2022-2023 Field Season (#22)

Summary Title: Sunday’s Trinity

Author’s name: Connie Delisle, Commander
Mission Status: Nominal
Sol Activity Summary: Along with transfer for personnel this morning came the transfer of Command of MDRS Station from Commander Shawna to Commander Connie; and at MAU, from Commander John to Commander Shawna. This first-ever MAU-MDRS Station-to-Station Mission purposefully includes command transfers to test differences between governance (leadership models). Several of the MDRS Crew will have coordinated three “departures” by the end of this day: Several Crew were quarantined; a joint MAU-MDRS EVA was done to the MAU Station using the Rovers (Spirit and Curiosity); and a return of the MAU Crew to its Station. We are finding synergy in “threes”. The morning activities at MRDS Station included medical training for non-medical professionals. The informative, hands on training session was co-presented by Dr. Johannes Svenszoy and MD Dr. Shawna Pandya, MD. The first training block covered the procedure for applying the METHANE procedure:[Major Incident, Exact Location, Type of incident, Hazards involved, Access to Site Number of Causalities, and Emergency Services Needed]. This session was followed by Dr’s Pandya and Svensoy reviewing the procedure for conducting P-MARCH-P [Patient, Personnel, Permission, Personal Protective Gear; Massive Hemorrhage and C-Spine; Airway; Respirations; Circulation and Head/Hypothermia. After lunch the Doctors resumed the training session, reviewing CPR and bagging (resuscitation) procedures inclusive of hands on practice using the technique.

Team lead Commander Shawna managed gracefully through some communications technology issues at the start of the afternoon EVA to the MAU station. Keeping safety first, the Crew successfully completed the EVA, capturing photos and returned to MDRS at 17:45. Dr. Pandya then completed the EVA wellness study which entails collecting biometrics data.

Look Ahead Plan: Tomorrow’s morning and afternoon Medical EVAs will consist of testing an innovation entitled the “Golden Bubble”. The Bubble is a prototype of a first-of-its kind pressured Medivac transport System.
Anomalies in work: NA
Weather: -3C low / 3C max, 0C average, 40% chance of precipitation tomorrow
Crew Physical Status: Excellent mental focus, with positive feedback about the high quality medical training sessions.
EVA: 1 AM MDRS – MAU joint EVA performed today as above

Reports to be filed:
Commander Report
Sol Summary
Photo Report
Operations Report
GreenHab Report
EVA Report
EVA Request
Support Requested: None Required

Shawna
Commander
Crew 220, MAU

Sol 7 Commander’s Report

Author: Shawna Pandya, Commander

Title: Fly Me to the MAU…

A new sol, a new station. In the morning XO Svensoy and I ran some further medical training and drills with the MAU-MDRS crew, including the METHANE protocol for calling in a major incident, redrilling P-MARCH-P for a primary trauma survey, and going over CPR techniques. We were so impressed with the crew’s ability to learn take on complex concepts in a short amount of time.

In ongoing project news, I have been able to get the sensors back online for one of our biometric study, which was a HUGE win after trying to do so for the past few days.

Later on, XO Svensoy and I packed up and moved out for MAU station, with Officer Kainu briefing us as to the station operations. We are delighted with the station and look forward to building a culture and program that is associated with the MAU crew. As a good portent, XO Svensoy has put up some stars up on the station, so I can indeed say that the constellations are different at MAU station.

Looking forward to the spls ahead…

Commander Pandya
MAU Station

MDRS Commander Report 25JAN2020

Sol 6

Author: Shawna Pandya, Commander

Title: A solset on MDRS, a solrise on MAU

Today was a different day – the MDRS and MAU crew rendezvoused at MAU station to focus on crew training, learning and growth. In the morning, the crews worked on personal growth exercises based on the book "The New Right Stuff" and went through the questions in the book. Next, after a team lunch, the medically trained personnel of the team took the rest of the crew through a medical simulation, followed by principles of medical triage in a trauma scenario, and practicing these drills. Next, one of the crew members demonstrated the use of their "Golden Bubble" device, designed to transport injured astronauts in a trauma scenario. The rest of the evening passed by with body-mapping artistic activities, training on a VR device, being briefed on communications in the field and a "Grand Rounds" academic presentation.

Every day on Mars brings its challenges, but plants do not blossom without rain. For this crew’s personal growth, life on Mars -is- the rain.

On a personal note, tomorrow myself and the XO move out to take command of MAU station. We are impressed with what the current crew has achieved, and knowing XO Svensoy and working with him as well as I do, we very much look forward to conducting MAU Operations as a team.

Till the Next Sol,

Commander Pandya

MDRS MAU Commander Report 25JAN2020

Sol 6

Title: Learning Medical Trauma Response and Demo New Invention

Author: Commander John Hanacek

Today was the start of crew medical training, learning protocol for first response trauma medicine. We drilled with a scenario of a crew member who hurt their leg. I found my training as a CA state parks beach lifeguard coming back to me, yet I was a little rusty! We are privileged here to have two three medical doctors, two who are experts in trauma medicine, one who works in hospital and one with deep field experience, and an ex special forces soldier to assist in training. I have been looking forward to this mission to grow my skills under the supervision of these professionals in this austere, isolated environment. Many members of the crew have no formal medical training and so this is a fascinating opportunity to test training of life-saving skills. If we are to thrive on Mars, we are required to have intimate knowledge of field medical skills. Plus, one crew member has brought in an invention, “The Golden Bubble,” a pressurized field medical system that is meant to enable the successful stabilization and transport of injured astronauts even if their pressure suits are compromised. We will be testing our skills and this unique technology on future medical EVAs. We are all looking forward to such a unique opportunity.

Tomorrow the MDRS and MAU crews will switch places. This is the next stage of the unique ‘station to station’ experiment going on here and will represent a fresh opportunity to see a new side of the Martian terrain and a new experience for all of us.