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Log Book for March 25, 2005
Engineering Report
Douglas Martin & Rebecca Fink Reporting

Gasoline Generator:
Filled at 0:00 MST, took 4 gal.
Filled at 8:00 MST, took 4 gal.
Filled at 16:30 MST, took 4 gal.
Oil changed at 16:30 MST

Propane Tank Level: At 18:00 MST: 62% full

Water:
Outside potable water tank: full
Inside Tank Reading = 45 gallons
Water meter reading: 390.7 gallons

GreenHab: Over the past few days, the water level in the 110-gal holding tank had been significantly rising, and the levels of Tanks 4 and 5 were dropping. As of last night, the 110-gal tank was completely full and leaking a good deal, as evidenced by the hole filled with water surrounding the tank. Late last night (3/24) the toilet tank stopped filling. We had been assuming that there was a large leak in the 110-gal holding tank, but the fact that no water was making it to Tank 5 while the holding tank was overflowing led us to believe that there was a problem with the pump in the holding tank. After investigating the power system in the GreenHab, it was discovered that the breaker controlling the holding tank pump had been thrown. Resetting the breaker started the pump, and within minutes the water level in the holding tank was much lower. After checking the breaker several times today, we determined that it is thrown every time the power to the hab is switched off. This may have been an item that was simply left out of our crew hand-over briefing, but it is essential that future crews are aware of this. Without resetting the breaker at each generator refill, no water will reach the TST, causing the TST pump to run dry, and possibly eventually burn out, when the toilet is flushed.

Unfortunately, even though starting the holding tank pump allowed water to get to the GreenHab, there was still no flow between Tank 4/5 and the TST. We determined that the most likely problem was clogged filters, so we sent an EVA team to replace them. There was not a complete set of spare filters at the hab, so both filters were replaced with 100 um fiber filters. The first filter in the series had originally contained a pleated filter, and this filter should be properly replaced at the next available resupply opportunity. Again, this was an item that was apparently left out of the crew hand-over, and we were not aware that the GreenHab filters need daily checking. All crews need to make sure that crews after them know to check the filters regularly, and we need to ensure that there is always a complete set of spare filters at the hab. Replacing the filters allowed the Tank 5 pump to properly pump water from Tank 5 to the TST.

Early this morning, however, the toilet again stopped functioning. Again we sent an EVA to check the status of the tanks, and it was discovered that though the TST was almost completely empty, the TST float was not activating the pump. Re-orienting the float did not cause the pump to switch on, so we determined that there was an electrical problem with the pump. There was a fuse missing in the breaker that was connected to the Tank 5 pump, so we replaced the fuse on EVA 10, and the pump began working. Additionally, the TST float was set to keep the TST at about 75% full, rather than the approximate 30% level it had been set to previously. Hopefully, this higher level will prevent the TST from emptying due to repeated flushes and reduce the risk of burning out the TST to toilet pump.

Grey-Water Level: Water level nominal.

HVAC: Nothing done.

Transportation: Nothing new to report.

Mars-Suits: Nothing new to report.

Computers & Network: Nothing new to report.

Data Logger: Nothing new to report.

Engineering Upgrades/Refit: Nothing new to report.

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