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AARG-5I Training Day and Crew Bios

Updated: Sep 26, 2023


Day 0

Today was the ARG-5i crew’s first day of training and preparation for the big day tomorrow. Starting with a tour around the University of North Dakota’s campus they received hands on familiarization with the facility and assets as well as getting to interact with some developmental projects. Afterwards, crew members established their CardioBreath baseline for the data that would be collected during the mission. This data will be analyzed and compared to ISS astronaut data in the future. Next they then proceeded to move their gear into the Inflatable Lunar/Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH) where they will be performing their move-in checklists and then spending the night.




CREW


Mission Commander Olivia Turner:

Olivia Turner is the Co-Owner of Josh Turner Farms and Turner Heavy Haul. She is a Jill of many trades. She is a proud first-generation college student. Though it took many pangs and more time than preferred, while working full-time and several part-time jobs, Olivia achieved her goals and holds an associate in science from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications from the University of Kentucky and is a Master of Management-Student with the American Public University System. When she is not seeking higher education, you will find her actively supporting one of her many passions for life; hosting a weekly local crochet and knit Meetup group, volunteering with CASA, cooking or baking intuitive recipes, working in either the flower or vegetable gardens, strength training at the gym, on the courts playing tennis, basketball or volleyball, or hitting the trails cycling, running, walking, or hiking. Olivia thoroughly enjoys being active and outdoors. Working in the dirt is where Olivia grounds her adventurous energy and is the catalyst that sprouted her research idea for growing microgreens in Earth soil, Lunar and Mars regolith. She was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, enjoys traveling worldwide, and is a proud Kentucky girl. Olivia is immensely overjoyed and thankful to participate in her second analog Inflatable Lunar Mars Analog Habitat mission and is truly honored to lead the second mission as Commander.



Mission Specialist Kailyn Cecil:

Kailyn is an undergraduate student working Central Texas Community College. Her goal is to work toward her master's and Doctorate at Texas A&M University to help get into the space industry. The goal of her research is to help revitalize the Martian environment and further exploration outside of our planet. For this mission, she will be focusing on creating soil that will help make Martian regolith favorable for life once again. This will be done by combining her soil with Martian regolith and observing how life (basil seeds) grows within the mission green hab. Her future goal is to help colonize Mars and contribute to terraforming the planet for human expansion. Some of her interests are blackhole mechanics, and explanation vehicle design, one-day creation. She enjoys herpetology, herbology, the arts, reading, and working with her chihuahuas. She begins creating active bio enclosures to match her reptile’s natural environments, developments, and dietary needs. This endeavor gave her the starting point to create her project for the ARG-5i mission.



Mission Specialist Luis Gonzalez:

Luis Gonzalez is a Mission Specialist in an upcoming Mars analog habitat mission. He has an educational background at the United States Air Force Academy, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. His research interests are in the fields of human systems integration and crew resource management. He is currently serving in the United States Air Force as an instructor pilot, accumulating over 1,500 hours in 8 different aircraft while conducting operations worldwide. He is also an FAA commercial pilot with single and multi-engine instrument ratings, and a seaplane rating. After completing his Master of Science in Space Studies at American Military University, he plans to eventually connect his passion for space exploration with his aviation skills. Beyond his professional achievements, Luis enjoys sailing races, cooking, and spending time with his dog.



Mission Specialist Tom DeJan:


Tom possesses a rich career in aviation encompassing both military and civilian sectors. With over two decades of military service, he contributed to various missions, including his involvement in Cold War operations and combat deployments in regions like Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. During his tenure with the Air Force Special Operations Command, he received significant honors and awards for his service. In the civilian sphere, Thomas founded Fixed Wings Aero Service Inc. in 1985, focusing on specialized aviation projects, including collaborations with the US Navy's MZ-3 Blimp program, earning recognition and awards for his work. Additionally, he served as a Professional Flight Engineer for prominent aviation companies. Holding an AAS Degree in Aviation Operations, Thomas is currently pursuing a degree in AMU's Space Studies Program, specializing in Aerospace Science, and eagerly looks forward to conducting experiments on the ARG-5i mission.



Look forward to how the crew fared on their first day tomorrow evening!



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