MARS DESERT RESEARCH STATION

MDRS is a project of:

EVA Report – March 30th

EVA Report:
EVA # 7
Crew members:  Caleb Li, Esteban Ramirez, Pitchayapa Jingjit, Becky Parker
Location:
12 N 519235 4251489
Time: departure at 10:00 am. Estimated return at 12:00 am
Duration: 2 hours approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover
Purposes:
Geology EVA.  Teach students about sedimentary rocks, deposition, lithification, and examination of the regolith.  This is the second half of EVA #4 that was shortened due to the NPR reporter visit.
Goal: Complete the Geology EVA.
Summary:
The location for this EVA was chosen in order to study different kinds of geologic structures and the methods by which they were created. The pattern of lithification in the sedimentary rock field was unique and interesting to the crew. Former evidence of a vigorous fluvial environment was observed at the second location. Determination of width and height were performed during the EVA.
Otsmar Villarroel
Crew 177 Commander

Journalist Report – March 30th

Journalist Report by Victoria LaBarre
March 30th/2017
This morning our crew was ecstatic to discover that Shannon had gone ahead and brought a Port-a-Potty for us to use the pipes underneath the Hab had been completely disconnected by a previous crew, rendering our sewage system completely useless. (We have worked out a system of discarding waste in bags and dumping them outside in the trash cans by the engineering airlock before Shannon brought us the Port-a-Potty. Exaggeration or not, there has never been a group of people so excited to receive a Port-a-Potty in the history of all mankind.
Soon after the crew broke in the Port-a-Potty, the first half of the crew went out for our first EVA. This EVA is the second half of the Geology EVA that had been cut short due to the NPR journalist’s presence and will also give our geologist a second chance to measure the height of the Little Canyon.
The two crew members working on the robot took the gearboxes off the wheels and adjusted the robot to prepare for our afternoon EVA where our crew will test the strength and dexterity of the robotic arm by picking up different sized rocks out near Cow Patty field. The robot was only able to pick up one rock due to damage from riding in the back or the rover and will need to be fixed before testing it again. The rock picked up by the robotic arm was taken back to the Hab to be weighed in the lab afterward.
The half of the crew out on EVA was excited to return to a working clock in the airlock. Our geologist/health and safety officer’s, Caleb Li, project to make a fully functioning clock was successful, and he installed the clock on the side of the front door airlock for the EVA crew members to use.
While one-half of the crew was out on EVA, our microbiologist began and finished the gram stain process for the bacterial samples taken previously and attempted to use the microscope.
After returning to the Hab, the crew gathered around our greenhouse officer’s bike generator project and watched as one of our crew members rode it so fast that he reached the 50 calories burned mark in 3 minutes.
After dinner, the crew spent a few hours helping coming up with a marketing plan to promote MDRS at our community college, McLennan Community College.

Commander Report – March 30th

Sol 5/March 30th, 2017
Crew Commander Report by Otsmar Villarroel, Crew 177 Commander
Although today was not as beautiful as previous days with a beautiful blue sky and calm wind, it was a great day for the crew’s mission here on the red planet. After breakfast, a group consisting of Parker, Li, Espinoza, and Jingjit left the Hab to conduct some geology experiments.
The main goal of this EVA was to study the terrain from a geological point of view and thus collect some geology data of interest.  The location for this EVA was chosen in order to study different kinds of geologic structures and the methods by which they were created. The pattern of lithification in the sedimentary rock field was unique and interesting to the crew.
Former evidence of a vigorous fluvial environment was observed at the second location. Determination of width and height were performed during the EVA. After collection of the data, the Geology EVA group returned to the Hab.
After enjoying lunch, at about 2:30 pm, Martian time, Crew members LaBarre and Espinoza, had the opportunity of testing her Emergency Medical Service Rover (EMRS) outside the Hab. The EMSR is a robot designed and programmed to retrieve an injured astronaut out on an EVA at Mars and bring him or her back to the Hab for medical assistance. During the test LaBarre and Espinoza detected some operational/mechanical issues.  However, they plans correcting them and a new test, pending approval, will be performed tomorrow.
Engineer, Espinoza, completed their daily routine without anomalies to be reported.  Greenhab officer, Ramirez, worked on taking care of plants as well as on his individual project, the bike generator.  He is planning to collect final results tomorrow to be analyzed back in Waco, Texas.  Our microbiologist, Jingjit, began and finished the gram stain process for the bacterial samples taken previously and attempted to use the microscope. Crew member, Li, spent part of the afternoon working on his clock.
After dinner, crew spent the crew spent a few hours helping coming up with a marketing plan to promote MDRS at our community college, McLennan Community College.  Tomorrow, pending approval, an EVA is planned. The purpose of this EVA is the collection of soil samples surrounding the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) to bring back to McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas in order to find bacteria producing antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance crisis.
Last night, our crew astronomer, Becky Parker, used the telescope, with the main goal of completing a two-star alignment as well as a four- star calibration procedure. Unfortunately, while she was able to have the telescope working properly, she could not get the telescope to focus as expected.  We are planning to contact Mission Support looking for recommendations.

Astronomy Report – March 30th

Crew 177 Astronomer Report 30Mar2017
Astronomer Report
On Sol 1 & 2 the sky was too cloudy to attempt to use the telescope.  On Sol 3, we enjoyed the night sky with the naked eye.  On Sol 4 we went to the Musk Observatory and followed the quick guide procedures.
We were able to view and focus on Jupiter, but were unable to focus on Polaris or Beetle Juice.  Because we were unable to complete the alignment procedure we discontinued use of the telescope.
Becky Parker
Crew 177 Astronomer

Sol Summary – March 29th

Crew 177 Sol 4 Summary 29Mar2017
Person filling out Report:
Pitchayapa Jingjit—a biologist and a photographer for Crew 177
Summary Title:
Sol 4 at Mars
Mission Status:
Everyone is doing great and is hopeful about the toilet situation
SOL Activity Summary:
Improving individual/group research project and continuing the chemistry EVA. Depending on tonight’s sky, astronomy EVA may be conducted.
Look ahead Plan:
Continuing the geology EVA at the Little Canyon and depending on tonight’s sky, the astronomy EVA may be performed, and progressing through with individual/group projects.
Anomalies in Progress:
N/A
Weather:
The weather is sunny in the morning and afternoon. We are expecting a clear sky tonight.
Crew Physical Status:
Everyone is better adjusted at Mars and is happy that the plumber came to the HAB.

 

EVA Report – March 29th

EVA Report:  EVA #6
Crew members: Elijah Espinoza, Caleb Li, Esteban Espinoza, Becky Parker
Location: 12 N 520446 4251115 (Candor Chasma)
Time: departure at 9:00 am. Estimated return at 11:30 am
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover
Purposes:
Chemistry EVA.  Students will be visiting the location known as Candor Chasma with the goal of collecting samples as well collect water sample.  All samples will be analyzed in the Science Lab paying close attention to the chemical composition and Teach students about using the Geiger counter to identify background radiation.  Also have students collect a water sample for analysis back at the hab.
Goal: Complete the Chemistry EVA.
Summary:
Unable to use the Geiger counter due undetermined technical issues. No water was found. For fauna, we observed birds, and found what appeared to be several nests, probably by a small mammal. Flora observed were flowers, grass, trees, cacti and brush. There were also many varieties of gypsum.  Some rock samples were brought back to the Hab for future chemical composition analysis.
Otsmar Villarroel
Crew 177 Commander

Commander Report – March 29th

Commander Report
Sol 5
March 29,2017
Otsmar Villarroel, Crew 177 Commander
Although today’s temperature was slightly higher than previous days, the day here on Mars has been beautiful with a spectacular blue sky.
All six crewmembers were up by 0700 local time as requested by the crew Commander the night before.  The crew enjoyed together scrambled eggs with sausage and biscuits for breakfast.  A few minutes after breakfast, a group consisting of Espinoza, Espinoza, Li, and Parker was sent out to Candor Chasma for a second attempt of looking for the presence of water.
 While during this effort, as the first one few days ago, the presence of water was not detected, the crew found the presence of moisture in some areas by Candor Chasma.  It was noticed after digging into the sand in the bottom of the chasma. Also, the presence of moisture was observed underneath some rocks.  Results are promising and further research regarding this topic has to be done.
After 2 hours 30 minutes, approximately, by noon (Martian time) the expediters returned to the Hab.  All eight crewmembers enjoyed lunch together.  Lunch was prepared crew members Quaas and Jingjit.
Part of the afternoon was used by the crew members to work on their independent projects.  Crew members have found some difficulties with their projects and they are making plans to solve them as soon as possible before rotation is over.  Also, crew member Jingjit continued working on her microbiology experiments.
As usual, dinner time was used to spend time together and discuss tomorrow’s plans.  Today it is crew member LaBarre’s birthday and we celebrated it with a birthday cake. The crew is planning to complete the geology EVA, pending approval. This would be the second half of EVA #4 that was shortened due to NPR reporter.

Journalist Report – March 29th

Crew 177 Journalist Report 29Mar2017
Victoria LaBarre, XO/Chemist
This morning the crew woke up a little later than expected because we all stayed up late looking at the stars. The view was spectacular, and the crew was thrilled to see different constellations so clearly, such as the little dipper, Ursa Major, Leo and Lynx. Tonight, our astronomers plan to re-calibrate the telescope so that we can see Jupiter.
Today we only sent out four crew members on a single EVA to Little Canyon to study geological features and collect dirt samples to test in the lab later.  Measuring the canyon proved difficult with the measuring tape since it was too short, so our geologist plans to return to the canyon on a later EVA with a rope that he can mark out on EVA and measure back at the Hab.
After lunch, our crew regrouped and assessed our projects and how to fix the ones that were not working. After this meeting, crew members went downstairs and worked on their projects, reaping positive results. Our microbiologist went around the lab swabbing random objects to grow bacteria on an auger, our greenhouse keeper got his bike generator working again and was able to run two tests, and the two crew members working on the robot soldered together a USB to USB cord made from two cut up charger cords and were able to send gain a connection between the robot’s brain and controller. The robot now can move its axels and arm, although it cannot move the heavy wheels.
The two crew members hypothesize that the 9 volt batteries do not feed enough power to the gearboxes to move the gears, chain, sprockets and wheel altogether. On a positive note, the arm of the robot is fully functional and these two crewmates plan to go on an EVA later to test the strength and dexterity of the robot’s arm.
Dinner was also very eventful as it was the OX/Journalist’s twenty-first birthday. The crew made a birthday cake with candles on top and all signed a birthday card with well wishes. Later, the crew broke out the glow sticks and looked at the stars again.
Unfortunately, the astronomers could not get the telescope to focus, so the distinguishing marks of Jupiter couldn’t be seen. However, glow sticks, a cup of hot cocoa and lots of laughs as we all looks up at the stars more than made up for the telescope.

Chemistry EVA – March 29th

Crew 177 Chemistry EVA 29Mar2017
Hello,
Today, we analyzed the samples taken from Candor Canyon. After taking two 2 gram samples from each main rock sample, we used Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) to test for the presence of carbonate in the rock samples.
Separately, we used Nitric Acid (HNO3) and Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) in order to test for the presence of halides in the rock samples. The results showed positive results by showing that both carbonates and halides were present in the rock samples.
The positive carbonate (CO3-2) results are significant because it shows the presence of a potential atmosphere-building gas in Martian rock. In addition, the halide tests were significant because halides can be refined and used for a thermal-based fuel. The presence of halides in Martian rock shows that there is a potential energy source on Mars should solar and nuclear power methods fail.
Thank you,
Joseph Quaas (crew chief, crew chemist)