Walden5

We’ve been focusing on engineering tasks in and around the “Hab” the past two days in preparation for going into “Sim”. A number of systems were down or in need of attention when our crew arrived. In order to have a good simulation we decided to try and fix as many of these before going into Sim in order to have the most convincing experience possible.

The Hab is a 2-story cylindrical structure that houses our living quarters and lab spaces. We access the outside environment via 2 airlocks. One leads directly out into the landscape and is used for EVA [extra vehicular activity] missions. The other is the engineering airlock and connects with simulated pressurized tunnels which lead to the power generator, observatory and GreenHab. EVA missions require a space suit simulator. The GreenHab is a combination of greenhouse and waster water management system. More on this in a future post.

Going into Sim means that we will pretend to be on Mars and that we will explore it geologically, biologically, etc. We will not leave the Hab without a space suit simulator. Everyday we prepare a number of reports and converse with Mission Support over email about the status of our research and various Hab life support systems.

Luis hauling water

We plan to go into Sim at some point tomorrow. Today we continued work on various water related systems. Flow of potable water into the Hab is still frozen. We’re trying to rectify this as the alternative means hauling 45 gallons of water manually. We’re also working to get the GreenHab system back online. The GreenHab processes and recycles our grey water (sink and shower water) through a series of filtration systems, tanks and plant life so that it can be reused in the Hab.

Graham photographing the moon

#

It was a full moon tonight and we spent some time after dinner in the observatory. The full moon made the sky very bright and it made for less than ideal conditions for astronomy. However we still got nice views of Mars, Saturn, the Moon and Orion’s Nebula.

Afterwards we celebrated Luis’ b-day with Betty Crocker cupcakes!!

Mike holding the moon