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GreenHab Report – January 9th

Crew 290 GreenHab Report 09-01-2024 (Sol 2)

Greenhab Officer: Ben Kazimer

Heater on, fan off, door closed

Average temperatures: 1136: 76⁰F & 15%, 1743: 65.8⁰F & 27%

Hours of supplemental light: Nominal 4 hours overnight

Daily water usage for crops: 7 gal

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 2 gal

Water in Blue Tank 181.8 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 1136, watering and misting

Changes to crops: pruned some dead flowers off the cucumbers in the large blue planter. Harvested some dill from herb garden

Narrative:

Today was wicked busy as the first full sol of simulation, so I didn’t get to check out the greenhouse until around 1130. The heat inside wasn’t as abrasive as yesterday, and it was actually welcome after the EVA. I first noticed some yellow leaves on the tomatoes and that a few flowers were starting to wilt, so after my usual watering level I checked the soil with the moisture meter. A relatively low reading encouraged me to add extra water to the colony of stalks, where I was happy to see they all looked happy and healthy during the 1743 check. Tomato plant No. 4 is this sol’s rising star with the most and healthiest looking flowers, with Tomato plant No. 9 holding the MVP slot. The cucumber leaves still looked rough, but the flowers seemed a bit more vibrant. I pruned off a couple of the wilted dead flowers and gave a double dose of GD music therapy. I was originally only planning for China Cat Sunflower but the transition into I Know Your Rider was too good to turn off (still from 3/9/81 show at MSG). While that played, I harvested a good bit of dill (23 grams!) from the herb garden with the Greenhab scissors. I’m hopeful for basil, cilantro, and potentially lettuce harvests by the end of this week, and maybe even some tomatoes by the end of the mission! Supplemental Note: The crew engineer tested the water supply I provided to the Science Dome and found the salinity registered at 0.4. A reference guide stated plants should receive water at least above 0.5, so this could be the reason the cucumbers are struggling. We will continue investigating this issue and its possible connection to the cukes.

Harvest: 23 grams of Dill

Support/supplies needed: None!

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Sol Summary – January 9th

Crew 290 Sol Summary Report 09-01-2024

Sol: 2

Summary Title: Science not working out, but we are!

Author’s name: Madelyn Hoying

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary:

Today kicked off our schedule for exercise countermeasures, with the crew taking 1.5-hour blocks each day to complete a HIIT- and resistance-based workout plan. The first EVA kicked off smoothly with Rebecca, Ben, and Nicole completing the Marble Ritual excursion while Madelyn was CAPCOM, Anna evaluated an issue with Suit #8’s airflow, and Anja prepared REMI for operation. A slight contingency with Becka’s headset falling down on EVA 02 resulted in a much-preferred headset placement for Madelyn on EVA 03, resolving the comms difficulties faced in EVA 01. After a lunch of alfredo pasta prepared by Ben, EVA 03 served as a systems check of REMI to enable data collection in later excursions. Becka and Anna spent the afternoon troubleshooting the pH meter and other Science Dome equipment for Project MADMEN. Anja prepped a dinner of taco bowls (buddha-FULL buddha bowls, according to Anna) and the crew is preparing for a game night tonight, with a possible call sign ceremony. Stay tuned to see our call signs tomorrow!

Look Ahead Plan: pH meter solution, EVA 04 for REMI data collection and to begin sample collection for MADMEN

Anomalies in work: Some science hiccups along the way with pH meter functionality not established, and a solvable issue in REMI operations

Weather: Cloudy compared to yesterday’s clear skies, but warm enough for just two layers with the flight suits by EVA 03

Crew Physical Status: nominal

EVA: 02, Marble ritual completed with Becka, Ben, and Nicole; 03, REMI testing with Madelyn, and Anja

Reports to be filed: Sol Summary, Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, EVA Reports, EVA Request

Support Requested:

1. Are there any additional pH meters, or parts to fix Shannon’s? After troubleshooting, the crew is not able to get hers operational.

2. Crew changed the batteries on Shannon’s pH meter – what is the procedure for disposal of the 3V coin battery that was removed?

3. Wiring diagrams for the one-piece suits are requested, to check for a solution to suit #8’s lack of airflow (see ops report for more detail).

4. Would it be possible to build up a bit of dirt around the ramp out of the RAM airlock, so that the crew does not have to lift REMI over the lip each time? This could be done as an EVA task if needed.

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Operations Report – January 9th

Crew 290 Operations Report 09-01-2023

SOL: 2

Name of person filing report: Anna Tretiakova

Non-nominal systems: Suit 8

Notes on non-nominal systems: More details in the “Summary of Suits and Radios” section of the report.

ROVERS

Spirit rover used: Yes

Hours: 241.0

Beginning Charge: 100

Ending Charge: 76%

Currently Charging: yes

Opportunity rover used: Yes

Hours: 154.5

Beginning Charge: 100

Ending Charge: 70%

Currently Charging: yes

Curiosity rover used: No

Hours: (Before EVA)

Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)

Ending Charge: (After EVA and before recharging)

Currently Charging:

Perseverance rover used: No

Hours: (Before EVA)

Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)

Ending Charge: (After EVA and before recharging)

Currently Charging:

General Notes on Rovers: Rear view mirrors on spirit and opportunity is very wobbly and violently shakes when the rover is driven.

Summary of Hab Operations:

WATER USE: 4.9 gallons

Water (static tank): 419.5 gallons

Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on

Static tank heater (on or off): on

Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of Internet: internet is nominal during times 18:00 to 22:00

Summary of Suits and Radios: Radios nominal. All suits except suit 8 are nominal. The battery of suit 8 is 13.7 volts, but there seems to be a problem with the wiring. It is kinda different from the other suits but I cannot say for sure, because I did not want to take it apart completely. Is it possible to get a wiring diagram? It is also a possibility that one of the components is broken. I am unclear on one of the parts: the small black trapezoid with a lid. It is attached to the positive terminal of the battery.

Summary of Greenhab Operations:

WATER USE: 7 gallons 10oz for Greenhab and 2 gallons for the science dome.

Heater: on

Supplemental Light: off

Harvest: 23g of Dill

Summary of Science Dome Operations:

The pH sensor battle continued: the pregnancy test pH sensor had dead batteries, which were replaced but the sensor still could not calibrate. The pH sensor Thermo Scientific Orion Star A111 malfunction was determined to be a broken wire connection, which was attempted to be fixed unsuccessfully. Tonight during wifi hours, Dr. Tanyeri (crew 290 faculty advisor) will be consulted on this matter. The salinity sensor was tested and it is fully functioning. The salinity of the tap water is 0.4 and the salinity of the Martian soil is 10. This inspires to test the soil in the Greenhab for salinity.

Dual Split Heater or AC: On

Summary of RAM Operations: (Tools used, work done):

Multimeter was used to troubleshoot suit 8. Measuring tape was used to measure the water level. RAM was used as the airlock for EVA 3. Pliers and tweezers were used to attempt repair procedures on the pH sensor Orion Star A111.

Summary of any observatory issues: Nominal

Summary of health and safety issues:

All crew in good health and happy spirits. No safety issues. The kitchen stone and counter was cleaned with soap. The trash in the bathroom was emptied, marked with a “B” and put in the back door airlock. The toilet and sink were then thoroughly cleaned with the cleaning supplies available.

Health and safety note: Black lentils were moldy. This product was not brought in by the MDRS or Crew 290. The package was disposed of in the “NB” trash can. The package was sealed and no other food was contaminated.

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:

Should crew engineer do an EVA repair mission to the rovers and tighten the screws on the rear view mirrors?

What are the battery disposal procedures at MDRS?

May we please have the wiring diagram for the suits? (suit 8 specifically)

Any updates on Shannon’s pH sensor electrodes from the rock shop?

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EVA Report – January 9th

Crew 290 EVA Report 09-01-2024

EVA # 03

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: Confirm all systems on REMI robot are nominal after shipping and reconstruction, and to begin collecting initial data from at least 2 different terrain types.

Start time: 1426

End time: 1600

Narrative: The EVA crew had some last-minute technical difficulties arise with REMI that delayed entry into the airlock. Unfortunately, technical difficulties continued into the EVA and made data collection infeasible. This error was resolved shortly after the EVA concluded, and REMI should be operational for a repeat EVA trial tomorrow. After trying to correct the error in the field for approximately the first hour, the crew decided to walk around the site and determine collection areas for future tests and subsequently concluded the EVA.

Destination: within 200m of MDRS

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518169, E4250939

Participants: Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Madelyn Hoying (Commander)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit the RAM airlock with REMI and walk to sites of interest within a 200m radius

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): None

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Journalist Report – January 5th

Sara Paule, Crew 289 Journalist & Executive Officer
01.05.2024
Sol 12
We ended sim at 10 am this morning but our work didn’t stop. CO Adriana and HSO Gabe went off an adventure to ensure transportation for the crew while the rest of the crew started cleaning, packing up, and prepping the habitat for the next crew. This included cleaning the buildings further afield (the RAM, the Science Dome, and the GreenHab) as well as the main living space. We also swabbed down the rovers! We will finish up our cleaning – sweeping, mopping, and bathroom wipe downs – early tomorrow morning before we depart back for our homes. Yet again, we are thankful to have had fantastic weather throughout the mission. It has made our clean up mostly mud-free.
Despite it being a partial sol, today was not free of research. Eshaana (GEO) finished collecting her last set of data for her mini-agrivoltaic farm and then disassembled the whole set up. We gained a new crewmate today when Riya completed the build on her air quality sensor, Russell! Riya also removed all the plants in her hydroponics set up, collected imaging, and figured out how to work the camera on the microscope to collect pictures of the plant cells. The root strength on her stress-free plants is noticeably improved over those treated with hydrogen peroxide (simulating the effects of radiation.) Everyone also completed synopses of their research for submission to MDRS.
We also ate through our (very limited) leftovers and kept ourselves motivated through our work with some treats from Earth including masala chai.
Tomorrow, we depart. Our memories of Mars will be filled with unforgettable moments – unique meals, amazing sights, funny conversations, and more. Serving as a Purdue astronaut has been an honor.
This is Crew 289 signing off from Mars. See you back on Earth in a few days’ time.

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GreenHab Report – January 5th

Crew 289 GreenHab Report : 5-1-2024 (Sol 12) 🕺🌳🌱🌷🌽🌼😋🌈🦋
GreenHab Officer: Riya Raj
Environmental Control: Heater on, fan off, door closed.
MORNING
Average Temperatures:
Avg Temp – 11:58 pm (80.6 °F)
Relative Humidity – 26 %
**After Watering:
Avg Temp – 1:20 pm (78.6 °F)
Relative Humidity – 57%
Used 3 gallons and 32 oz while the humidity was higher like yesterday.
AFTERNOON
Avg Temp – 5:04 pm (68.7°F)
Relative Humidity – 29 %
**After Watering:
Avg Temp – 5:10 pm (70.7°F)
Relative Humidity – 59%
Used 2 gallons and 22 oz to water all the plants (includes more misting)
Hour of supplemental light: 10pm-2am (4 hours)
Daily water usage for crops: Sol 12 – 5.3 gallons
Water in Blue Tank (200-gallon capacity): 141.32 gallons
Times of Watering for Crops: Sol 12 – 1:20 pm & 5:10 pm
Changes to Crops: no changes!
Narrative:
Sol 12:
I was a little sad that today would be my last full day with the plants. It’s safe to say that I grew attached to them, especially the cute little baby tomatoes! I love all the plants equally, so I made sure to set them all comfortable for the next GreenHab Officer! The humidity once again was slightly higher than normal and that made them happy too! I also saw 4 MORE baby tomatoes so now there should be 26 baby tomatoes!! ^-^ 🍅The replanted broccoli and radish plants are doing well since they are now enjoying their new bigger pot! I am little concerned about the carrot plants, but the roots should be growing stronger over the next few weeks! 🥕💪 The mint, spinach, and onions should also be sprouting soon hehe!
Eshaana also took her mini farm down today and we wanted to let her baby kale and C4 grass live on! We set the kale in the front next to the cucumbers and the C4 grass on the back shelf! One thing I would mention is that since the humidity is usually low, regularly misting the hab really helps the plants get stronger! Plants are super awesome so they should be treated with all the happy sprinkles! The hab is also properly organized with all tools and equipment set in place! The inventory list should also be up to date! I hope to see the little plants grow into big bois!
Sol 12 Harvest: None
Support/supplies needed: None – thank you Sergii for all the help! 🙂

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Operations Report – January 5th

Crew 289 Operations Report 1-5-2024
SOL: 12

Name of person filing report: Nathan Bitner

Non-nominal systems: We now have two left latex gloves for dishing.

Notes on non-nominal systems: One glove had a finger torn off during dishes today, and another lost a thumb earlier in the mission.

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: No
Hours: (Before EVA)
Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)
Ending Charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)
Currently Charging:

Opportunity Rover used: No
Hours: (Before EVA)
Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)
Ending Charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)
Currently Charging:

Curiosity Rover used: No
Hours: (Before EVA)
Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)
Ending Charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)
Currently Charging:

Perseverance Rover used: No
Hours: (Before EVA)
Beginning Charge: (Before EVA)
Ending Charge: (On return from EVA, before recharging)
Currently Charging:

General notes on rovers: Rovers are functioning properly.

Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: 16.3 gallons
Water (static tank): 267 gallons
Static tank pipe heater (on or off): on
Static tank heater (on or off): on
Toilet tank emptied: no

Summary of internet: Internet is nominal

Summary of suits and radios: Suits and radios nominal.

Summary of Greenhab operations:
WATER USE: 5.25 gallons
Heater: on
Supplemental light: off
Harvest: none

Summary of ScienceDome operations: One 100 mL beaker broken and cleaned, emptied hydroponics project, and used microscope for analyzing plant roots.

Dual split: Heat or AC: On

Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): All tools from hab returned, floors mopped and swept.

Summary of any observatory issues: All systems nominal

Summary of health and safety issues: None

Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support: Should EVA suit 10 be plugged in when we leave? It’s been on the bottom shelf of the one piece suit rack and wasn’t used during the mission.

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Sol Summary – January 5th

Sol: 12

Summary Title: Sol Twelve: Into Cleaning We Delve

Author’s Name: Aditya Arjun Anibha

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Status:

Crew 289 ended their simulation this morning. However, this did not mean respite as we worked to complete cleaning and packing responsibilities at the station. Adriana and Gabe travelled to Grand Junction to rent spacecraft (cars) for our return back to our respective destinations on Earth. Riya worked on her air quality sensor brought to life in the form of a lego mount called Russell (Gerald now has a friend!) and broke down her hydroponics and examined plants under a microscope. Eshaana collected the last portion of data from her mini agrivoltaics farm. Sara led the charge of cleaning the station and guided Eshaana, Nathan, Riya and Adi in ensuring a thorough job. We extracted a moment to boost morale by cooking soupy Indian Pink Pasta and Chai. With cleaning and packing complete, we look forward to dinner at a burger shack in Hanksville and potentially stargazing again to make the most of our last night at MDRS before we prepare to depart the next morning.

Look Ahead Plan: Crew departure and travel back to respective destinations

Anomalies in work: None

Weather: Cloudy and windy throughout

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: Journalist Report, Greenhab Report, Operations Report, Sol Summary, Astronomy Report, Photos, Mission Summary, Final Research Report

Support Requested: None