The crew awoke at 0800CST beginning their day with daily surveys, coffee, and breathing meditation. The EVA was pushed to the afternoon due to the timeframe the suit was returned to the habitat.
Daily Objectives:
Water Electrolysis
Electrolysis was conducted with graphite conductors and platinum electrodes in a 2000mL flask and a 500mL flask, respectively. With a 27V current and 2.6 amps, Electrolysis operations of 45 minutes on the 2000mL flask yielded a Hydrogen gas result of 1340mL, and an Oxygen gas result of 650mL. These gases were safely stored in glass test tubes. About 5mL (7g) of leftover tap water minerals were observed and safely discarded.
Electrolysis conducted in the 500mL flask yielded an H1 result of 328mL, and O1 result of 172mL. This electrolyzer ran for 45 minutes on 25-volts and 2.6 amps, with 20ml of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) mixed into the solution.
Mission Specialist Loy ours NaOH solution into an Electrolyzer.
EVA Operations
Mission Specialist Ball and Mission Specialist Loy’s completed the 3rd EVA for the mission. Mission Specialist Loy completed his first EVA with the mobility harness while Mission Specialist Ball completed the EVA with the trekking poles. This was the second iteration of a four-part series of EVA walks for the mobility efficiency study.
Mission Specialist Loy adjusts the mobility harness.
Stress Mitigation Study
Focused breathing is still being conducted throughout the mission. The crew completed another series of focused-breathing in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Data is still being collected and an analyzed for indications of both instant and long-term reductions in stress as measured by the Garminã Vivosmart 4.
Humanure Plant Study
A soil sample test was conducted for one soil mixture ratio, results were as expected. The pH levels yielded a “Slight Acid” level. The Potassium and Nitrogen levels are considered “Medium”, while the Phosphorus level was “Low”. The remaining soil mixture ratio tests will be conducted over the remaining length of the mission. Since the light intensity level was decreased the water level consumption across all plants was decreased, as expected. Additionally, the amount of water consumption across the different ratio mixtures is beginning to correlate with the amount of regolith in the mixture.
Soil test results
Other experiments, plants, and exercise
The crew is participating in a Simon Fraser University study partnered with the Canadian Space Agency, known as Cardiobreath. Today, Commander Lojek, Mission Specialist Loy, and Mission Specialist Ball completed the first iteration of the Cardiobreath study. The crew also completed all additional UND plant experiments and measurements.