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Astronomy Report – December 28th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Gabriel Skowronek
Crew: 289
Date: 28 Dec 2023
MONTANA LEARNING CENTER
Robotic Telescope Requested RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: SW Tauri
Images submitted with this report: Profile of SW Tau as taken from AstroImageJ

Problems Encountered: Attempted to use AstroImageJ for photometry measurements and it seems that the images I’ve captured may be overexposed.

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M1 (Crab Nebula)
Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Additional comments: I will submit tonight’s observations of SW TAU to have an exposure time of 20.0s, 17.0s, 15.0s instead of 30.0s to see which is better. Furthermore, M1 images are beginning to come through.

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Astronomy Report – December 27th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Gabriel Skowronek
Crew: 289
Date: 27 Dec 2023
MONTANA LEARNING CENTER
Robotic Telescope Requested RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: SW Tauri
Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: None

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M1 (Crab Nebula)
Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: Photos of M1 have still not been completed. Their status reads ‘Ready’. How should I proceed?

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

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Astronomy Report – December 29th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Gabriel Skowronek
Crew: 289
Date: 27 Dec 2023
MONTANA LEARNING CENTER
Robotic Telescope Requested RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: SW Tauri
Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: None

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M1 (Crab Nebula)
Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: Photos of M1 have still not been completed. Their status reads ‘Ready’. How should I proceed?

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

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Astronomy Report – December 26th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Astronomy Report

Name: Gabriel Skowronek
Crew: 289
Date: 26 Dec 2023
MONTANA LEARNING CENTER
Robotic Telescope Requested RCOS-16
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: SW Tauri
Images submitted with this report: None
Problems Encountered: None

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M1 (Crab Nebula)
Images submitted with this report: None
Problems Encountered: Request for observing M1 put into SkyNet last night but no images have yet been taken. Their status is ‘Ready’. Total observing time was about 1 hour.

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: N/A
Images submitted with this report: N/A
Problems Encountered: N/A

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Operations Report – December 25th

SOL: 1
Name of person filing report: Nathan Bitner
Non-nominal systems: None

ROVERS
Spirit rover used: Yes
Hours: 239.6
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 72%
Currently charging: Yes
Opportunity rover used: Yes
Hours: 152.3
Beginning charge: 100%
Ending charge: 90%
Currently charging: Yes
Curiosity rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: Yes
Perseverance rover used: No
Hours: N/A
Beginning charge: N/A
Ending charge: N/A
Currently charging: Yes
General notes on rovers: Rovers are functioning properly.
Summary of Hab operations:
WATER USE: first day of sim, did not measure previous day use
Water (static tank): 498 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 are nominal.
Summary of GreenHab operations:
WATER USE: 4.15 gallons (Sol 0 and 1)
Heater: On
Supplemental light: On
Harvest:
Lettuce – 18 g ( Sol 0)
Kale – 95 g
Cilantro – 4 g
Arugula- 12 g
Summary of ScienceDome operations: Prepped hydroponics setup for research project, didn’t use major equipment.
Dual split: Heat or AC: Heat
Summary of RAM operations: (Tools used, work done): No work was conducted in RAM. A multimeter was removed for future EVA charge testing Measuring tape for measuring water level. Two Phillips screwdrivers were also removed for reattaching a loose screw from EVA suit 11. None of these have yet been returned.
Summary of any observatory issues: All systems are nominal.
Summary of health and safety issues: No health or safety issues.
Questions, concerns and requests to Mission Support:
Can we move the humidifier from the upper hab to the greenhouse?
Does the science dome fan consume too much power to run all the time?
The Greenhab supplemental light was used temporarily in the day, does that constitute a Yes under greenhab operations on this form?
For this report I used the current charge status of the rovers, but we did not plug it in immediately after use. Should we use whether we plugged it in or current status?

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Journalist Report – December 25th

Sara Paule, Crew 289 Journalist
12.25.2023
Sol 1
It’s Sol 1 and Christmas on Mars! Crew 289 greeted the day with a surprise Christmas tree and Milky Way candy bars supplied by Commander Adriana Brown which sweetened the chorus of Merry Christmases as the crew kicked off the day. Breakfast was fried potato crisps and scrambled eggs. If you are wondering, dehydrated eggs do kick up into a reasonably normal consistency, at least in the hands of skilled Martian cooks. Many thanks to Eshaana and Nathan for a great meal to start the day.

After some training, to familiarize ourselves with our new home for the next two weeks, we squinted against the surprisingly bright Martian sunlight to capture some crew photos. Then we officially started simulation at 14:00 and got in our first EVA to Marble Ridge. Geologist Eshaana Aurora led Astronomer Gabriel Skowronek, Crew Scientist Aditya Anibha, and XO and Crew Journalist Sara Paule (me) on our explorations for our first training EVA. The day was beautiful – bright blue skies and warm sunshine offset the Martian topography stunningly. We collected assorted rock samples to familiarize ourselves with the terrain and to share with our crewmates back at the Hab who greeted us with a delightful pasta salad with fresh picked kale. Capturing the experience in photo and video proved a fun challenge with the necessary safety of gloves and the complexity of a stunning lack of shoulders for my shoulder camera bag. I need to sprout more arms or design a better way to be camera bag free.

Post-EVA, we did a quick bit of cleaning and as the sunlight faded, the crew turned their attention to kicking off their various maintenance tasks and research projects. On the fresh food front, Greenhab Officer Riya Raj replanted some radishes, broccoli, and carrots all while capturing some beautiful photos. For her research, she got her self-contained hydroponics system unpacked in the Science Dome and ready for planting tomorrow. Geologist Eshaana Aurora assembled her mini-agrovoltaic farm in the Greenhab. As a self-professed night owl, she plans to continue her work post-dinner by securing the brackets.

Focused on the electronics functioning of the Hab and surface exploration, Crew Engineer Nathan Bitner assisted Crew Scientist Aditya Anibha with some troubleshooting to get the origami drone Aditya designed and assembled at Purdue ready for tomorrow’s test EVA. The robot, dubbed by the crew the E.L.F. or Electronic Leaping Frog, unfortunately is currently not operational due to the turbulence associated with travel to Mars. Aditya was able to ascertain E.L.F. is getting power and receiving commands but he will further troubleshoot the unresolved issue tomorrow. We are all excited to see it in operation. Meanwhile, Nathan was able to verify the sensors that Crew 288 placed are indeed working and set up connection to the Adafruit dashboard with Purdue mission control. We expect he will have it fully operational tomorrow. Great progress!

Christmas dinner is on the stove – a risotto and an apple pie. I am hopeful the crew will forgive me for any sins with the risotto – alternating stirring and report writing kept me on my toes. I trust the pie baked by Adriana will be absolutely delish, especially since in a holiday spirit, she made it C-shaped for baking. We will toast Christmas with some sparkling cider. Holidays are joyful workdays on Mars!

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EVA Report – December 25th

EVA Report #01
Author: Eshaana Aurora
EVA Date: 25th December 2023
Start time: 1405
End time: 1459

Purpose of EVA:
Training EVA to familiarize crew members with rover operation, suits, and navigation
Narrative:

The Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) commenced at 1405, led by Eshaana and Sara, with the participation of Aditya and Gabriel. The crew embarked on their Martian exploration utilizing the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, navigating from Cow Dung Road to the east, ultimately reaching the Marble Ritual. Spirit and Opportunity initiated the mission with full charges – Spirit at 100% and 239.3 hours, Opportunity at 100% and 152.1 hours. The crew’s primary objective included the completion of the Marble Ritual, followed by an eastward journey to acclimate themselves to the Martian terrain while navigating in EVA suits. Negotiating slopes cautiously, the team limited their incline to 20-25 degrees, skillfully ascending and descending the small hills near Marble Ritual. Throughout the mission, they captured photos and delved into the local geology, leading to the discovery of stunning petrified wood samples by Gabe and Aditya. The Martian landscape, although rugged, revealed unique beauty.
Upon reaching the Marble Ritual site, the crew encountered breathtaking views, diverse rock formations, and landscapes, contributing valuable insights into the geological aspects of Mars. The EVA progressed seamlessly as the team executed planned steps, ensuring both exploration and safety were prioritized, resulting in a resounding success. The crew returned to the Habitat (HAB) with Spirit at 72% charge and 239.6 hours, and Opportunity at 90% charge and 152.3 hours. The reentry process for the HAB commenced at 1459, concluding their Martian exploration.

Destination: Marble Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518700, E4250800
Participants: Aditya Anibha (Crew Scientist), Sara Paule (Crew Journalist), Gabriel Skowronek (Crew Astronomer), Eshaana Aurora (Crew Geologist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive North on Cow Dung Road and park at the side of the road. Then walk East 1-1.25 km.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking (Spirit and Opportunity)

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Astronomy Report – December 25th

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Gabriel Skowronek
Crew: 289
Date: 25 Dec 2023

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-WF
Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M1 (Crab Nebula)
Images submitted with this report: None
Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Solar Features Observed: N/A
Images submitted with this report: N/A
Problems Encountered: N/A

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GreenHab Report – December 25th

GreenHab Officer: Riya Raj
Environmental Control: Heater on, fan off, door closed.
Average Temperatures:
Sol 0:
Avg Temp – 12:16pm (92.8 °F)
Relative Humidity – 10%
Avg Temp: 10:03pm (71.6 °F)
Relative Humidity – 13%
Sol 1:
Avg Temp – 2:38pm (89.2 °F)
Relative Humidity – 10%
Avg Temp: 7:45pm (69.6 °F)
Relative Humidity – 14%
Hour of supplemental light: 10pm-2am (4 hours)
Daily water usage for crops:
Sol 0 – 2.05 gallons
Sol 1 – 2.1 gallons
Water in Blue Tank: (200 gallon capacity): 195.85 gallons
Times of watering for crops:
Sol 0 – 2pm
Sol 1 – 3:40 pm
Changes to crops: Fixed cucumber plants, replanted the brocolli/radish plants in bigger pots. Also harvested lettuce, basil, arugula, cilantro, and parsley!
Narrative:
Sol 0: Went in the greenhouse at about 3pm and watered all plants using a total of 1 gallon and 4 liters. I was able to aerate the soils of the tomato plants. The greenhouse was VERY warm with a temperature at 93 degrees Fahrenheit and there was only 10% humidity! Optimal humidity should be close to 40%-60% for temperate plants that are growing vegetables. After watering, I turned on the fan for 15 minutes to reduce the temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to put sticks in the cucumber plants to help them stand up and grow better with the space. The humidity level also increased to 13%. For today, the only plants we harvested was the basil and lettuce. We used the basil for the quick Jambalaya we made for lunch while the rest of the crew was out fixing the car rentals and we used lettuce (18 grams) for the black bean burgers at dinner. After dinner, I was able to go back into the greenhouse at 10pm and check on the rest of the plants once again. The temperature was 71 degrees Fahrenheit with 10% humidity.
Sol 1: I went to the greenhouse today at 2:38pm and noted a temperature of 89 degrees Fahrenheit at 10% humidity. After watering with about 2.1 gallons of water, the humidity levels went up to 17%. I used up most of the time replanting the radish and broccoli plants. Especially for the broccoli and radish, the pots were becoming small for the roots, so I put them in a bigger pot to aerate the soil and make it comfy! At about 3:40pm, I harvested about 95 grams of kale for the pasta salad that we made for lunch! After lunch, I noticed that there was no spinach planted in the greenhouse, so I used the seeds I brought to set up a new pot! I put about 2-3 seeds in the 8 holes that I made. After that, I rearranged and properly fertilized the carrot plants with the MiracleGro Plant Food (1½ tablespoon) and a sprinkle of Jobes Organic Fast Start Fertilizer.
Harvest:
Sol 0:
Lettuce: 18 grams
Sol 1:
Kale: 95 grams
Parsley: 4 grams
Arugula: 12 grams
Support/supplies needed: Need humidifier in greenhouse??

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HSO Pre-Mission Checklist – December 24th

Submitted by: Gabriel Skowronek

Crew: 289

Date: 12/24/2023

Part 1: Using the attached Safety Equipment Inventory, locate, test and confirm operation of all safety equipment. List any equipment not found and/or missing:

All equipment found other than the nightlight in the lower deck of the HAB.

Part 2: Locate and confirm the emergency escape routes in the Hab are functional and clear:

  1. Stairs (Functional and Clear)

  2. Emergency window (Functional and Clear)

  3. Commander’s window (Functional and Clear)

Part Three:

Inventory First Aid kit and note what needs to be refilled:

Hab Lower Deck:

  • Isopropyl alcohol (~4 quarts)

  • Electronic blood pressure monitor

  • Pulse oximeter

  • Non-contact thermometer

  • 25 facemasks

  • Cotton swabs

  • ~30 pouches of ibuprofen tablets

  • Triangular bandages

  • Thermal blanket

  • Burn relief cream

  • Band-aids

  • Dramamine

  • Medical tape

  • Gauze pads

  • Bandages

  • Nitrile gloves

Science Dome

  • Triangular bandages

  • Scissors

  • Nitrile gloves

  • Bandages

  • Thermal blanket

  • Sterile Pad

  • Alcohol prep pads

Note any safety issues: N/A

Note any health/environmental issues: N/A

Note any missing or recommended health and safety supplies: N/A

Safety Equipment Inventory 2022-2023

HAB Upper deck

HAB Lower deck

RAM

GreenHab

ScienceDome

Rovers

CO monitor

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Escape ladder

Yes

Eyewash

Yes

Fire blanket

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fire extinguisher

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

First Aid

Yes

Yes

Intercom

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Nightlight

Not found

Yes

Propane alarm

Yes

Yes

Radios (Channels 10 and 22)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Smoke alarm

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tow rope

Yes