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Journalist Report – Oct 24th

By Darin Orton

Spaceward Bound
Crew 284
Journal Entry
Tuesday, Oct 24th, 2023

Day began with breakfast all together (scrambled eggs, spam, cheese, and oatmeal).

Following breakfast we met all together in the science dome for a geology lesson and mission objectives for today’s EVAs. We started with a zoom meeting with Dr. Shannon Rupert that included some instruction on Mars’ interesting history and MDRS works well as an analog for the Martian environment. She presented some thought provoking questions about the geologic history of Mars that we were assigned to ponder as we explored the Martian landscape and prepared our own investigations. We plan to revisit the questions at a future meeting later this week.

At the conclusion of the zoom meeting, Hab Commander Jen led a briefing to prep us for the EVA missions. We discussed safety, mission parameters, and goals for the EVA. She supplied us with directions to the two collection sites and the rock types that we need to collect. We then prepared for the first team EVA.

The first team suited up and prepared for departure. They suited up, checked comms, and completed safety checks. After spending 2 mins in the airlock we left the hab and headed for the rovers.

The team experienced battery issues and were unable to reach the collection zones before battery levels dropped below the critical limit and they were required to return to the hab.

Based on the experience of the first crew. The hab commander and mission leadership determined that the rover needed work and for the second EVA we would take the hab car.

This allowed us to take all six crew members with Commander Jen staying behind to lend support from the hab. With the hab car we were able to reach the first collection area and had no trouble collecting the gypsum samples we would need for our analog collections and investigations. We then proceeded to the second collection site to look for sandstone and blueberries for our collection. This took a little longer but we found the samples we needed for our analog collection. We loaded back into the hab car and returned to the hab.

Once at the hab we unloaded our gear and made sure everything was returned and charging. We took our gypsum samples to the science lab and began our investigation led by Commander Jen. For this investigation we are exploring the changes that take place when gypsum is exposed to heat and water. We set our samples up and will monitor them for changes over the next day or two.

We then had some down time before dinner. We ate dinner all together (Taco Tuesday at the hab!

At 7pm we connected once again with Dr. Shannon for a mission debrief. We discussed today’s EVA challenges and successes and got the new mission objectives for tomorrow’s EVAs.

The rover issues seem to be resolved so the plan is to continue the EVAs as planned, in crews of three, one in the morning, another in the afternoon.

Crew is tired but in good spirits. Early bed for all and looking forward to another challenging yet rewarding day on the red planet.

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Journalist Report – Oct 23rd

By Darin Orton

Spaceward Bound
Crew 284
Journal Entry
Tuesday, Oct 24th, 2023

Day began with breakfast all together (scrambled eggs, spam, cheese, and oatmeal).

Following breakfast we met all together in the science dome for a geology lesson and mission objectives for today’s EVAs. We started with a zoom meeting with Dr. Shannon Rupert that included some instruction on Mars’ interesting history and MDRS works well as an analog for the Martian environment. She presented some thought provoking questions about the geologic history of Mars that we were assigned to ponder as we explored the Martian landscape and prepared our own investigations. We plan to revisit the questions at a future meeting later this week.

At the conclusion of the zoom meeting, Hab Commander Jen led a briefing to prep us for the EVA missions. We discussed safety, mission parameters, and goals for the EVA. She supplied us with directions to the two collection sites and the rock types that we need to collect. We then prepared for the first team EVA.

The first team suited up and prepared for departure. They suited up, checked comms, and completed safety checks. After spending 2 mins in the airlock we left the hab and headed for the rovers.

The team experienced battery issues and were unable to reach the collection zones before battery levels dropped below the critical limit and they were required to return to the hab.

Based on the experience of the first crew. The hab commander and mission leadership determined that the rover needed work and for the second EVA we would take the hab car.

This allowed us to take all six crew members with Commander Jen staying behind to lend support from the hab. With the hab car we were able to reach the first collection area and had no trouble collecting the gypsum samples we would need for our analog collections and investigations. We then proceeded to the second collection site to look for sandstone and blueberries for our collection. This took a little longer but we found the samples we needed for our analog collection. We loaded back into the hab car and returned to the hab.

Once at the hab we unloaded our gear and made sure everything was returned and charging. We took our gypsum samples to the science lab and began our investigation led by Commander Jen. For this investigation we are exploring the changes that take place when gypsum is exposed to heat and water. We set our samples up and will monitor them for changes over the next day or two.

We then had some down time before dinner. We ate dinner all together (Taco Tuesday at the hab!

At 7pm we connected once again with Dr. Shannon for a mission debrief. We discussed today’s EVA challenges and successes and got the new mission objectives for tomorrow’s EVAs.

The rover issues seem to be resolved so the plan is to continue the EVAs as planned, in crews of three, one in the morning, another in the afternoon.

Crew is tired but in good spirits. Early bed for all and looking forward to another challenging yet rewarding day on the red planet.

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EVA Report – October 23rd

Crew 284 EVA Report 24-10-2023

EVA # 1

Author: Jen Carver-Hunter

Purpose of EVA: Geologic sample collection

Start time: 11:30

End time: 12:15

Narrative: Loren, Enrique, and Jason were prepped and ready for the EVA on time. Perseverance dropped battery to 75% before the EVA team left the Hab, so they switched out Perseverance for another rover. Before the EVA team reached the halfway point to the first EVA destination, Curiosity had dropped to 60% battery. Crew was instructed to return to the Hab per protocols. EVA Team returned to the Hab with no other issues.

Destination: Intended destination: Intersection with Brahe Hwy followed by mounds near the balancing rock south of dry creek wash. Actual turn around point was near Galileo Rd.

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): (Intended coordinates: 518000, 4254750 and 518000, 4254000) Actual turn around point: 519000, 4252000

Participants: Loren Scott, Enrique Arce-Larreta, Jason Trump

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Crew took rovers from the Hab to Cow Dung Rd, turned north onto Cow Dung Rd, and followed that what became their turn around point just south of Galileo Rd.

Mode of travel: Crew drove rovers to the turnaround point.

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Astronomy Report – October 23rd

[category 

astronomy-report]

Name: Jason Trump

Crew: 284

Date: Oct 23rd, 2023

MUSK OBSERVATORY
Sky Conditions: Partly cloudy
Wind Conditions: Medium
Observation Start Time: 12:30pm
Observation End Time: 2:30pm
Summary: Crew visual observations which identified a large prominence near 7 o’clock. Solar imaging followed.
Objects Viewed: Sun
Images Submitted With This Report: Sun 231023 Prominence
Problems Encountered: Camera was left attached to telescope at start of mission. Confusion using Sharp Cap program because software update has caused user interface to differ from Quick Guide.

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Journalist Report – October 23rd

Crew 284 has arrived at the MDRS as the 5th cohort of Spaceward Bound Utah: a science, sim, and education mission. We are a group of educators here to experience the Mars sim and explore avenues for bringing the science and sim experience back to our various learning environments: formal classrooms, science centers, education organizations, and more.

Our first day at the MDRS was not in sim, and instead focused on establishing protocols, crew rapport, and familiarization with the local region. Crew 284 completed the following activities:

– Completed facility training, including instruction on maintaining the HAB systems, science area, green HAB, and rover operations.
– Carried out a field exploration hike to learn more about the geology of the region around the MDRS.
– Utilized the Musk Observatory to observe current sun conditions.
– Visited the Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur quarry to continue learning about the geologic conditions of the region.

Tomorrow we will enter Sim.

Jen Carver

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Supplemental Operations Report – October 22nd

Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Ham radio has functional issues (it is transmitting a signal without any indications). It had been sent for repairs.

Power system:
Solar: Nominal.
SOC Last 24 hours: Max 100%; Min 64 %; Avg 80.8%.
VDC Last 24 hours: Max 58.30V; Min 46.29V; Avg 51.09V.
Generator run time: 3846.5 hours.

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 72%
Director Tank: 49%
Intern Tank: 69%
Generator Tank: 74%

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 530 gallons
GreenHab – 100 gallons
Outpost tank – 450 gallons
Science Dome – 0 gallons
Hab Toilet Tank emptied: Yes

Rovers:
Sojourner rover used: Yes.
Hours: 195.4
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 100 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: New battery cables for Spirit received. New parts are scheduled to be installed during crew 284 rotation.

ATV: ATV’s Used: None. Nothing to report.

Cars:
Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies. Need to be serviced.
Crew Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies.
General notes and comments: Crew car new registration received, awaiting renewed insurance ID.

Summary of Internet: Nominal.

EVA suits and radios:
Suits: All nominal
Comms: All nominal

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Nothing to report.
Summary of Hab Operations: Toilet tank cleaned and level sensors are functioning again. Remote temperature sensors for smart home systems are installed on the lower and upper deck. Ham radio has been taken for the repairs by Hope Lea and her father.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Soil has been rehydrated. Interior reorganized by crew 283.
Summary of SciDome Operations: All nominal
Summary of Observatories Operations: All nominal.
Summary of RAM Operations: All nominal. Remote temperature sensors for smart home systems have been installed.
Summary of Outpost Operations: The Director’s trailer heater heater fixed (the control board replaced) and current work is nominal. A rat has been caught in the Intern trailer.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nothing to report.

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Mission Plan – October 15th

Crew 283 – New Horizons II

Mission Plan and Aims

10/16/2023-10/20/2023

Crew 283 (New Horizons II) consists of seven undergraduate and high school level students, along with a highly experienced commander. Our aim is to gain research experience and improve our skills at maintaining a Martian simulation. This is our second mission, the first was focused on how to perform a successful sim, this second one being mostly research based.

  • Sergii Iakymov – Commander

  • Owen Flanagan – Executive Officer

  • Charis Adams – Health and Safety Officer

  • Ian Davis – Engineer

  • Micah Callaham – Operations Officer

  • Riley Nuttycombe – Spacesuit Officer

  • Hope Lea – Communications Officer

  • Barnabas Pasztor – GreenHab Officer

Each student has prepared a research project on a topic of their interest to work on in this environment throughout the mission. Topics range from mental health to meteorology, with a lot in between. As students, we hope to learn and improve from our experience during this sim, and adapt to what we have to work with. The projects are as follows

Owen Flanagan:

Unspecified project pertaining to the mental health of the crew.

Charis Adams:

Health science project with the goal of monitoring the crew’s health, vitals, and performance. Specific goals include looking at respiratory and circulatory health throughout sim, and examining the effects of a Martian environment on overall human health.

Ian Davis:

Drone project involving scouting out locations for EVAs and searching for desert varnish and desert pavement from the sky. Tied to project with Callaham.

Micah Callaham:

Desert varnish and desert pavement identification and research, linked to Davis’s project. Logging locations that are prevalent in each of those two items.

Riley Nuttycombe:

Space suit prototype project. Testing and improving helmet design for space suits, comparing original suit helmets to new prototypes, and specifically improving the ventilation system in the suit helmets.

Hope Lea:

Radio Mesh Network optimization project. Measuring the solar intake, battery charge, and distance capacity between beacons for future weather stations.

Barnabas Pasztor:

Maintaining GreenHab and restoring the soil and systems in order to plant this year’s crop.

We will be documenting our mission over video, so as to best demonstrate the extent of our research. Our communications officer will compile videos of our work that will be displayed at the end of the mission.

We plan to conduct at least one EVA a day, with a second being optional. Primary EVAs will take place in the morning, secondary in the afternoon. No more than two EVAs per day unless an emergency warrants it. These EVAs are for research purposes only, and are aligned with one or more crew member’s projects.

In conclusion of our mission, we hope to have gained valuable research experience and a better understanding of how a Mars mission should function.

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Supplemental Operations Report – October 15th

Date of supplemental Operations Report: 10/15/2023
Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov
Reason for Report: Routine
Non-Nominal Systems: Bread Maker – inside bucket is leaking and needs to be replaced, replacement is already in order. New toilet tank lever sensor shows symptoms of malfunctioning or being covered with toilet paper, further diagnostic required.

Power system:
Solar: Nominal.
SOC Last 24 hours: Max 100%; Min 48 %; Avg 69.3%.
VDC Last 24 hours: Max 58.44V; Min 43.81V; Avg 49.12V.
Generator run time: Not used yet, serviced during work party. Hours – 3827.8.

Propane Readings:
Station Tank: 72%
Director Tank: 50%
Intern Tank: 66%
Generator Tank: 76%

Water:
Hab Static Tank – 500 gallons
GreenHab – 200 gallons
Outpost tank – 250 gallons
Science Dome – 0 gallons
Hab Toilet Tank emptied: Yes

Rovers:
Sojourner rover used: Yes. From Hanksville to the station and around MDRS
Hours: 195.2
Beginning Charge: 100 %
Ending Charge: 37 %
Currently Charging: Yes
Notes on Rovers: All rovers refilled. Perseverance – got seats replaced, long battery wire needs to be replaced some day in the future. Curiosity – two short battery wires replaced. Spirit – one short battery wire replaced. Opportunity – two short battery wires need to be replaced.

ATV: ATV’s Used: None. Nothing to report.

Cars:
Hab Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies. Need to be serviced.
Crew Car used and why, where: To Hanksville for supplies. To Grand Junction for supplies.
General notes and comments: Hab Car – need to be serviced. Crew Car – Serviced. Engine oil – nominal, engine coolant – refilled, tires – rotated.

Summary of Internet: Nominal.

EVA suits and radios: Suits: All suits are serviced and ready for the season.
Comms: Radio repeater setted up on the North Ridge. All EVA radios are ready for the season.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: Campus cleaned and ready for the season. Septic tank emptied.
Summary of Hab Operations: All systems are ready for the season. Toilet tank has been resealed and sensors have been added to monitor its level.
Summary of GreenHab Operations: Cleaned and ready to be planted. All operations scheduled to be done during crew 283 rotation. Old and damaged watering cans replaced.
Summary of SciDome Operations: Cleaned and organized for the season. iMac was setted up for the EVA Link project. Smart Home server plugged in.
Summary of Observatories Operations:

Cleaned and serviced by Astronomy crew.
Summary of RAM Operations: Cleaned and restocked for the season.
Summary of Outpost Operations: Cleaned and ready for the season. Septic tank emptied. The Director’s trailer heater went offline due to a mouse going inside. Inspection revealed there could be a problem with the control board. Replacement of the board is in order.
Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nothing to report. Standart trauma kit ordered for EVA.

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Supplemental Operations Report – June 21st

Name of person filing report: Sergii Iakymov

Reason for Report: End of the season.

Power system:
Solar: Nominal. The network gateway has been reconnected to the station Orbi wifi network.SOC Last 24 hours: Max 100%; Min 78 %; Avg 87.8%.
VDC Last 24 hours: Max 58.64V; Min 47.40V; Avg 52.65V.Generator run time: generator hours 3827.7. Generator locked for the summer break.

Propane Reading Station Tank: 75%. Valve closed for summer.
Propane Reading Director Tank: 56%. Valve closed for summer.
Propane Reading Intern Tank: 71%. Valve closed for summer.
Propane Reading Generator Tank: 79%. Valve closed for summer.

Water (Static Tank) – 320 gallons
Water in GreenHab – 152 gallons
Water (Outpost tank) – 120 gallons
Water in Science Dome: 0 gallons
Hab Toilet Tank emptied: Yes

Notes on Rovers: All rovers moved to Rock Shop for summer break.

Sojourner rover used: Yes.
Hours: 194.3
Ending Charge: 59%
Currently Charging: Yes

Curiosity rover used: Yes.
Hours: 244.8
Ending Charge: 69%
Currently Charging: Yes

Perseverance rover used: Yes.
Hours: 266.7
Ending Charge: 70%
Currently Charging: Yes

Opportunity

rover used: Yes.
Hours: 136.6
Ending Charge: 99%
Currently Charging: Yes

Spirit

rover used: Yes.
Hours: 226.7
Ending Charge: 85%
Currently Charging: Yes

ATV’s Used: (Honda, 350.1, 350.2, 300): None
Reason for use: n/a
Oil Added? No
ATV Fuel Used: 0 Gals
Ethanol Free Gasoline — 0 Gallons
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0
Notes on ATV: All parked at the outpost and awaiting to be taken to service.

HabCar used and why, where? Yes. To Hanksville for supplies to pick up. Final mileage – 169558.5, gas – 25%. Oil change – past due.

Crew Car used and why, where? Yes. To/From Grand Junction and Hanksville. Final mileage – 217868, gas – 50%. Oil change on 06/10/2023, next one on 220621 miles.

General notes and comments: Crew car parked at the outpost and hab car at the campus.

Summary of Internet: Starlink unplugged and stored in the HAB. Orbi wifi network connected to HughesNet modem. All work is nominal.

Summary of suits and radios: All suits are picked up by the NorthCal chapter for refurbishing. Radios are placed in the ScienceDome.

EVA COMMS: All batteries separated from the radios and placed in the ScienceDome for summer. All radios are stored in the charging station locker for summer. Radio repeater disassembled and removed from the Hab ridge; Battery, solar panel, pelican case with all content and antenna placed in the Science Dome, all other parts in RAM.

Campus wide inspection, if action taken, what and why: All tarps are removed from the tunnels and inspected, stored in RAM. All tennis balls are collected. Security camera moved on the hab landing leg.

Summary of General Operations: All nominal. Conditions of interior and exterior, and all equipment were photographed.

Summary of Hab operations: Upper deck – fridge unplugged and emptied; All food moved out of the Hab; All unnecessary for summer devices have been unplugged; Remote controlled safety light is installed; Multiply mouse traps are setted up; Rat poison have been left in multiple places; Trash have been emptied. Lower deck – Outside outlets turned off; Toilet emptied; Heater breaker turned off; Water pump breaker turned off; Water pipe solenoid turned off; UV filter data logged and filter turned off; All unnecessary devices unplugged; shop vac and trash emptied; mouse traps are setted up; rat poison are placed around the deck.

Summary of GreenHab Operations: All temperature sensitive devices and fire extinguisher are moved to the Hab; rat poison placed around the area; HughesNet modem moved and plugged into the Hab.

Summary of SciDome Operations: All non-operational equipment were marked; Sink bucket emptied; Shop vac and trash emptied; Security camera placed at the power wall for observations; All unnecessary devices are unplugged; Two security lights are plugged via remote switch; All windows covered.

Dual Split in Science Dome: A/C is on for 74F.

Summary of any Observatory Issues: All parts were replaced and Observatory is operational.

Summary of RAM Operations: All temperature sensitive equipment were moved to Hab; Two big ladders from the tunnels were moved inside the RAM; Roll door were secured with a padlock; All outside and inside breakers are turned off; Outside breaker panel are locked; Trash is emptied;

Summary of Outpost Operations:

Exterior: Valve on the main propane tank is turned off; All outside extension cords are unplugged; Gates are closed and secured by metal wires.
Shed: Door latch is installed and door locked; Interior inventory is organized; Breakers turned off;
Intern’s trailer: Toilet emptied; fridge turned off; water and heater turned off; Internet and network gear moved into the Hab; Rat poison placed in the cabinets; propane valve turned off; door and storage compartment locked; All windows covered.
Director’s trailer: Toilet emptied; Fridge turned off; Water and heater turned off; All unnecessary devices unplugged; All batteries and temperature sensitive equipment moved into ScienceDome; Windows covered; Rat poison placed inside kitchen counter; Propane valve turned off; Front door locked.

Summary of Health and Safety Issues: Nothing to report.

Questions, Concerns, Supplies needed and Requests: Nothing to request.