A Happy Sunday morning from planet Mars! The Crew enjoyed a one-hour extra morning siesta. The ARG-5i Crew remain flexible after numerous weather days and suit malfunctions. They are resolute to perform their best on the last full day of the mission. The Crew awoke to another chilly morning; temps The Martian environment maintains status quo with the Crew waking to a chilly 34oF morning. CO Turner started the coffee and conducted her morning tasks. MS Gonzalez treated everyone to pancakes and eggs-yum! MS Cecil and MS DeJan completed their surveys and enjoyed the delicious treat MS Gonzalez provided. The Crew broke off for some personal time. Came back together for the afternoon Rover EVA. Dispersed for afternoon tasks. Returned for dinner and some card games. Then they hit the hay.
The Crew sorely acknowledged that today is Sunday leaving only two more days before the ARG-5i Crew egress. They recognize the importance of participating in the Mars Simulation and is proud of their work and the memorable experiences gained.
The Crew enjoyed an afternoon Rover EVA. The Martian weather provided bright and clear visibility to execute required tasks. The IVA Crew championed by MS Cecil and CO Turner enjoyed creating a fun and challenging EVA course. The EVA Crew found the course exciting and enjoyed the test.
MS Gonzalez prepared an excellent breakfast for the Crew. Note the solution to the lack of functional frying pan!
MS Cecil (shape of the Starship) and CO Turner (standard shape) completed their crochet wash rag project, then CO Turner felt nostalgic and made the crew laugh with her amusing gameplay.
MS Gonzalez keeping up with his reps.
MS Cecil escaping to her off-world Sims.
MS DeJan thrilled with his lunch choice-yum!
Rover EVA
At 1530 CDT, MS Gonzalez and MS DeJan conducted an afternoon Rover excursion to tree line. The rover was driven by MS DeJan and MS Gonzalez manned the systems. Comms checks and checklist were uneventful. After a quick drive of the perimeter to ensure all systems were nominal, the IVA crew continued to coordinate with the EVA crew. The pilot was focused on avoiding trees, holes, and sloping terrain, and the copilot had to verbally navigate the Rover around.
CO Turner monitored the mission and MS DeJan managed the systems. Comms checks uneventful. CO Turner enjoyed creating obstacles for the EVA crew to navigate executing their targets. The EVA Crew enjoyed the Rover and completing the course created by the IVA Crew. The Crew were able to undock and redock successfully.
MS Cecil relayed MPU5 comms while CO Turner monitored and created the ATAK course.
MS Gonzalez tests the pH balance of the hydroponic system in the plant production module.
MS Gonzalez organizing some thoughts.
Hamama
The microgreens are growing well. Interestingly, you can visually see the left mix of microgreens is taller and thinner than the right mix of microgreens which appear denser and shorter.
Martian Soil
MS Cecil noted that the plants in her M1 bin have started to heavily wilt, making their home in the soil which they came. It has been interesting watching the plants grow and shift through phases. It is clear that plants do not like something in the Martian regolith, they refuse to touch in with their roots. One plant went as far as to push its way out of the top soil root and all. MS Cecil noted from prior trials that if you have enough soil and thick barrels you can get plants to grow. MS Cecil has yet to find a way to get them to grow into the regolith, however this is just the baseline! She has a lot more to test before so yields to the red planet. Never give up never give in! We will win against the red planet in the end!
Measuring EVA Performance
MS Gonzalez only collected baseline data today regarding sleep and PVT performance. No significant differences to report. Hopefully Blueberry is repaired by the expert AI so that tomorrow can produce EVA data.
Mutually Sustained Systems for Space Flight
Experiment terminated. No measurable O2 content produced. Ever. The only events duplicated were, 1) contained plants will produce over 5000PPM of CO2 when sealed for 10 plus hours, in light or dark. Temperature stable at 23C. 2) When an infusion of CO2 is placed into the tank (From static 400-550 PPM, to 2300 PPM infused) the Hosta plants will scavenge up to 1000PPM almost immediately, but then release it and any additionally manufactured CO2 for the next several hours. Temperature (colder than ambient) will retard the CO2 emissions but the plant(s) will produce the same quantity over a longer time span. Hostas are dominant and will seek to kill a perceived invasive species within hours, by off gassing CO2. The tomato plant survived with minimal care for 15 days, as soon as it was placed into the Hosta container it was distressed and died within 10 days, even though it received preferential treatment. Full data will be included in a separate report.
MS DeJan monitoring the progress of his CO2 plant project.
Green Study
CO Turner loves how well the Earth and Lunar test groups are growing during this mission. ARG-4i had many stressors affecting the rate of growth, but ARG-5i has proven more fruitful. There is no growth in the Martian regolith.
Lunar Regolith Test Group under violet light spectrum.
