Crew 99 Log Book for February 9, 2011 Photos of the dayCommander's Check-In ReportDonna Viola Reporting Crew Physical Status: Good Time Departed/Returned from EVA: EVA #20, 11:00-11:45; EVA #21, 12:15-12:45; EVA #22, 14:30-16:30 Brief Narrative of Field Mission Results: EVA planner; endolith sample collection; geological data collection EVA Data/Interpretations: As per EVA reports Engineering/Hab Maintenance: Nothing major to report. Report Transmission Schedule: Engineering, EVA #20, EVA #21, EVA #22, Commander's, Cook's, Journalist's. By 8:30pm Plans for Tomorrow: More science EVAs! Also, launching tethered balloon tomorrow evening Inventory: None Support Requested: None Miscellaneous: N/a Commander's ReportDonna Viola, Crew 99, Commander Today, as our rotation draws ever nearer to a close, we had another busy day of EVAs. Andie wrapped up the field tests of her EVA planner in the morning, first heading out with Kevin, then later with Sukrit, as they recalculated their route after coming across a contingency - a giant boulder that blocked their path! In the afternoon, Heidi and I went out to collect endolith samples and collect data for a geology project - all while exploring a really awesome canyon! Max spent most of the day working on plans for his balloon launch. The winds just won't cooperate, so he is planning on sending up a tethered balloon tomorrow evening. Tonight is looking like another clear evening, so the astronomers are planning on heading out into the cold to spend some time in the observatory. The rest of the team wishes them good luck and clear skies - from the warmth of the Hab! Engineering ReportKevin Newman Reporting Generator/Electricity:
1 generator run, all is good
1. Notes/Comments: N/a Astronomy ReportSukrit Ranjan Reporting We had a productive evening at the observatory last night. Drift rate measurements On Tuesday night, Max had realigned the telescope by pointing the telescope spin axis in the direction of true north as measured by asterisms in the vicinity of Polaris. Tonight we tested that alignment. On 2/4/11 we fed 2 alignment stars and 4 calibration stars into the telescope to achieve a drift rate of .35 arcsec/second at M45. Tobay we were able to put 2 alignment stars and 2 calibration stars into the telescope before it went mad Greek (see below section "Observatory of Babel"). We achieved drift rates of .11 arcsec/second when imaging near Regulus, and drift rates of .21 arcsec/second near M45. It should be noted that the image of M45 displays tracks with a slight shift in the middle of the track, suggesting the telescope was perturbed during observations. We estimate the drift rates have decreased by a factor of 2-3 due to our alignment, but further work is necessary. Peter Detterline has suggested a procedure that we will be trying. Webcam Functionality We successfully connected the webcam to the telescope and imaged Saturn. A useful note for future astronomers: it appears that to focus the webcam, you need to go in the "out" direction from visual focus. We will work on post-processing tomorrow. One minor glitch: We were able to change the settings on the webcam to achieve better image quality (mostly by increasing the FPS). After changing the settings, we hit "OK", or "Save" and then "OK". However, when we then hit "Video" to start recording, the device would revert to it's original settings. We'd go back to change the settings and find them back at their starting values. We are unsure what we are doing wrong. Observatory of Babel We continued to experience the problem of the hand controller mysteriously switching to Greek characters (at some points it almost seemed like it had some other kind of character, maybe Chinese?)
The observatory sliding roof cover popped out when pulling it open at the beginning of last night. One of the wheel pairs was no longer locked onto the track.The fix adopted was to remove the rubber stop at the base, move the cover down the tracks, pop it back on, slide it up, and reinstall the rubber stop. This seems to have worked. EVA 20 and 21 ReportAndie Gilkey Reporting Time: 11:30-12; 12:30-1 Crew Members: EVA 20: Andie Gilkey, Kevin Newman EVA 21: Andie Gilkey, Sukrit Ranjan Site Location: Thielges Flats, UTM 518500 4251100 Transit Mode: foot Objectives: Use EVA mission planner to plan mission and contingency while in the field Results: Mission planner was successfully used to find the site and re-plan in the field Lessons Learned: It is difficult to see the iPad screen in the bright sunlight EVA 22 ReportHeidi Beemer Reporting Time: 1500-17:00 Crew Members: Heidi Beemer, Donna Viola Site Location: 0519731 4251449 and 0520249 4251141 Transit Mode: ATV Objectives: Recon and collect RMR data for two shelter sites. Collect endolyths along the way. Results: Two sites listed above where found. Physical appearance data and rock samples were collected from both locations. Nonconformities were measured at first site. We still need to return tomorrow to take photos. A possible soil collection site was also found for LAMBDA Lessons Learned: Charge your camera before you leave. Journalist ReportSukrit Ranjan Reporting Today was a cold, cold day. We pushed out EVA after EVA to finish up our projects. The EVA planner project finished today, which is awesome! Endolith and geological sample collecting was also done. After a warm, filling dinner of mountain chilli, the astronomers are getting ready to head out into the bitter night. Ad astra! Cook's ReportDonna Viola Reporting 02/09/2011 1a) Today was -A non-cooking day 1b) Was today a special day celebrated at the main meal with special food or activity? No 2) List the foods served at today's main meal (usually the evening meal), giving full names of each. Alpine Aire Mountain Chili Mashed potatoes 3) List any main meal foods not finished by the crew (leftovers stored for later use or discarded) (Example: 2 servings potato soup stored; 2 servings rice burned/inedible, discarded) None 4) Recipes for anything more complicated than following package directions exactly, or rehydrating. followed directions on package; just add water for both 5) Comments/questions for Kim and Jean, the food study investigators |
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Crew 99 Log Book for February 9, 2011 |