil back at equilibrium. A dry sample was collected on Sol 5 to get initial water content. I will bake this in the science dome in the coming days. Finally, I will post process the spectral data and plot it for use in my research.

Title: Geology – Samples for ISRU

Crew member: Cesare Guariniello

Collected samples on one EVA to Barrainca Butte. The samples include some igneous rocks from southern provinces, and conglomerates and mudstone fallen from the top layers of Barrainca Butte. The samples have been transferred to the Science Dome for processing.

Title: Astronomy

Crew member: Cesare Guariniello

After adjusting the MDRS-14 telescope, multiple observations have been taken when the sky was clear. The most notable was M42 (Orion Nebula).

Title: Medical

Crew member: Alicyn Grete

All participants have completed the pre-assessment survey and training module. Three of six crew members have passed the skills test and completed the post-assessment survey. A prospective EVA is in the planning phase, which would simulate a tibial fracture occurring during an EVA, and crew members will respond by delivering the injured patient back to the Hab for simulated surgery in the Science Dome. I have written the methods and most of the introduction for the paper that will follow the research.

Title: Engineering

Crew member: Sergii Iakymov

The first part of the project was delayed together with the mission. Currently EVA suits power systems are being inspected and due to frequent anomalies with suits batteries. One of the suits, particularly #3, has run into a charging issue and was fully inspected and tested, root cause identified, and declared as a battery charging anomaly. The second part of the project is scheduled for the second part of the mission.

Title: Communications

Crew member: Marc Levesque

The antenna on the new radio repeater was raised to 6 meters to improve reception for EVA teams. Comm checks were made on EVAs beyond the immediate Hab area, but it appears that the height of the antenna remains insufficient to improve communications and eliminate the many black holes the crews have encountered. Further comm checks will be conducted during the remaining EVAs to confirm this finding.

Crew 271 Sol Summary Report 25-12-2022

Sol: 7

Summary Title: Christmas on Mars

Author’s name: Marc Levesque, Commander

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: The crew celebrated Christmas on Mars with crepes for breakfast, napping, constructing a miniature Hab from gingerbread, games in the afternoon, and baked ziti for dinner to complete the sol. All in all, a nice break from our hectic project schedule.

Look Ahead Plan: One EVA is planned to Candor Chasma for Guariniello’s geology project while continuing other projects.

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Warmer and sunny

Crew Physical Status: Good

EVA: Two

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Operations, Journalist, GreenHab, and EVA Request.

Support Requested: None

Crew 271 GreenHab Report 25-12-2022

GreenHab Officer: Alicyn Grete

Environmental control: heater

Average temperatures: 66 degrees F, about 20 degrees C

Hours of supplemental light: 4 hours

Daily water usage for crops: 7 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in Blue Tank 137 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 1100, 1830

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: Watered plants

Harvest: N/A

Support/supplies needed: N/A

Photos 12-25-2022

Crew 271 Operations Report 25-12-2022

SOL: 7

Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov

Non-nominal systems: Kitchen sink cabinet hinge

Notes on non-nominal systems: Right bottom hinge of the kitchen sink cabinet came off today. It is unknown when exactly it was damaged. We will try to fix it tomorrow.

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: No

Hours: 205.1

Beginning charge: Not measured

Ending charge: Not measured

Currently charging: Yes

Opportunity rover used: No

Hours: 109.6

Beginning charge: Not measured

Ending charge: Not measured

Currently charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours: 217.8

Beginning charge: Not measured

Ending charge: Not measured

Currently charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: Yes

Hours: 252.5

Beginning charge: Not measured

Ending charge: Not measured

Currently charging: Yes

General notes on rovers: None

Summary of Hab operations:

WATER USE: 29.41 gallons

Water (static tank): 350.68 gallons

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): On

Static tank heater (On or off): On

Toilet tank emptied: Yes

Summary of internet: Nominal

Summary of suits and radios: N/A

Summary of GreenHab operations:

WATER USE: 7 gal

Heater: On

Supplemental light: plugged

Harvest: no harvest

Summary of ScienceDome operations: Not used.

Dual split: On

Summary of RAM operations: N/A.

Summary of any observatory issues: N/A

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: N/A

Crew 271 Sol 7 Journalist Report 25-12-2022

Sol: 7

Author’s name: Helen Eifert, Crew Geologist

Title: Gingerbread Hab

Mars-y Christmas from Crew 271! After four straight days of two EVAs a day, we had a mandated day of rest today. While we all got a little bit of work done indoors today, we spent most of the holiday celebrating together. We played games, finished more puzzles, enjoyed many sweet treats, and exchanged wrapped gifts left under the inflatable baby Yoda tree. Cesare wined and dined us (minus the wine) with breakfast crepes, baked ziti for dinner, and traditional Italian panettone for dessert. It was a restful day indeed.

The feat of the day came from our crew engineer, Sergii Iakymov. To celebrate the holidays, I brought a pre constructed gingerbread house for the crew to decorate. To our martian readers, Earth houses are typically cubical or rectangular, with distinct corners. These standards don’t exclude houses of the gingerbread variety. Sergii took on the task of deconstructing and then reconstructing the gingerbread house to properly represent our living quarters. It only took a few hours, but a gingerbread hab was erected on this day. I suspect it would not withstand the inhospitable space environment, but it’s quite likely any breaches were the result of hungry crew members and not engineering deficiencies.

The rest of the day remained relatively uneventful – always a good sign in space. We nearly had an unplanned launch of space tourists, but our on-the-ground mission support, Shannon, managed to scrub the launch before they made it out of lower Earth orbit. Although we dodged one bullet, we were informed we would have to fill out two psych surveys tonight for Kaosaar’s research project. We had been betrayed by his time estimates before, so we will likely be pulling out the scissors tonight. Sleep with one eye open, Andres, it won’t be Santa coming down the chimney tonight.

Supplemental Operations Report 25-DEC-2022

Name of person filing report: Shannon Rupert

Reason for Report: Routine

Non-nominal systems: Power system programing

Action taken for non-nominal systems: Nothing yet. I will go through and reprogram it in the next few days.

Generator: Running from about 8 pm to 8 am. The generator was repaired on Thursday. The problem was the governor, which had lost a small plastic cotter pin and as a result was unstable and the vibration of the engine was causing the surging. How crazy! We also needed the oil pressure changed as it was faulty and we had the bushings replaced because they would have needed it soon. The technician was great and spent a lot of time showing us what things were that would commonly need replaced and how to replace them. I am very grateful to not have to worry every night about losing power!

ScienceDome Dual Split: on at 65 degrees overnight (when I remember). I need to find the manual in order to program it but I don’t know where it is.

Solar— Nominal but router needs reprogrammed

Solar— SOC Last 24 hours:

Max

Min

Avg not showing the way it is currently operating

Propane Reading, station tank – 61 %

Propane Reading, director tank— 75 %

Propane Reading, intern tank— 72 %

Propane Reading, generator— 60 %

Ethanol Free Gasoline – 0 gallons

Water (static tank) – not checked gallons

Water in GreenHab – ~150 gallons

Water in ScienceDome: 0 gallons

Water (Outpost tank) – 350 gallons

Hab toilet tank emptied: See crew operations reports

Sojourner rover used: no

Hours: not noted

Beginning charge: 100

Ending charge: 100

Currently charging: yes

Notes on rovers: nothing to report

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 350.1, 350.2, 300): none

Reason for use: n/a

Oil Added? no

ATV Fuel Used: 0 Gals

# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0

Notes on ATVs: Nothing to report

HabCar used and why, where? Yes, to town

CrewCar used and why, where? Yes, to town

Luna used and why, where? Yes, to town

General notes and comments: We have Christmas lights up outside for the first time at the station. They are a simple string across three rovers outside the RAM but they are quite festive and cheerful.

Summary of internet: Nominal.

Summary of suits and radios: See crew operations reports.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why? Nothing to report

Summary of general operations: Nothing to report

Summary of Hab operations: I was unable to completely unclog the toilet but over several fills and flushes with hot water and lots of dish soap, I made enough progress for us to get through the next two crews and then January, during the time we have no crew, we will replace the toilet tank with a new one and plumb in a cleanout value.

Summary of Outpost operations: The deck with the clothesline has been cleaned off in anticipation of required repairs. We need to replace the surface material and reinstall the clothesline. General outside cleanup.

Summary of GreenHab operations: Supplemental light 10-2 pm. The beans produced and were so good we planted more beans. Beans, peas and tomatoes are all flowering.

Summary of ScienceDome operations: We repaired the leak near the north window.

Summary of RAM operations: Nothing to report

Summary of any observatory issues: Peter and Crew Astronomer worked on the Robotic Observatory last Sunday.

Summary of health and safety issues: Nothing to report

Questions, concerns, supplies needed and requests: Merry Christmas!

[category science-report]

End of Mission Science Report

I. Project Phantom Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Demonstration
PI/Crew Lead: Trevor Jahn, M.S. Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering
· Objective: Create 3D models of the aera surrounding MDRS, and show its effectiveness in mission planning in tandem with Aerospace’s unique Augmented Reality Software
· Accomplishments:
Demonstrated using Remote Control (RC) rover/robot to collect imaging data to be used for photogrammetry during a spacewalk on Mars
Demonstrated using Aerial Drone to collect imaging data to be used in photogrammetry to create 3D models, and maps, to be used for mission planning during a spacewalk on Mars
Demonstrated stitching together 3D models produced from Aerial Drone images, and 3D models from satellite imaging to create a 3D model of the operational environment that can be updated with new stitched in models
Demonstrated using Aerospace’s Augmented reality software for mission planning and execution
· Relevance: Photogrammetry is now becoming more common place and has already been used in limited capacity on Mars to create 3D models of the planet’s surface. There are also public documents outlining the use of Augmented Reality hardware in NASA’s next generation space suit. This research will lay the groundwork for ways to use 3D models from photogrammetry, and the augmented reality spacesuit capability, together on future space walks and missions on the Moon and Mars.

II. Mirror Coating Experiment
PI: Chelsea Appleget, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering
Crew Lead: Ashley Kowalski, M.S. Aerospace Engineering
· Objective: Monitor and characterize mirror surface degradation under a simulated, accelerated environmental exposure over the two-week period at MDRS
· Accomplishments: The crew deployed four different mirror samples close to Marble Ritual on Sol 1. On Sol 5 and Sol 8, the mirror samples were brought in by a morning EVA crew and inspected in the Science Dome under The Aerospace Corporation microscope by Crew Engineer. During the inspections, the locations of abnormalities on the mirrors were noted and images of those anomalous areas were saved and delivered to the PI on Earth. Upon completion of each inspection, the mirror samples were redeployed to the Martian environment on an afternoon EVA the same day. Originally, one final mirror inspection was to be performed on Sol 12; however, upon receiving feedback from the PI on Earth, it was determined that an unexpected anomaly occurred during this experiment. Thus, an EVA was performed on Sol 10 to adjust the mirrors in the field. Additional mirror inspections were completed on Sol 11 with additional exposure time on Sol 12. Therefore, while the original procedures for this experiment needed to be modified, the crew was able to make necessary adjustments to the payload and successfully utilize the unique Martian environment to obtain an abbreviated data set to characterize the mirror surface degradation.
· Relevance: Highly reflective silver mirrors are used in many space applications, but exposure to environmental contaminants can rapidly degrade optical performance. The results of exposure to a simulated Martian environment with dust, variable temperatures, and harsh conditions will be compared to traditional laboratory accelerated environmental testing, allowing researchers to correlate laboratory testing to harsh desert conditions.

III. Ham Radio Demonstration
PI/Crew Lead: Matthew Eby, M.S. Aerospace Engineering
· Objectives: Demonstrate deployment of a ham radio field antenna in a Mars analog environment while wearing analog space suits; Conduct handheld ham radio range test on EVA
· Accomplishments: While at MDRS, the three ham radio operators on the crew (Eby KJ6ZCL, Ferrone KI5AMM, Braun N1VNJ) completed activation and checkout of the new MDRS ham radio station and two of their own handheld ham radios. The crew also deployed the whip antenna with vertical extension while on EVA. Subsequently, crew received transmissions on the ham radio station from as far away as Lithuania and Luxembourg, but the crew did not yet receive confirmation their own transmissions were received. Using the handheld radios, the crew conducted EVA communications tests at several locations around MDRS and determined that the handheld ham radios would make excellent alternative or backup communications to the MDRS EVA radios.
· Relevance: Pending improved understanding of the Martian ionosphere, ham radio communications may be employed to supplement traditional radio communications on the surface of Mars.

IV. EVA Tools Demonstration and Regolith Sample Collection
PI/Crew Lead: Allison Taylor, M.S. Space Studies
· Objective: Evaluate the operational use of the selected commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) tools in accomplishing regolith sampling during planetary surface EVAs
· Accomplishments: The COTS EVA tool suite included a rake and scoop, handheld battery-powered sifter with 75-micron mesh, and special sample collection bags. The crew successfully collected 10 regolith samples from sites near the Hab and known traverse routes in the Tharsis Montes quadrant, the Special Region in the Valles Marineris quadrant, and the Barrainca Butte region in the Charitum Montes quadrant. Sifted regolith is the first step in the beneficiation of material for in situ resource utilization (ISRU), as ISRU requires smaller grain sizes for processing. The regolith samples will be sent to a laboratory at The Aerospace Corporation for analysis to determine if any of the sampled regions near MDRS have compositions suitable for ISRU processing, such as creating building materials.
· Relevance: It is likely that similarly collected samples from the Moon and Mars will be analyzed for purposes such as future site construction with the goal to maximize the use of in situ material.

V. Weather Balloon Release
PI/Crew Lead: Matthew Eby, M.S. Aerospace Engineering
· Objective: Prepare and launch a high-altitude weather balloon in an analog Martian environment and in analog space suits; Measure dust in the atmosphere from ground level to 90,000 ft
· Accomplishments: This experiment leveraged existing Aerospace assets from prior high-altitude flights, including radio, telemetry, and tracking equipment, parawings, and spare weather balloons. To the existing sensor package, a dust sensor was added, requiring modifications to the flight code to add a two-wire serial data interface. An epoxy fiberglass cone was fabricated to house the experiment package. Upon arrival at MDRS, the experiment was unpacked and prepared for flight by loading the flight batteries and assembling the quarter-wave ground plane telemetry antenna. A dress-rehearsal launch was conducted with the team, activating the payload, and checking out the ground station. On flight day, the balloon was filled with 150 cubic feet of Helium. The balloon train (balloon-parachute-experiment) was assembled and in calm air near the ground, then the balloon was sent aloft. Measuring dust in the air, the balloon caught the Jetstream, and the crew tracked the balloon as it rose to the target altitude and then as it descended over the Colorado Rockies.
· Relevance: Balloons on Mars would enable in situ atmospheric measurements that are not feasible with other platforms such as satellites and rovers. Applications for human Mars missions include dust storm monitoring, atmospheric sounding, on-demand or rapid response science missions, and tethered communication relays.

VI. Exercise and Fitness Protocols
PI: Sylvia Kohn-Rich, Ph.D. Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering
Crew Lead: Barbara Braun, USAF Lt. Col. (ret.), M.S. Aerospace Engineering
· Objective: Evaluate Hygear compact fitness equipment and other exercise protocols in space-like living environments
· Accomplishments: Five of the six analog crew members used the Hygear fitness bands and jump rope equipment in circuit-style workout plans, as supplements to other regimens, and in conjunction with videos and other exercises. Crew discussed their voluntary fitness activities and provided feedback on the equipment if used. The fitness bands have a simple and flexible attachment mechanism, ideal for an environment with limited fixed mounts. The bands are very compact and use elasticity rather than weight to provide resistance, as appropriate for a low-gravity environment, but require a moderate amount of free linear space to stretch to their full length. Crew members are finding the jump rope and rope-free weighted handles surprisingly effective; the weighted handles are particularly good for confined spaces. The crew is having difficulty fitting the recommended three 15-minute workouts into their day and recommend fewer, longer workouts as a more suitable regimen.
· Relevance: Maintaining astronaut fitness in low-gravity and limited-space environments is critical to successful space exploration. Evaluating exercise equipment and approaches in an analog environment allows a better understanding of their suitability for interplanetary habitat and space station use.

VII. Radiation Environment Monitoring and Mapping
PI/Crew Lead: Kristine Ferrone, Ph.D. Radiation Physics
· Objective: Demonstrate the use of a handheld portable radiation dosimeter to collect GPS-tagged radiation dose rate data to create a dose rate map of a designated area on Mars or another planetary surface
· Accomplishments: With assistance from other EVA crew members, Commander collected GPS-tagged environmental radiation dose rate measurements at regular intervals using the handheld Radex RD1212-BT radiation dosimeter. This dosimeter records the GPS-tagged radiation dose rate in preset intervals and submits data to a public database (https://quartarad.com/radexweb/#/ViewChart; zoom in to MDRS location on map). The data collected on this mission was also used to create a radiation dose rate map of the area around MDRS.
· Relevance: Crews could use a radiation dose rate map to aid in EVA planning to identify exposed or protected solar radiation areas or to locate radioisotopes on the surface. The GPS-tagged radiation dose rate data could also be integrated into VR/AR models in the future.

VIII. Discord Crew Communication Demonstration
PI: Elias Braun, 10th Grade Student
Crew Lead: Barbara Braun, USAF Lt. Col. (ret.), M.S. Aerospace Engineering
· Objective: Evaluate low-bandwidth, high-latency messaging (similar to texting) as a way for interplanetary astronauts to stay in touch
· Accomplishments: PI developed a special Discord text-only messaging server that simulated the light-time delay between Earth and Mars (currently five minutes each way). In addition to all-crew channels for talking to Aerospace mission support, each crew member had a set of private channels for talking to family and friends. Early bugs in the server were resolved by Sol 2. During the mission, the crew sent and received over 2000 messages across all channels. Crew members used Discord to stay in touch, conduct STEM outreach, consult with subject-matter experts, text with each other, and even to ask friends to look up information from “Earth” internet. The Discord server was highly effective with the relatively short five-minute light-time delay; future efforts might explore its effectiveness as the light-time delay grows to its maximum of about 20 minutes.
· Relevance: Crew morale will be a significant concern on long-duration interplanetary missions where communication is severely bandwidth-limited and time-delayed; this project demonstrates that the simple ability to text might provide an easy way to mitigate these concerns.

IX. EVA Planning
PI/Crew Lead: Allison Taylor, M.S. Space Studies
· Objective: Investigate how well a crew can manage experiment objectives and execution of daily tasks
· Accomplishments: Pre-mission, the crew created a high-level map of major activities showing allocation of the ~24-hour Sol. This was useful in evaluating the durations of major activities throughout the day and how much working time would be available. The second level plan was a Sol-by-Sol map of EVA and IVA activities. This was created with color-coded activity blocks in Excel, which made it easy to manipulate based on changes or adjustments to the plan while allowing all the objectives to remain on the plan. The third level plan included example timelines in 15-minute increments for each Sol. During the mission, the crew understood what they needed to accomplish each day and did not utilize the 15-minute increment schedules, which would have been too restrictive and labor-intensive to create without a mission control flight planning team in place. The 15-minute increment planning would be more appropriate for space station style missions and was not conducive to a more autonomous crew with long communications delays and planetary EVA traverses. Ultimately, the crew heavily used the second level Sol-by-Sol map of EVA and IVA activities as the master plan, which allowed for crew autonomy in management/decision-making. XO managed the schedule and EVA requests and marked major disruptions to the plan. Utilizing the color-coded EVA spreadsheet, the crew was able to ensure enough EVAs were completed to cover the objectives for each of the major experiments.
· Relevance: This mission planning methodology can be compared to existing NASA human spaceflight mission management/planning capabilities, as well as other analog planning approaches. Data on how planetary crews operate, with multiple EVA traverses in the mission plan, is relevant now as NASA is proceeding toward recurring lunar surface missions.