To end the previous night (MD3) the crew initiated some hab improvement by installing a new air conditioner in the core module. Cooler air is always a welcome addition!
Mission Day 4:
The crew experienced a mechanical issue this morning while prepping for their EVA. Mission Specialist Malnack was able to don the suit and detach from the dock, but unfortunately after donning the suit Mission Specialist Turner was unable to detach from the dock. The EVA had to be scrubbed, unfortunately. However, the crew was able to turn things around and Malnack and Turner completed their Cardio Breath tests. This is an exciting study for our ARG-4i crew to participate in as their data will also be compared to the astronauts completing this study aboard the ISS.
Malnack’s MRE study continues having consumed 12,650 calories in the past 11 days and is starting to feel the fatigue. 23 meals to go! Malnack also spent time analyzing temperature and humidity in the hab for his wear and tear study.
Turner continues to see the growth of the Arugula micro-greens in the Lunar regolith, along with seedlings and saplings in both the Earth and Lunar soils. She continues to hold out hope for the Mars regolith.
The crew and mission control are now operating on a 20-minute communications time delay to represent being on Mars. Instantaneous connection is certainly missed, but communications continue to run smoothly. The crew enjoys receiving memes and space news each day for a connection to the outside world.
The Human Factors study continues with collecting data for emotional, psychological, and physiological studies. The crew is enjoying participating in the Garmin sleep study and comparing the hours and quality of sleep they had.
ARG-4i Crew:
Crew Commander - Dennis Miller
Mission Specialist - Olivia Turner
Mission Specialist - Beau Malnack