Commander Report
03/20/2013
Alejandro Diaz
Today we had another very productive day. We have a very good routine
set up and every crewmember
knows their tasks very well. Today we woke up to the delicious smell
of bacon and eggs, we had
breakfast and we were off to planning for our first EVA. We had to
complete the last of our two-
large-wheel configurations in three different terrains. This last
reconfiguration set up (i.e. two
parallel wheels) took a couple of hours. We then took off to our
farthest waypoint for the rough
terrain trials. Everything was going well, but then we had a set back;
one of the connections to the
right wheel became loose and the wheel became inoperative. We finished
this EVA test, but it was
obvious that we had to fix this issue. However, so that we wouldn’t
have to go all the way back to
the habitat, I asked the crew to go off simulation and fix the issue
on site. The crewmembers re-
secured all the connections and moved the wheels closer to the center
of the stretcher to evenly
distribute the carrying loads for the EFRT members at the front and
back of the stretcher. After
these reconfigurations were complete, we went back on simulation and
proceeded to successfully test
this updated configuration in the various terrains (i.e. rough,
medium, and flat). We then went back
to the habitat to have lunch and prepare for our afternoon EVA. The
stretcher was reconfigured to
incorporate four small wheels, and then we were off again to our
second waypoint. This EVA entailed
the ATV pulling the simulated injured crewmember up a 30 degree slope
a distance of 40 feet; this
test was a success. Lastly, we attached the stretcher to the back of
the ATV with some rope and
towed it back to the habitat; this test was also a success. Because of
our time-consuming EVAs, we
didn’t get back to the habitat until close to 7pm, started writing our
reports, and will have dinner
closer to 9pm. Once we have dinner, we’ll get ready for our daily
workout session, which will
probably begin at around 10pm. Another busy day here at MDRS, but we
can’t complain. We are
appreciative of the opportunity to be doing this type of research at
this Mars analog.
Alejandro Diaz
_______________________
CommanderCheckIn Report
03/20/2013
Humberto De Las Casas
Crew Physical Health:
All are well.
Eva Depart Time:
12:30
Eva Return Time:
3:20
Narrative Of Field Mission Results:
We performed the two wheels in parallel configuration concept in the
three different kind of terrain. In the first which was the most
difficult, we had a little problem with one of the wheels; however we
made the necessaries modifications to fix it (we brought tools). After
that, we succeed to test the stretcher in the others kind of terrains.
Eva Depart Time:
4:40
Eva Return Time:
7:10
Narrative Of Field Mission Results:
We performed the small wheel stretcher configuration up slope at the
afternoon, we used one ATV to tow in it. First we made the test
without people on the stretcher. Therefore we saw that works so we
decided to test it with a crewmember. The testing was succeed.
Eva Depart Time:
Eva Return Time:
Narrative Of Field Mission Results:
Eva Depart Time:
Eva Return Time:
Narrative Of Field Mission Results:
Eva Depart Time:
Eva Return Time:
Narrative Of Field Mission Results:
Hab Maint:
Cleaned, vacuumed and ordered the Hab.
Rep Sched:
None
Tomorrow Plan:
We will determinate the average walking distance for MDRS.
We will have an interview with NY Film Group.
We will have the emergency EVA descent using a ladder.
Inventory:
We did not do it today.
Support Req:
None
Miscelleneous:
Today has been our most productive day in this two week. It was great
with a lot of good ideas and a lot of energy in the work.
We got good result performing the two wheels in parallel configuration
concept in the three different kind of terrain and the small wheel
stretcher configuration up slope.
We spent good time together learning from each other.
Everybody is Ok. We are planning to exercise to keep us fit and then
to watch a movie.
Humberto De las Casas Zolezzi