2022-2023 Field Season (#22)

Crew 274 Journalist Report 2-10-2023

Sol: 12

Author: Tony DiBernardo, Crew Journalist

Title: Mission Accomplished

Crew 274 woke up this morning at 7:30am to a personalized message from Sarah’s family mixed with the song, “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. The crew got their surveys done, then started their research early and prepared to stop collecting data so they could break simulation at 2pm to clean the hab.

EVA Activity

Today HSO Pender began processing preliminary temperature and power consumption data collected over the 6 days that EEVAC-1 was deployed near Zubrin’s Head. He also noted the condition of peripheral cache equipment which endured some wear-and-tear during the deployment period.

Heliophysics

Astronomer Loy was focused on wrapping up his research, so no images of solar prominence or sunspots were taken today. The Musk Solar Observatory was cleaned by Astronomers Pena and Loy and closing procedures were adequately taken to ensure that the telescope would be up and running for the next crew.

Astronomy

Because it will be a clear night, the MLC-RCOS16 Telescope is scheduled to take images tonight. Fifty-nine raw photos will be taken in 50 seconds using the “R” filter because the last pictures were poor quality.

Stress Mitigation Study

Tonight, the crew will continue Crew Engineer Lojeks’ study of tracking the stress levels of six of the crew members while practicing breathing and mindfulness techniques as a potential mitigation of stress in analog environments. We will continue the same guided meditation, moving the kitchen table to make room for our yoga mats as some of our crew mates “accidentally” fall asleep.

At 2pm MST, the crew broke simulation to clean the hab in preparation for their departure early tomorrow. They followed the cleaning guidelines and checklists provided by Mission Support and broke into teams to tackle different parts of the habitat. Although the crew has enjoyed the breathtaking views, focused research time, and bonding with each other, they are excited to get home to their families and loved ones tomorrow.

Crew 274 Journalist Report 2-9-2023

Sol: 11

Author: Tony DiBernardo, Crew Journalist

Title: Take Me Home

Crew 274 woke up this morning at 7:30am to the theme from Apollo 13. The crew got their surveys done, then prepared for their last EVA of the mission.

EVA Activity

Today, HSO Pender retrieved his supply cache from the field and brough EEVAC-1 back home. He conducted performance metrics and final condition observations of the cache and overall, EEVAC-1 was found in good condition. The solar panels held up surprisingly well given the high winds from the previous evening. Finally, Pender and his EVA team collected the final data set on the orange radiation experiment led by Commander Sarah Guthrie.

GreenHab

Today, GHO Hines officially concluded both the primary and secondary growth experiments. While the secondary microgreen study proved to be a partial success, with the cress seed set resulting in a nearly 80% germination rate, only one seed among the several planted LDEF seeds were able to successfully germinate halfway through the mission. The resulting conclusion is being considered a success based on conservative expectations with plans to continue the study on future analogs.

Hab Design

Hab Specialist Bill O’Hara completed his study of MDRS architecture on schedule today. The result is a comprehensive set of notes regarding the awesome and inspiring design of the MDRS. He also supported the final EVA of the mission to bring home EEVAC-1.

Heliophysics

Crew astronomers Loy and Pena observed detailed heliophysics phenomena and collected more bulk data sets on solar dark spots and solar chromosphere prominences. Large prominences were observed wrapping around solar magnetic fields, just before solar flares were registered by NOAA blasting away from a solar vortex. Eight large solar prominences and nine solar dark spots were observed today, which will be very useful for the astronomer’s analysis of solar cycle 25. On top of these observations, 60,000 images were captured, and 10,000 solar spots and prominences were stacked, measured, and analyzed.

Astronomy

59 separate 45-second long exposure images were collected from the MLCRCOS-16 New Mexico Observatory. These images are being separately captured through visual, infrared, and blue filters, assisting Astronomers Pena and Loy’s science on HADS variable star research. 59 B filter images were stacked, analyzed, and compared to previous images of this star system, HADS Variable Star V0799 AUR, to provide an assessment of this variable star’s brightness variability period and cycle, as well as provide a true-brightness standard to accurately measure distances in the immediate vicinity of HADS V0799 AUR’s stellar neighborhood.