Category: Announcements

[category science-report]

Crew 310 End-Mission Research Report
Submitted on: SOL 12
Date: February 14, 2025

Astronomy

Ariadna Farres Basiana (Crew Commander & Astronomer) is combining her management responsibilities at the MDRS with two research projects. Her astronomy project is:

Monitoring the Sun activity from Mars: The main goal of this project is to observe the Sun from the Musk Observatory, monitoring the evolution of sunspots and prominences. Astronauts on Mars will be affected by solar radiation, given the thin atmosphere of the red plane.

The weather was not always favorable during this mission, either too windy or cloudy, and we were able to observe the Sun only 5 days through the 12 sols. The evolution of the Sunspots was tracked, images were processed. The crew astronomers tried to find Prominences without success. Most of the chronosphere images were processed and patterns will be analyzed in the future.

Helena Arias (Crew Engineer) is combining her duties as engineer with different research projects. Her astronomy-related project:
Astrophotography on Mars: This project aims to capture images of the Martian sky for scientific outreach and educational purposes across diverse audiences. The images are obtained using the RCOS 16" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, which is well-suited for deep-sky observations due to its high-resolution optics and advanced tracking capabilities.
One of the primary goals of this initiative is to engage the public, students, and researchers in the exploration of celestial objects beyond Earth. By capturing high-quality astronomical images of stellar objects that have curious names, we aim to contribute to a broader understanding of deep-space structures while fostering interest in astrophotography and scientific research. The images obtained will be used for educational purposes, allowing students and enthusiasts to study cosmic formations and enhance their knowledge of astronomy.

Despite persistent cloud cover over New Mexico, observations have been successfully completed for several deep-sky objects. Messier 82, also known as the Cigar Galaxy, was imaged twice. Located approximately 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, M82 is an irregular starburst galaxy undergoing intense star formation. The second imaging session produced a significantly improved image, capturing the dynamic structure of its core, shaped by stellar winds and supernova activity.
In addition to M82, several nebulae have been observed. NGC 2174, or the Monkey Head Nebula, is an emission nebula in Orion, known for its intricate structure and active star formation. NGC 2237, part of the Rosette Nebula, is an expansive H II region in Monoceros, where young, hot stars ionize surrounding hydrogen gas, creating a glowing structure. NGC 2359, also called Thor’s Helmet, is a Wolf-Rayet nebula in Canis Major, characterized by its bow shock structure caused by powerful stellar winds from a massive central star. NGC 2264, which includes the Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula, features a mix of an open star cluster and dark nebulae, highlighting ongoing stellar formation in Orion.
While these initial observations have been completed, additional post-processing is necessary to fully refine the images. Some datasets still require processing to incorporate H-alpha and Luminosity (Lum) filters. The H-alpha filter will enhance hydrogen emission features, making details in nebulae more prominent, while the Lum filter will improve overall contrast and depth. Additionally, stacking multiple images taken with the same filter is necessary to reduce noise and enhance faint structures. This process significantly improves image clarity, revealing fine details that are otherwise lost in single exposures.
By refining imaging techniques and increasing public access to these images, this project will serve as a valuable resource for educators, students, and astronomy enthusiasts alike. Future efforts will focus on processing and analyzing the collected data to extract meaningful scientific insights while continuing to share the wonders of the universe with a global audience.

Geology

Marina Martinez (Green Hab Officer & Biologist) is combining her daily responsibilities in the GreenHab together with different research projects. Her main research project:

In-Situ Analysis in Sample Return Missions: Optimizing Space Exploration:

The goal of the project is to optimize future sample-return missions to the Moon and Mars using instrumentation in situ to collect only highly scientific valuable samples, prioritizing the quality of the collected samples over the quantity. One of the main problematics faced with Apollo samples is that most samples are not suitable for certain types of analyses, for example. Another issue is to determine the origin of alteration products in samples, which may be lunar or caused by extralunar processes. Therefore, the present project aims to end with some of these problems and proposes an approach based on analyzing the composition of samples in situ.
We are using two instruments to obtain the chemical compositional of the collected samples. The first one is the Vanta Max, a portable X-ray Fluorescence analyzer provided by Evident Scientific (Olympus). This instrument allows real-time XRF data in the field during EVAs, which offers preliminary analyses that help decide whether a sample is worth collecting. The VANTA comes with a Workstation that allows working in the lab in a stationary form using a laptop, which was settled in the Science dome. During the first part of the mission, we experienced trouble with the instrument because the batteries were damaged. Fortunately, the company responded fast and sent a replacement unit to the MDRS, which arrived in the evening of Sol 5 (Feb. 7). The Vanta has been used in four EVAs.
The second instrument is the Spectroscout energy-dispersive (ED) XRF, which is settled in the Science Dome and has remained there the whole mission, as this is not a handheld XRF. The SCOUT is ideal for geological samples because it is fitted with a vacuum pump and a sample spinner. It can analyze powder samples for the elements Na-U. The vacuum atmosphere results in better sensitivity for the light elements Na-Cl. The samples need to be powdered; thus it is particularly effective for studying muds and shales from the MDRS area. The results from this instrument guided final decision on which samples will be returned to Earth.
The combination of both instruments is ideal and offers several advantages for sample-return missions:
Pristine analyses: The results obtained in situ have no contamination from the Earth’s atmosphere
Flexibility: The mission can be adjusted based on the obtained results
Cost efficiency: Less samples are brought back to Earth (less weight)
Geoconservation: It is a much more respectful way of collecting, minimizing the environmental impact.

The Crew Geologist analyzed samples from a total of 12 different sites and performed numerous analyses (~40) using both instruments. Some of the highlights are the finding of a Sr-rich vein (33 wt% Sr) in Marble Ritual. The vein also contains Sulfur, Silicon, and Barium, which suggests the presence of two minerals (barite and a Sr-rich mineral) given the dark-patches that are observed in hand sample. Interestingly, alteration Fe-rich oxide nodules have also been found in this area. Another example is the identification of two-colored sandstones high in P concentrations (7.5 wt%), which would be useful for dating.

Recommendations for future lunar and Martian exploration include addressing potential equipment issues (e.g., battery reliability), the use of specialized gloves, and providing a new methodology that promotes sustainable space exploration practices.
In conclusion, different shales/mudstones, sandstone/limestones, and conglomerates shape the landscape around the MDRS area, forming buttes and mesas. The shales have been mapped using the SCOUT, layer by layer, showing that they are silica-rich and vary in different concentrations of potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium, with low concentrations of fosforus. Individual minerals and rocks have been analyzed using the VANTA, where agates, gypsum, barite, feldspar, and other minerals rich in alkaline-earth metals are also found throughout.


Engineering

Monica Roca i Aparici (Mission Specialist) is assisting the Crew Engineer of the mission and performing several projects. The engineering project is her main project:

Simulating Satellite Calibration orbiting Mars Using Corner Reflectors (with Sentinel-3 A&B): This project aims at installing a Corner Reflector at the MDRS, to calibrate Earth-orbiting satellites like the Sentinel-3 A&B using advanced radar techniques, likewise we will calibrate Mars orbiting satellites.

The Corner Reflector structure was installed early in the mission. It was fixed to the ground, on the concrete patch behind the station. The plates over the structure were screwed to the structure with bolts. The GNSS antenna was initially mounted in the middle of the reflector, and connected to the receiver inside the HAB, with a coaxial cable. The receiver was, in turn, connected to a Raspberry Pi to ensure the constant push of the RINEX files with the outside world. The right functioning of the setup was proven and so it was the content of the RINEX files, with the correct reflector location. The receiver was also configured with the final parameters.

A few days later, the antenna was removed from the middle of the reflector and moved to its final configuration, located right outside the reflector, attached to it with 3 bars that hold a pole with the antenna on top. The coaxial cable was fixed to the ground with pegs.

Finally, we have arranged the internal (HAB) hardware (receiver, raspberry and ethernet switch) and their cable connections, in a neat way. The HW is located inside a 3D printed box.

MDRS 3D mapping using a drone:
We have flown a drone over the MDRS in a particular pattern that allows a 3D reconstruction of the images. The SW used for this reconstruction is, at the moment, a simple one available on Mars (see image below). Once we are back to Earth, we will use a more professional SW that will use all the available data and produce a more precise and complete 3D map.

Helena Arias (Crew Engineer) is combining her duties as engineer with different research projects. Her astronomy-related project:
3D printing tools on Mars. This project explores the application of additive manufacturing techniques in an analogue Martian environment at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). Over the course of 12 SOLs, the 3D printer has been operating continuously, successfully producing more than 120 printed components for multiple research, engineering, and outreach initiatives. The ability to manufacture tools and structural components on-site has demonstrated the potential of 3D printing as a critical technology for future space exploration.
The study began with a focus on structural optimization, particularly in relation to solar panel support systems. To assess durability and efficiency, test objects were designed and printed to improve resistance against environmental factors such as wind and dust. These prototypes were installed outside the habitat during extravehicular activities (EVAs), allowing them to be subjected to real-world exposure in a desert environment that mimics some of the harsh conditions expected on Mars. The data gathered from this experiment will contribute to the development of more resilient solar infrastructure for future missions.
Beyond structural applications, the 3D printer has been extensively utilized for the fabrication of functional tools. Among these are geological research instruments designed to assist in rock and soil sample collection during fieldwork. The ability to print such tools on demand is a major advantage in a remote and resource-limited setting. If a tool breaks or proves ineffective, modifications can be made, and a new version can be printed within hours, reducing dependency on pre-supplied equipment and showcasing the adaptability of additive manufacturing in planetary exploration.
Additionally, the project has played a key role in educational outreach by printing innovative designs created by students. Some tools from a student competition were successfully designed and fabricated, highlighting the potential of 3D printing in inspiring young minds. The winning design was a test tube carry-on accessory, a practical device for securely holding and transporting test tubes during sample collection. This tool has significant applications in planetary fieldwork, as it allows researchers to efficiently manage and protect their samples while working in extreme environments.
The continuous operation of the 3D printer throughout the mission has also provided valuable insights into its reliability under analogue conditions. The successful production of over 120 parts demonstrates that 3D printing is not only feasible but also highly effective for in-situ manufacturing in space analogues.
Estel Blay (Health and Safety officer & Scientist) is combining her health and safety responsibilities at the MDRS with outreach and engineering projects:
Enhancing Solar Panel Efficiency for Dusty Mars Environments: The goal of the experiment is to analyze different mechanisms for reducing the impact of Martian dust on solar panels. The experiment involves two types of analysis: one structural and the other focused on coating options. Two different structures were designed prior to the mission and are being printed using a 3D printer at the MDRS, employing origami techniques. One of the designs was installed next to the sun observatory, with one structure folded and the other unfolded. The second design encountered some 3D printing issues, prompting the engineer to redesign the top part of the vertical structure. Both the engineer and the HSO discussed alternatives for deploying the vertical design to ensure its safety during windy evenings.
Every day, the crew captured images of the design to identify any hotspots where dust accumulates. A thorough analysis of these images will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Guler Kocak to improve the design after the mission.
The coating experiment was set up outside, near the MDRS solar panels. One of the sets had some issues with the battery, so it was reinstalled next to the solar observatory each morning to capture data, using both the computer and the battery simultaneously. This data will support the analysis of different coatings, helping us understand how the origami-designed panels might be covered in the future.
The images below show the coating experiment deployed next to the solar panels, as well as the butterfly origami design.

Ariadna Farres Basiana (Crew Commander & Astronomer) is combining her management responsibilities at the MDRS with two research projects. Her engineering project is:

Mars Instrument Deployment Test: This is part of a collaboration between the Hypatia crew and NASA Goddard’s Exploration & In-space Services and Heliophysics engineering group. The goal is to provide feedback on a deployable support system that is being developed for future Lunar and Mars exploration missions. The crew has taken the support system during the EVAs and tested how easy it is to put it on and off the rovers and place it near an area explored during an EVA.

This EVA support system has two handling configurations, a double side handing and a single handle on the top. The crew tested walking up to 200m with each configuration and determined that for most astronauts the double side handling was more stable when walking large distances and easier to put on and off the rover.

Human Factors

Helena Arias (Crew Engineer) is combining her duties as engineer with an engineering, a human factor and an astronomy-related project. The human factor project:
Assessing Muscular Weight Loss On Analogue Missions: This project aims to analyze muscular weight loss in female astronauts participating in a two-week analogue mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). Understanding how muscle mass evolves in a controlled, isolated environment is essential for improving physical training protocols and nutritional strategies for future long-duration space missions. To mitigate muscle loss, the crew has followed a structured physical preparation plan combined with daily nutritional guidelines tailored to support overall muscle health.
A key component of this study has been the continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV) using Garmin smartwatches. HRV is a valuable physiological marker that provides insights into stress levels, recovery, and overall cardiovascular function. By tracking HRV throughout the mission, researchers aim to understand how the simulated Martian environment, physical exertion, and dietary intake influence the autonomic nervous system and muscle preservation.
In addition to HRV data collection, the crew has undergone periodic physical assessments to evaluate their muscular condition over time. These assessments include body weight measurements and a short strength test, both of which have been conducted three times during the mission. This multi-phase testing approach allows for a comparative analysis of muscular changes throughout the analogue mission.
To maintain muscle mass, the crew has successfully completed 30 minutes of structured exercise every morning, ensuring consistent physical activity despite the challenges of operating in an isolated environment. The exercise routine includes a mix of resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and cardiovascular movements designed to counteract potential muscle atrophy associated with reduced mobility and altered daily activity levels during the mission.
While further analysis is required, provisional results do not indicate a clear loss or gain of muscular weight among the crew members. This suggests that the combination of daily exercise and optimized nutrition may be effective in maintaining muscle mass during short-duration analogue missions. However, additional factors such as hydration levels, calorie intake variations, and individual metabolic differences need to be examined to draw more precise conclusions.
Beyond its immediate implications for astronaut health, this study provides valuable insights into how structured exercise and dietary strategies can help mitigate muscle loss in isolated and confined environments. The results of this study could help shape future recommendations for muscle preservation strategies in spaceflight, ensuring that astronauts maintain optimal physical health during extended stays on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Monica Roca i Aparici (Mission Specialist) is assisting the Crew Engineer of the mission and performing an engineering and a human factors project. The human factor project:

Monitoring female body behaviour under (semi)extreme conditions: Female body and its reaction to extreme or semi-extreme conditions are not well understood. Studies on human factors have typically been based on male body. There is a lack of information and data regarding female behaviour under certain conditions that are not common daily on Earth but astronauts have to face during the astronaut daily life, and more in particular during the space walks or extravehicular activities.

The MDRS is a perfect place to carry out this study, particularly during EVAs, where hard work or long walks are performed. We are gathering data from the Hypatia II crew 310, during all EVAs using a Garmin watch. These data will be analysed by Human Factor research centres such as the Barcelona Institute of Global Health, ISGlobal, (https://www.isglobal.org/en/) as soon as the Hypatia II mission is concluded.

Biology

Estel Blay (Health and Safety officer & Scientist) is combining her health and safety responsibilities at the MDRS with outreach and engineering projects:

Space Tomato Seeds: This project was created in collaboration with the British School of Barcelona, where the girls from Year 11, with the support of the HSO, designed an experiment to evaluate the growth of tomato seeds as part of the Tomatosphere initiative. This initiative sends tomato seeds into space aboard the ISS and provides two sets of seeds to school groups (those that have been to space and those that haven’t) for them to analyze the growth of the tomato plants and try to determine which seeds are which.
The HSO set up the experiment, which will evaluate the effect of different types of water (clean, filtered, and grey water) on the tomato seeds, as well as the amount of light. The experiment has been deployed in the green hub using pots and petri dishes, completely independent of the ones already part of the MDRS.

Based on the experiment results, the tomato seeds from Group X grew faster than those in Group Y under all conditions tested. The filtered water has shown promise as a viable option for watering the plants, as those seeds were the first to germinate, suggesting positive effects on seed growth. The different lighting options revealed that seeds planted without access to enough light did not germinate at all. We have concluded that Group X shows the most potential for space travel. The crew will contact Tomatosphere with these conclusions to verify the results.

The images below show one of the small green hubs used to filter the amount of light the plants are receiving, the small pots containing the tomato seeds, and the three types of water used in the experiment.

Sustainability and scientific communication

Jennifer García Carrizo (Crew Journalist) reported on the field the experience of the Hypatia II crew at the MDRS, performing the daily journalist reports and sending the “Photograph of the day”, requested by the MDRS. She has a project related to sustainability:
Hypatia’s Circular Odyssey: An interactive website featuring a digital twin of the MDRS that showcases various videos on sustainable practices and the circular economy implemented at the station. Its goal is to highlight daily actions that ensure the mission’s sustainability and offer inspiration for similar efforts on Earth. Thus, the entire base has been scanned, both inside and outside.
The exterior of the base and its surroundings have also been scanned, and several sustainable practices have been recorded: use of the composter, sports and food routines, water management, use of the reflector installed at the base, use of sustainable clothing that requires no ironing, repels odors and dirt and can be worn longer without washing, solar panels and how they work, type of food consumed at the base, water management at the station: how we shower and how we wash the dishes, use of the Astrocup menstrual cup, collection of sustainable recollection of geological samples and use of 3D printing for printing contingency materials. Finally, a general video presentation of the project about the circular economy and sustainability has been recorded.

Besides, each day, the crew also reported their sustainable practices through The Good Goal App. The Good Goal is a mobile application designed to help individuals and organizations adopt more sustainable habits by providing personalized weekly challenges. By engaging with these challenges, users can reduce their environmental impact in areas such as waste, consumption, and transportation. The app offers reliable data on savings in CO₂ emissions, water usage, and waste reduction, allowing users to track their ecological footprint The Good Goal App has been recognized as the Best Digital Solution in Spain in the Sustainability category 2023 by the United Nations (UN).
According to the register done in the app, during their stay in the MDRS, the crew saved more than 720 kg of CO2, 11.000 liters of water, 96.5 kilos of waste, and more than 990 kW, compared to an “ordinary” citizen.

Back to the “Earth”, the crew journalist will work on editing all the videos, including the 360 ones, to create the virtual tour about the MDRS, which will be allocated at the project´s website: https://xrlab.ciberimaginario.es/project/hypatia-comunication
Finally, it is important to highlight that branding for this communication project has been designed too. Please, see the photo below.

Outreach and Communication

Anna Bach (Crew Executive Officer & Resident Artist) is combining her XO responsibilities at the MDRS with conducting several outreach and art projects:

Macro art by satellite: We planned to set up the macro piece of art between the first and the second Sols, using one EVA to set up the references with strings, and a second EVA to unfold the fabric. The plan was to leave the piece of art there for the entire mission, so that as many satellites as possible could pass over it during our mission. This way, we could ensure that we got the picture before retrieving the fabric.
However, in the first EVA, we noticed the wind would not allow for this plan. In fact, the wind didn’t let us set up the fabric in the first place, it was too strong and we had to abort and come back to the base.

Upon doing some thinking, we decided to modify the art piece from a “foot print” 65x35m long to a “cross” 40x40m. We also decided to wait for a less windy day, and set up the art piece right before the satellite pass. On the 6th Sol, we got lucky, and we got a very calm day with 2 satellite passes. We were able to set up the art piece early in the morning, and take it out on the afternoon, to avoid that stronger winds take out the fabric and carry it away.

We were able to capture some pictures with a drone as well. We are now waiting for the satellite image that is to be provided by OpenComsos, the company we are collaborating with.

Children’s book: The purpose of this project was to draw a children’s book based on the real installations of the MDRS, the members of the crew and the projects we are carrying out.
During these two weeks Anna has been able to the crew members, all the installations of the station and other items of interest such as the rovers, the spacesuits and the walkie-talkies. She has also drawn several martian landscapes and painted them with watercolors.

Estel Blay (Health and Safety officer & Scientist) is combining her health and safety responsibilities at the MDRS with outreach and engineering projects:
Spacetouille – Space Menu for Astronauts: The Singaporean organization Space Faculty created the International Space Challenge, proposing the task of designing a delicious menu for astronauts that contains all the nutritional values they require in a day, to be prepared and eaten by the Hypatia crew during their simulation at the MDRS. The winning team, made up of four children aged 8 to 9 years old from Singapore, wanted to incorporate part of their culture into the design of the menu. Everything was dehydrated and vacuum-sealed. The Hypatia crew commander prepared the entire dehydrated menu before the simulation.
The menu consisted of:
Breakfast: A protein bar made primarily from nuts.
Lunch: Singaporean rice balls and lentil soup.
Dinner: Bolognese pasta and beef stew.
Snack: Sweet potato snacks.
The crew had the menu on Sol 3 and will provide feedback based on a set of questions created by the kids, which will help them analyze any potential improvements to their design. The experiment was integrated into the nutritional plan designed as part of the exercise and nutrition routine tailored to the Hypatia crew’s specific nee
The image below shows the Crew Commander and HSO before preparing the dinner.

Marta Ferrer is the filmmaker of the crew. She has mostly been working on her documentary:

During the mission Marta has been recording the daily life of the crew, as well as their projects both inside and outside the station. This includes: preparation of meals, preparation of EVAs, EVAs, installation of the macro piece of art, the installation of the reflector, analysis of rock samples in the Science Dom, Green Hab tasks, among others. She has also interviewed the crew, getting to know more about their stay and their projects.

[category 

astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 09-02-2025

Name: Helena Arias Casals

Crew: 310

Date: 09-02-2025

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Christmas Tree Cluster, Rosette Nebula

Images submitted with this report: messier 82_12195152.jpg

Problems Encountered: none

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: total number of sunspots 7, with no big groups.

Images submitted with this report: the images have not been processed yet

Problems Encountered: none

[category 

astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 10-02-2025
Name: Ariadna Farrés
Crew: 310
Date: 10-02-2025
MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Blinking Planetary Nebula, Cat’s Eye Nebula
Images submitted with this report: none
Problems Encountered: none
MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: total number of sunspots 7, with no big groups.

Images submitted with this report: Sun_08022025.png SunZoom_08022025.png (from 02/08/2025 observation)

Problems Encountered: none (but would like guidance on how to get more detail on the photos.

[category 

astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 11-02-2025

Name: Helena Arias Casals

Crew: 310

Date: 11-02-2025

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Any from the list (depending on the visibility, we expect a clear sky tonight)

Christmas Tree Cluster

Rosette Nebula

Thor’s Helmet

Albino Butterfly Nebula

Monkey Head Nebula

Wizard Nebula

Letter Y Cluster

Skull and Crossbones Nebula

Blinking Planetary Nebula

Cat’s Eye Nebula

Cigar Galaxy (M82)

Images submitted with this report: none (could not observe, it was cloudy)

Problems Encountered: none

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: could not observe, it was cloudy and windy

Images submitted with this report: Sun_02102025_11h36m09, SunPhotosphere_02102025_11h36m09, SunZoom_100225_11h34m14, SunZoom_11022025_12h22m49, SunZoomPhotos_11022025_12h22m49x

Problems Encountered: none

[category 

astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 12-02-2025
Name: Helena Arias Casals
Crew: 310
Date: 12-02-2025
MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Any from the list (depending on the visibility)
Christmas Tree Cluster
Rosette Nebula
Thor’s Helmet
Albino Butterfly Nebula
Monkey Head Nebula
Wizard Nebula
Letter Y Cluster
Skull and Crossbones Nebula
Blinking Planetary Nebula
Cat’s Eye Nebula
Cigar Galaxy (M82)
Images submitted with this report: none (could not observe, it was cloudy)
Problems Encountered: none
MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: total number of sunspots 6, with no big groups.
Images submitted with this report: none (they are being processed)
Problems Encountered: none

[title Supplemental Operations Report – February 1st]
[category operations-report]

2/1/2025
Date:
Name of person filing report: David Steinhour
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Power system battery, Hab toilet overflow alarm, UV filter for water system.

Power system: "Solar: The battery bank does not hold charge when the sun is down and low on the horizon. Main generator has been monitored for oil leaks; minor leaks observed.

Main generator:
1) Oil, oil filter, air filter changed on 1/30/2025.
2) Current hours – 8214.2"

Propane Readings: "Refilled 1/27
Station Tank: 79%
Director Tank: 85%
Intern Tank: 87%
Generator Tank: 75%"

Water: "Hab Static Tank – 100% FULL
GreenHab – 100% FULL
Outpost tank – 100% FULL"

Rovers: "Sojourner rover used: Yes
Hours: 208.9
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 100 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: Nominal."

Cars: "Crew car sway bar end links replaced 1/29, drivers 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). Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
"

Summary of Internet: Nominal
EVA suits and radios: "Suits: All nominal.
Comms: All nominal."
Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Nominal
Summary of Hab Operations: "Toilet overflow alarm continues to trip. Battery has been unplugged. Will plug back in for the crew, and instruct them to unplug if needed.
The UV water filter lamp failed and was unplugged. New UV lamp ordered."
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Nominal
Summary of SciDome Operations: Nominal
Summary of Observatories Operations: Nominal
Summary of RAM Operations: Nominal
Summary of Outpost Operations: Nominal
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nominal

[category  astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 07-02-2025

Name: Helena Arias Casals

Crew: 310

Date: 07-02-2025

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Messier 82

Images submitted with this report: –

Problems Encountered: –

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: –

Images submitted with this report: –

Problems Encountered: –

[category 

astronomy-report]

Crew 310 Astronomy Report 08-02-2025

Name: Ariadna Farrés

Crew: 310

Date: 08-02-2025

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Used: RCOS-16

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Cat’s Eye Nebula

Images submitted with this report: messier 82_12195152_stack_0.fits

Problems Encountered: none

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: total number of sunspots 9, with 2 big groups.

Images submitted with this report: the images have not been processed yet

Problems Encountered: none

[title End-Mission Research Report – January 3rd]
[category science-report]

Mars Desert Research Station
End-Mission Research Report

Crew 306 – Montes
Dec 22nd, 2024 – Jan 4th, 2024

Crew Members:
Commander: Jesus Meza-Galvan
XO and Crew Engineer: Keegan Chavez
Crew Geologist: Elizabeth Howard
Health and Safety Officer: Ryan Villarreal
Green Hab Officer: Adriana Sanchez
Crew Journalist: Rodrigo Schmitt

Summary:
Crew 306, “Montes” performed seven separate projects that covered a range of topics. Three of our projects required EVA activities. The other four projects were performed within the HAB, Science Dome, and RAM. Each crew member was responsible for proposing, planning, and executing their own project, highlighting the diverse expertise of the crew. The team utilized the analogue environment surrounding the station to perform a variety of experiments related to the long-term survival of a manned Mars station. We addressed the need for mapping and scouting terrain using a drone-based Li-DAR system. We addressed the need for sustainable waste management using fungi to break down and upcycle resources that would otherwise be lost. We addressed the need for crew and station health monitoring by implementing both wearable health monitors, and environmental sensors placed throughout the station. We addressed the need for in-situ resource utilization by collecting semiconductive materials from the environment and attempting to make photo-voltaic cells. And finally, we performed geological research by measuring the subsurface magnetic properties of the surrounding environment.

Research Projects:

Title: LIDAR-Enhanced Drone Simulations for Mars EDL Operations
Author: Rodrigo Schmitt
Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of drone-based LIDAR operations for local terrain mapping, with a specific focus on improving the planning and safety of Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) procedures in Mars-like environments.
Description, activities, and results:
Traditional Martian Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) protocols rely on aerial or orbital observations, which can offer only limited resolution for landing site analysis. This project explores a novel approach: using a drone equipped with a LIDAR scanner, along with GPS and IMU sensors, to create accurate terrain maps. The ultimate vision for these maps is to demonstrate a way to replicate the final stages of EDL on Mars by identifying potential hazards, evaluating surface conditions, and pinpointing safe landing zones.
During the mission, the drone’s hardware and software were iteratively refined across several EVAs. In the first EVAs, basic hardware integration was tested near the HAB and at Kissing Camel. The LIDAR system—attached via a custom 3D-printed mount on the drone—revealed minor mechanical instabilities and electromagnetic noise. These issues prompted a backup mount design with more secure attachment points and improved cable shielding to ensure a more secure fit. Additionally, a Raspberry Pi provided both power distribution and data acquisition, aided by integrated scripts for automated data logging.
Subsequent EVAs to Skyline Rim, Eos Chasma, Barranca Butte and White Rock Canyon validated an enhanced version of the system, which now included synchronized readings using SSH remote protocol developed here at MDRS. Moreover, improved readings from the onboard IMU and GPS module were obtained through enhanced scripts, which can ultimately allow for more robust 3D mapping. Altitude, gyroscopic, and position data can now be fused to produce an accurate representation of the terrain. Each EVA resulted in raw LIDAR point clouds combined with gyroscopic data from the IMU and global coordinates from the GPS. Figure 1 (below) shows a picture of the integrated system during an EVA, showing the drone, LIDAR sensor, Raspberry Pi, and battery arrangement.

Figure 1: (a) Drone assembly with LIDAR sensor and mount; (b) Drone full assembly during an EVA with battery and onboard computing via Raspberry Pi.
In the final stages, the project evolved from simple LIDAR range scans to the generation of more cohesive terrain maps. Scripts developed on the Raspberry Pi (in combination with the mobile hotspot approach) enabled minimal user interaction, storing data for post-processing. Despite some altitude readings occasionally returning zero or noisy values, the integrated approach stabilized once the IMU and GPS timestamps were properly synchronized. A flight data recorder—written in Python—captured the LIDAR, IMU, and GPS topics. Preliminary results indicate that consistent data streams, coupled with robust timestamps, can ultimately enable transformations from a dense point cloud illustrated by Figure 2 into a ground-referenced map of MDRS-like terrain.

Figure 2: Point-cloud mapping of the LIDAR scan using the Raspberry Pi onboard computer
EVAs Completed: One to Kissing Camel, one outside the HAB, one to Skyline Rim, one to Eos Chasma, and two to Barranca Butte and White Rock Canyon.
Final Status: While final post-processing was deferred until after the mission due to limited bandwidth and time for large-scale data handling, the partial analysis suggests that the drone-based approach can be used to detect geological features and potential obstacles—an essential requirement for realistic EDL simulations. These experiences highlight that even in an Earth-based analog environment, in-flight mechanical vibrations, electromagnetic interference, and limited line-of-sight can affect data quality, underscoring the complexity of real-world Mars operations. In conclusion, the successful demonstration of LIDAR, IMU, and GPS synergy on a drone platform opens new possibilities for high-fidelity EDL site analysis. Future work will include advanced data fusion techniques and extended flight tests, paving the way toward autonomous drone scouts that provide real-time, detailed, and high-resolution terrain insights crucial for planetary exploration missions.

Title: Subsurface Magnetic Proper ties of the Martian Environment
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Objectives: Study geological magnetism to develop test procedures for future missions.
Description, activities, and results: Before going on EVAs, the EMF meter was put to the correct settings for logging data in the field; by the end of the mission, approximately 50% of the instrument’s internal flash was full. Once mission EVAs had all been completed, the data from the meter was downloaded into an Excel file and plotted in MATLAB. The EMF meter used during EVAs took recordings at a rate of 1/sec and logged EMF (mG), EF (V/m), and RF (mW/m2) at each recording.

Figure 3: Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard and Crew GreenHab Officer Adriana Sanchez setting up the EMF meter and taking a soil sample

Each of these quantities was graphed against time duration for each EVA where data was collected, which will be post-processed against date/time, solar environment data, and possible extraneous sources of EMF detected by the meter, which is also logged at each recording. By analyzing these results against solar activity data, operating procedures for astronauts to track planetary magnetic activity and possible correlation with the space environment can be developed.

Figure 4: EMF meter data from EVA 6, with the highest f10.7 index of 258.5 relative to EVAs where magnetic data was taken

The analog mission environment in which this data was collected and initially processed is especially helpful for anticipating what a similar process would look like on a Martian base. Post-processing will ideally give insight as to how much infrastructure needs to be in place (via weather satellites, etc.) to make a sufficient correlation between magnetic data and solar activity data, which is useful to test in an analog setting knowing Earth has such infrastructure in place to do so. Overall solar activity has, thus far, been tracked using the f10.7 index, and as part of post-processing the Celestrak database will be checked for individual space weather satellites to take readings from. Taking individual satellite data would likely be more similar to the infrastructure that would be available during the early stages of a Martian base than the f10.7 index, but if individual satellite data searches are not able to provide sufficient insight to the space environment, this will be a limitation that a Martian base would have to overcome. One objective of this project being to gauge the challenges of studying the Martian magnetosphere from a Mars base and developing ways to overcome those challenges has offered several areas such as this for problem solving. Interest in developing ways to anticipate and model the Martian magnetosphere and possible influencing factors stems from the magnetic field’s relevance in aspects of long-term human habitability such as radiation shielding.
EVAs Completed: One to Kissing Camel, one to HAB Ridge, one to Skyline Rim, one to Eos Chasma, and two to Barranca Butte
Final Status: A satisfactory number of EVAs were completed using the EMF meter for data collection; this data has been plotted and is able to undergo post-processing. This will involve analysing trends in data such as short-term (on the order of minutes) changes in readings as well as overall daily value ranges. Soil types where the instrument was placed were collected and qualitatively logged to consider this as a factor in day-to-day data trends.

Title: Waste Management Solutions for Space Habitats: Utilizing Mycoremediation
Author(s): Adriana Sanchez
Objectives: Advancing the TRL of Mycoponics™ technology by accessing transportability, and survivability of blue oyster fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus).
Description, activities, and results: For the first half of the mission, I focused on feeding the mushrooms and minimizing contamination. Before flying out to Grand Junction, no contamination was observed. The morning after arriving in Grand Junction I observed contamination on 4 of the 7 tubes. Tubes 1-3 were fed a complete standard media and tubes 4-8 were being fed a plastic digested media with different concentrations ranging from 100%, 125%, 150% and 200%. A higher surface temperature was observed in the evening than in the morning but by no more than 10 degrees. Every two days exudates have been collected for testing upon return to Purdue University. On Sol 1 and Sol 5 we performed contamination control by spraying a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide onto contaminated spots. Mycelium had been observed growing over the contaminated spots which has not been observed in the past. A CO2 flux collection chamber has been made from two peanut containers and two Aranet environmental sensors, with one designated for measurement of the CO2 in and CO2 out. This will be used to observe the rate of respiration of the Mycoponics™ tube. For the last two days of the mission, we recorded time lapse videos of growth throughout the day. This will be used to observe how the mushrooms moved and grew throughout the day. Each day, measurements of how much liquid media run off were collected. However, data is sporadic and cannot be linked to any one variable.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s were required for this project.
Final Status: Despite contamination and environmental challenges, the blue oysters demonstrated notable resilience by growing over contamination and surviving elevated CO2 levels, low temperatures, and variable nutrient concentrations. At MDRS, a new procedure to eliminate contamination was tested and shown to be successful. By using direct application of a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide, contamination is destroyed, and mycelium can recolonize contaminated portions of the tube. The tubes and chambers exceeded expectations. At Purdue, testing of the liquid media run off will be conducted to determine the recyclability of waste media and nutrient absorption of the blue oyster fungi. These chambers were not as optimal as they could have been for data collection due to their inability to control the ambient conditions. This could pose potential issues for mycelial harvest and growing in more extreme conditions in the future. Refilling feeding syringes had to be done under the hood to reduce risk of contamination. Collecting the runoff media was another daunting task that could introduced unwanted contamination if not done properly. On Earth and in microgravity, stagnant liquid is a breeding ground for bacteria. Proper drainage of mycelial excaudate will ensure the success of healthy mycelial growth. Having hard mounted CO2 Flux chambers mounted to the sides of mushroom tubes make the system difficult to maneuver and observe. A potential solution is to use a valve that allows for the easy removal of the tubes from air inlets. The surface of living mycelial mass has been observed to be extremely sensitive to temperature changes. Material of Mycoponics™ chambers will need to be temperature resistant to ensure optimal mycelial growth. The design for nutrient delivery, design of CO2 and sensor chambers, and investigating methods to stabilize liquid drainage in microgravity conditions will be reevaluated to further progress the technology readiness level of Mycoponics™. After the next design phase this technology will be ready for demonstration in a space environment.

Figure 5: Potential Mycoponics™ design.

Title: Fabrication of photovoltaic cells using semiconductor material gathered In-Situ.
Author(s): Jesus Meza-Galvan
Objectives: Gather iron fillings and iron-oxide containing minerals from the environment to use as semiconducting material to fabricate a rudimentary dye-sensitized solar cell.
Description, activities, and results: The first half of the mission for the project was focused on gathering materials from the environment surrounding the HAB. The target of our search is raw iron in the form of fillings gathered from the soil, and iron-oxide minerals in the form of hematite. Iron filings were extracted from soil samples collected during EVA using a bar magnet as shown in Figure 6. The soil samples collected were first dried in one of the ovens in the science dome at 125°C for at least 1 hour, once cooled, the soil was placed in beaker with a bar magnet and sifted. The magnetic minerals stuck to the surface of the magnet were thus separated from the soil. Figure 6d shows a summary of the soil samples collected, their total weight, and the weight of the iron extracted. Most samples showed only minute traces of Iron, having less than 0.01% iron content by weight. The sample with the highest iron content, EOS 03, was collected from the end of Eos Chasma where it meets the Muddy River. Altogether, only 0.2 grams of magnetic minerals were collected from 9665 grams of soil. This was not enough to perform the controlled oxidation experiments to create semiconducting FeO that were planned for the mission. However, there seems to be enough free iron in the environment such that a more efficient collection method could yield enough material for the experiment in the future.

Figure 6: Iron extraction from soil samples collected during EVAs. a) A bar magnet is enclosed within latex and placed inside a beaker along with dry soil samples. The soil is sifted around with the magnet. b) iron and other magnetic minerals stick to the magnet and are separated from the soil. c) Aggregate magnetic material collected from all EVA sites, aligning to the magnetic field of a magnet underneath the white paper. d) Table of all soil samples collected, the dry soil weight, and the weight of iron extracted.
Hematite concretion samples though to be composed primarily of Fe2O3 were found atop of HAB ridge. These samples were ground down into a fine powder to make a semiconducting layer for a ferroelectric solar cell as shown in Figure 7. The devices made using this material produced between 0.2 Volts and 0.7 Volts. However, the devices did not seem to not be photo-sensitive, as the voltage produced remained constant in both light and dark conditions. This indicates the devices made were not solar-cells, but instead some sort of chemical battery, perhaps driven by a reaction between the hematite powder, the iodide solution, or the copper electrode. All devices made had lifetimes no longer than 5 minutes, as the hematite layer quickly dissolves into the iodide solution. To improve the devices, a binder must be added to the hematite powder to maintain the layer integrity against the liquid redux mediator.

Figure 7: a) Hematite Concretion collected from HAB ridge. b) Ground hematite powder believed to be composed of primarily Fe2O3, a semiconducting material that can be used for photo-sensitive cels. c) Top electrode of a photosensitive cell using hematite powder as the active layer and a copper strip for electrical contact, and bottom electrode using aluminium as the electrical contact and over the counter iodide tincture (a first aid antiseptic) as a redux mediator. d) Full device connected to a volt meter showing the cell produced 0.654 V of electricity.
EVAs Completed: One to Kissing Camel, one to HAB Ridge, one to Skyline Ridge, and one to Eos Chasma.
Final Status: The objectives of this study were met. However, the performance of the electrical devices made could be vastly improved. Samples of hematite collected from HAB ridge will be taken back to the lab for analysis and further refinement of devices.

Title: Sensor-based Team Performance Monitoring in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme Environments
Author(s): Ryan Villarreal
Objectives: To take team-level measurements of team dynamics in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
Description, activities, and results: Teams are complex, interdependent, groups of individuals that require cohesion to perform effectively. In safety critical contexts, a breakdown in teamwork and efficacy can have devastating effects. One such context is isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments such as long-haul space flight or a Martian habitation. These ICE contexts provide unique challenges for teams marked by inferior task performance, increased stress, and diminished mood. Current measurements of team dynamics rely on self-reported questionnaires, simple task performance, or expert evaluation. These methods are inherently subjective, suffer from rater bias, focus on individual-level metrics, or don’t capture social interdependencies foundational to teams. Objective measurement of team dynamics through the use of non-obtrusive physiological measurement has been proposed at the individual level, but abstracting these results to the team-level is non-trivial. One such method for quantifying these measures at the team level is through analyzing the physiological synchrony among team members. There are presently no studies on team-level physiological measurement and team physiological synchrony of teams operating in ICE contexts. While at MDRS, the crew wore Corsano CardioWatch 287-2’s to record an assortment of physiological metrics including heart rate, movement, and blood pressure. The crew also completed daily team cohesion and efficacy questionnaires to act as a baseline for team dynamics over the course of the mission. This questionnaire measured the crew members’ perceptions of team effectiveness throughout the mission, and how they vary resulting from performing critical tasks. This survey was filled out at the end of each day, before and after each EVA, and before and after the given puzzle task. The puzzle task was a “Super Tangram” which involved taking 14 unique geometric shapes and attempting to fill in a template using these shapes (Figure 8). In this task, the crew had to work together synchronously to solve each puzzle. This puzzle task was completed three times throughout the mission, on Sol 1, Sol 6, and Sol 12, while physiological data was collected continuously. With all data now collected, analysis will be completed through Multidimensional Recurrence Quantification Analysis (MdRQA) to generate team-level results for understanding physiological synchrony of the crew throughout the mission. Due to the extremely large file sizes of the physiological data collected, analysis will not begin until returning to Purdue. Analysis of the subjective questionnaire results will be used to determine how the crew’s perceptions of their efficacy and cohesion relate to the physiological measures. This will further allow for understanding how the crew’s cohesion and efficacy changed throughout the mission, giving the potential to explore how physiological synchrony develops alongside the crew’s team dynamics.

Figure 8: Crew 306 performs one of the puzzle tasks, where they must take 14 unique geometric puzzle pieces to fill in an outline. This task showed to be deceptively difficult, with pieces only fitting together in specific orientations.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s were required for this project.
Final Status: All data was successfully collected for analysing team-level physiological response to isolated, confined, and extreme environments. Analysis will begin upon returning to Purdue, where greater computational resources are available.

Title: EVA Crew Monitoring System
Author(s): Keegan Chavez
Objectives: The project will extend the MDRS Monitoring System project to include a network of Raspberry Pi’s to measure and record crew member biometrics while on an EVA, specifically body temperature and CO2 levels.
Description, activities, and results: It was determined that the new Smart Home Monitoring system installed in the Lower Hab accomplished the research goals set by the MDRS Monitoring System project developed by crews 288, 289, and 305. Therefore, a new project had to be developed that would make use of the sensors, Raspberry Pi, and code that were originally going to be used for the MDRS monitoring project. The EVA Crew Monitoring System will attempt to track important biometric data from crew members out on EVA using sensors placed inside their flight suits and EVA helmets. The only available sensors that can record valuable data are the CO2 and temperature sensors. The CO2 sensor, Raspberry Pi, and a warning LED were soldered to a single board and this board was placed in the helmet so the CO2 sensor can monitor the amount of CO2 in the environment directly around the head of the wearer. This allows it to act as an oxygen level sensor, where the warning LED will illuminate if the wearer is overexerting themselves making the level of CO2 in the environment higher than the level of oxygen. The temperature sensor is soldered to a separate board that is connected to the main board by a series of wires. This board will be placed somewhere on the torso of the wearer to track their core temperature. The data from both sensors will be saved on the Pi and uploaded to the Purdue Dashboard during comms using code that was developed by crew 288 and 289.

Figure 9: Completed EVA Crew CO2 and Temperature monitoring system and wiring schematic
Without an approved IRB we were unable to test the system with a crew member on EVA, acquiring this IRB and gathering data in the field is the next step. To accomplish that a more robust method of fixing the CO2 and Raspberry Pi board to the inside of the helmet must be determined. During Hab testing the board was taped down with painters’ tape, but this will be insufficient to hold the board and wires in place throughout a full EVA. Before use, the CO2 sensor needs to be calibrated for CO2 levels without a user present and with a user present under normal conditions. There is currently only one warning LED that will illuminate once either sensor records a value over a programmed threshold, increasing the number of LEDs to indicated different levels of concern will increase the usefulness of the information captured by the monitoring system during EVA.

Figure 10: Placement of the CO2 Sensor (left) and Temperature Sensor (right)
EVAs Completed: No EVAs were completed with monitoring system
Final Status: One hardware prototype was developed, calibration of sensors is needed, IRB for testing on EVA is needed, development of method for fixating main helmet board during EVA is needed

7.
Title: Wearable-Based Autonomic Profiles for Real-Time Cognitive Monitoring in Spaceflight
Author: Peter Zoss, Ryan Villarreal
Objective: This study will longitudinally quantify individual changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) status via a wearable sensor in MDRS crew members to understand how our autonomic activity is associated with sequential measures of cognitive performance for predictive model development.
Description, activities, and results: Astronauts on long-haul space flight or Martian habitats will experience significant cognitive workload demands in their daily life that exceeds normal demands. In these contexts, this significant demand can lead to critical errors with life-threatening effects. Therefore, finding ways to model cognitive workload and performance is crucial for planning daily routines and monitoring the wellbeing and readiness of astronaut crews. This project used wrist-worn physiological sensing devices to monitor crew members throughout the mission, and during administration of cognitive tests to track cognitive performance over the mission. Data collection sessions for the cognition test involved participants wearing a VR headset for eye tracking recordings while performing the Cognition Battery Test on a tablet. All data collection for this project was successfully completed, with cognitive tasks being performed by crew members on Sol 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Analysis on the physiological data will be completed upon return to Purdue due to the large amount of computing power required to analyze the vast amounts of data. This analysis will allow for determining how autonomic nervous system changes occur in spaceflight scenarios, and building predictive models for determining when crew members cognitive workload may be too high for performing critical tasks. This can then be used as a monitoring and recommendation system for maintaining cognitive health and the overall health and safety of the crew.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s were required for this project.
Final Status: All data was successfully collected and will be analysed once back at Purdue where more computing resources are available.

[category science-report]

Crew 306 – Montes
Dec 22nd, 2024 – Jan 4th, 2024

Crew Members:
Commander: Jesus Meza-Galvan
XO and Crew Engineer: Keegan Chavez
Crew Geologist: Elizabeth Howard
Health and Safety Officer: Ryan Villarreal
Green Hab Officer: Adriana Sanchez
Crew Journalist: Rodrigo Schmitt

Crew Projects:

Title: LIDAR-Enhanced Drone Simulations for Mars EDL Operations
Author: Rodrigo Schmitt
Objective: Demonstrate the use of drone-based LIDAR operations to perform local mapping of the terrain.
Current Status: For the first half of the mission, the project has been focused on proof-testing the drone-LIDAR hardware integration and refining the data collection procedures with respect to software. The hardware assembly consists of the drone, the LIDAR system, a mount for the LIDAR, a Raspberry Pi, a battery powering the Pi and the LIDAR, and a total of three customized cables connecting the parts. Through the first two EVAs, to Kissing Camel and close to the HAB, important demonstrations of the hardware assembly were conducted, as the numerous equipment supports had to be fine-tuned based on drone performance at the MDRS environment. Using the results of the first two EVAs, the mount was successfully repaired and fixated to the assembly, and necessary adaptations were made to the wiring and landing surfaces to provide electromagnetic insulation and a smoother integration all around. Concurrently, we worked on streamlining the process of collecting data during EVAs, by developing automated scripts and a mobile hotspot in the Raspberry Pi that allows us to use our phones and minimal human input for the LIDAR scanning. This method was successfully demonstrated in the third EVA to Skyline Rim, where raw LIDAR data was obtained. Now, the software and scripts for capturing data are being further developed so that IMU and GPS data can also be captured during our EVAs, allowing the LIDAR data to be successfully transformed into visual mappings.
EVAs Completed: 1 to Kissing Camel 1, 1 at the HAB, 1 to Skyline Rim.
EVAs Still Required: 1 to Eos Chasma, 1 to Candor Chasma, 1 to Charitum Montes (Barranca Butte) or Aurorae Chaos (White House)
Next Steps: Three more EVAs are planned to Eos Chasma, Candor Chasma, and Barranca Butte or White House. The purpose of these EVA’s is to collect more LIDAR data using the drone, this time incorporating data from the GPS and IMU. Thus far, the absence of altitude and GPS data has made it impossible to convert the LIDAR readings into mappings of the terrain. If successful, the data collected will be integrated into a single digital mapping of the locations.

Title: Subsurface Magnetic Proper ties of the Martian Environment
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Title: Subsurface Magnetic Properties of the Martian Environment
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Objectives: Study geological magnetism to develop test procedures for future missions.
Current Status: Before going on EVAs, the EMF meter was put to the correct setting for logging data in the field, and so far, has collected enough data to fill approximately one third of its internal flash memory. Once the flash is full the data can be downloaded as an Excel file and compared to space environment data, including measures of solar activity. Overall solar activity is currently being noted using the f10.7 index, although it would be optimal to also find individual space weather satellites to take readings from. Taking individual satellite data would likely be more similar to the infrastructure that would be available to a Martian base than the f10.7 index, but if individual satellite data searches are not able to provide sufficient insight to the space weather environment during testing, then this will be a limitation that a Martian base would have to overcome that can be assessed during post-processing data analysis. One objective of this project being to gauge the challenges of studying the Martian magnetosphere from a Mars base and developing ways to overcome those challenges has offered several areas such as this for problem solving. Additionally, soil samples have been collected from the spots that the EMF meter has been left to log data during EVAs for analysis; this is so that the samples can be assessed for possible effects on EMF scan comparisons. Noting soil type and comparisons with Mars’ subsurface properties as a possible confounding factor will be considered during post-processing of EVA data for this project.
EVAs Completed: 1 to Kissing Camel 1, 1 to HAB Ridge, 1 to Skyline Rim.
EVAs Still Required: The internal flash is approximately a third of the way full, so it would be optimal to perform at least 3-4 additional EVAs in order to log sufficient amounts of data for robust post-processing analysis.
Next Steps: The next steps of this study are to continue collecting data on the EMF meter along with noting soil properties at data collection locations. Once EVAs are completed, the internal flash will be downloaded to the manufacturer software and analyzed against space environment data. While NOAA data from the f10.7 index has been taken for post-processing, satellite data tracking site Celestrak should still be searched for space weather satellites that can provide further information.

Title: Waste Management Solutions for Space Habitats: Utilizing Mycoremediation
Author(s): Adriana Sanchez
Objectives: Advancing the TRL of mycoponics™ technology by accessing transportability, and survivability of blue oyster fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus).
Current Status: For the first half of the mission, I have been focused on feeding the mushrooms and minimizing contamination. Before flying out to Grand Junction, no contamination was observed. The morning after arriving at the hotel I observed contamination on 4 of the 7 tubes. Tubes 1-3 are fed a complete standard media and tubes 4-8 are being fed a plastic digested media with different concentrations ranging from 100%, 125%, 150% and 200%. So far, a higher surface temperature has been observed in the evening than in the morning by less than 10 degrees. Every two days exudates have been collected for testing upon return to Purdue University. On Sol 1 and Sol 5 we performed contamination control by spraying a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide onto contaminated spots. Mycelium has been observed growing over the contaminated spots, this has not been observed in the past. A CO2 flux collection chamber has been made from two peanut containers and 2 Aranet sensors, one designated for the CO2 in and CO2 out. This will be used to observe the rate of respiration of the MycoponicsTM tube. For the past two days, we have collected time lapse videos of growth throughout the day. This will be used to observe how the mushrooms move and grow throughout the day. Each day, measurements of how much liquid media run off are collected, data is sporadic and cannot be linked to any one variable.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s required for this project.
EVAs Still Required: None
Next Steps: Continued with data collection and set up a stronger humidifier in grow tent for optimized mycelial growth.

Title: Fabrication of photovoltaic cells using semiconductor material gathered In-Situ.
Author(s): Jesus Meza-Galvan
Objectives: Gather iron fillings and iron-oxide containing minerals from the environment to use as semiconducting material to fabricate a rudimentary dye-sensitized solar cell.
Current Status: For the first half of the mission the project has been focused on gathering materials from the environment surrounding the HAB. The target of our search is raw iron in the form of fillings gathered from the soil, and iron-oxide minerals in the form of hematite. Iron filings are detected and collected using a bar magnet. Soil samples gathered from Kissing Camel show minute traces of iron filings, primarily gathered in dry streambeds on the north side of the ridge. These filings seem to be concentrated in the surface sediment layer (sand) of the streambeds, rather than the sub surface soil which is made up of a red-clay. No iron filings were detected in samples of red-clay and white-clay collected from the surface of Kissing Camel West. No hematite samples were observed in this region. The region atop HAB ridge has also been explored with two EVA sites taking place atop the ridge. The first site is a rocky outcrop along the edge of the ridge to the south of the station. In this site we found red hematite concretions that are promising samples to construct our solar cells. The second site were the streambeds in the Amazonis Planitia along Sagan Street. These streambeds seemed to have a higher concentration of iron filings than the streambeds analyzed at Kissing Camel. Soil samples from the base of Skyline Ridge show a lower iron concentration than those taken from the stream beds of the planes. The samples collected from Eos Chasma have not been analyzed.
EVAs Completed: 1 to Kissing Camel, 1 to HAB Ridge, 1 to Skyline Ridge, 1 to Eos Chasma.
EVAs Still Required: 1 to Candor Chasma, and possibly 1 more to the EVA site with the highest observed iron concentration.
Next Steps: At least two more EVA sites are planned to fully canvas the area for hematite and raw iron fillings. Thus far, not enough raw iron has been gathered to perform controlled oxidation experiments to produce semiconducting FeO. The hematite samples collected will be processed into a fine powder to form the semi-conductive layer of the photo-voltaic cell. However, the composition of the hematite samples is likely to be a mix of iron-oxide species that may not be semiconductive. Therefore, direct oxidation of raw iron is preferred. Attempts to make our first Martian solar cell using ground hematite concretions are scheduled for Sol 7.

Title: Sensor-based Team Performance Monitoring in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme Environments
Author(s): Ryan Villarreal
Objectives: To take team-level measurements of team dynamics in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
Current Status: Data collection of daily team cohesion and efficacy questionnaires is ongoing, including prior to and following EVA missions. This will measure crew members’ perceptions of team effectiveness throughout the mission, and how they change from performing critical tasks. The crew has also now completed two of the three puzzle task sessions, in which geometric shapes must be arranged by the crew to perfectly fit a template. In this task, the crew works together synchronously to solve one puzzle. The crew enjoyed these tasks despite the difficulty of the puzzles. These data collection sessions occurred on Sol 1 and Sol 6. Due to the large file sizes of the physiological data collected, analysis will not begin until returning from the mission.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s required for this project.
EVAs Still Required: None
Next Steps: Daily cohesion and efficacy questionnaires will continue to be filled out each day prior to and following critical tasks, and a final puzzle task session will be held on Sol 12.

Title: EVA Crew Monitoring System
Author(s): Keegan Chavez
Objectives: The project will extend the MDRS Monitoring System project to include a network of Raspberry Pis to measure and record crew member biometrics while on an EVA, specifically body temperature and CO2 levels.
Current Status:
After studying the data collected by crew 288, 289 and 305 and comparing it to the installed Smart Home monitoring system it was determined that the Smart Home system was had already accomplished all scientific objectives of the previously proposed MDRS Monitoring Project. The goal of the new work is to use the collected sensors and Raspberry Pis to monitor biometric data of crew members out on EVA. It was determined that only the temperature and CO2 data would be useful. A new system will be developed that includes the Raspberry Pi, temperature sensor, CO2 sensor, LED indicator light and battery pack. This new system will fit fully inside the EVA suit, with the CO2 sensor inside the suit helmet and temperature sensor inside the body of the suit. The raspberry Pi will monitor and record data continuously while on EVA and the indicator light will illuminate when either sensor is outside of acceptable levels set by the crew member. Once returned to the Hab, the data can be downloaded from the Pi to the Purdue ADAFruit Dashboard for analysis. Monitoring, recording, and uploading scripts can be replicas of the code used by crew 288, 289 and 305 for the MDRS Monitoring Project. Only the Crew Engineer will test the system inside of the suit during the EVA to avoid needing an IRB. Three systems will be developed for future missions.
EVAs Completed: No EVAs have been completed
EVAs Still Required: 1-2 EVAs for hardware testing and data collection
Next Steps: Develop schematic, build prototype and bench top test of prototype system.

Title: Wearable-Based Autonomic Profiles for Real-Time Cognitive Monitoring in Spaceflight
Author: Peter Zoss, Ryan Villarreal
Objective: This study will longitudinally quantify individual changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) status via a wearable sensor in MDRS crew members to understand how our autonomic activity is associated with sequential measures of cognitive performance for predictive model development.
Current Status: Data collection using the VR system for eye tracking and tablet for administering the cognitive test is now halfway complete. Due to issues with the VR software, data collection occurred on Sol 2 and 4 instead of Sol 1 and 3. To get back on schedule, a data collection session was also run on Sol 5. The data collected so far seems to be complete and provide sufficient evidence to support the objective of cognitive monitoring from autonomic response. However, due to the large file sizes of the data collected, analysis will not begin until returning from the mission.
EVAs Completed: No EVA’s required for this project.
EVAs Still Required: None
Next Steps: Data collection sessions will continue Sol 7, 9, and 11 to complete all planned data collection sessions.