Psycho-Sociological Study on Group Dynamics
Sheryl Bishop

This was the main objective of the Mona Lisa - Leonardo project. Each crewmember took a personality test before the rotation; then during the isolation period at MDRS, the crewmembers had to take a set of three measurements:

• Salivary samples to measure physiological stress;
• Cognitive performance evaluation using the CogHealth software;
• Online survey on group functioning, perceived stress and coping strategies.

These measurements were taken three times during the mission: on Day 1, Day 6 and Day 12. The results of the Mona Lisa crew will be compared to the ones of the Leonardo crew, and the results will be published in a paper at the IAF congress in October 2005.

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Comparing Gas Suits & Elastic Suits
Natalie Cutler

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparison between the MDRS spacesuits, that simulate gas-pressurized suits like the ones currently used by astronauts, and the MarsSkin spacesuits that simulate suits using mechanical counter pressure on the skin.

All the crewmembers wore both suit types, and then filled in a survey about each where they gave grades to the suit design (comfort of the suit, usefulness of the pockets, …). The glove dexterity and ease of mobility of the suits were also compared. All crewmembers commented that MarsSkin was much more comfortable to wear, in particular in the hot weather. Field tests of the MarsSkin PULSS, however, showed it was not yet robust enough to withstand the dusty environment of a long EVA at MDRS. The MarsSkin suit was worn with the MDRS PLSS and helmet for remaining field tests.

Another comparative experiment was conducted about the helmets' field of view. The test was to see how much the different types of helmets reduce the astronaut's visual range. Using a calibrated rod that was moved around the test subject, we investigated how far back, up, and down the subject could see without helmet, with a MarsSkin helmet and with an MDRS helmet. Every crewmember participated, and the results will be averaged to remove individual differences in normal visual range. The results will be published in an upcoming volume of the American Astronautical Society Science and Technology Series.

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Cliff Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV)
Anne Pacros

This little prototype vehicle is used to assist geologists in the study of layers (strata) in cliffs during EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activities). The CRV contains a video camera and astronauts standing on top of a cliff can lower the vehicle down the cliff. At the end of the EVA, the geologists can study the video to get more details about the cliff structure.

During the Mona Lisa mission, several tests were conducted:

• Comparison of rigid and flexible anti-roll rods: on the cliffs where these tests were conducted, no noticeable difference was observed. However, when a CRV test was conducted on a more gradual slope, it went over a bump and flipped over. Thanks to the anti-roll rods, it did not stay on the side, it just ended "upside down" and we could pull it back up to the top of the slope.
• Test of the CRV in windy conditions: it was very difficult to operate the CRV because the wind disturbed the cables, and the vehicle is very light so it veered off-course.

Opinions of the geologists were collected at the end of the mission and they agreed that the videos were useful in their studies, especially for stratigraphy.

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Geology: A Multidisciplinary Study
Tiziana Trabucchi & Cécile Sainte Marie

We both come from a different country and a different geological environment compared to Utah desert. Moreover, we did not know about this particular geology before coming because one of our goals was to simulate the discovery and study of a virgin land like in a real mission to Mars, with a scientific method.

However, the area around the Hab has already been studied a lot by previous crews, which allowed us to have the support of the Remote Science Team, Mars Society members who have already been in simulation many times at the MDRS.

The geology of this part of the Planet is very complete, meaning there are a lot of geological aspects (different types of erosion, fossilisation, sedimentary formations) that can be seen and studied. On the other hand, we could not find intrusive rocks but we have enough in our counties! (Do you know the Alps?)

For all those reasons, we decided to conduct a multidisciplinary geology study.

We found a lot of sedimentary rocks, for example siltstone, mudstone, sandstone, limestone, shale and clay deposits. We saw evidence of lots of water, for example we noticed mud cracks and ripples (like rippled patterns created by a current, aeolian ripples, double-crested ripples and rectilinear ripples). We also saw many examples of different laminations: cross-beddings (Figure 1), lenticular laminations and parallel laminations. We could observe almost every kind of erosion on sedimentary rocks: meteorological erosion (from water and wind) (Figures 2, 3 and 4), mechanical erosion (from the temperature difference, in particular between day time and night) and chemical erosion (Figure 5. We saw many examples of differential erosion and balanced rocks.

We discovered proof of the presence of life in the past thanks to fossils. We felt a lot of satisfaction to find different types of fossils with various significances/meanings. We found mainly bivalves' fossils (tones of Gryphaea Newberry (and one second valve!), only one possible Unionidae), one Brachiopod fossil, many prints, one cast, vertebrates' bones and a lot of petrified wood (some being silicified).

The other geological objective was to check to see if it was possible to draw and write comments about stratigraphic sections while in the suits. This experiment was carried out on a sequence of siltstone and sandstone. The most difficult task was to handle the paper with the wind. Apart from this, we found that it is more difficult to draw than to write but both are possible. It would have been easier with gloves that fit the hand better (like the MarsSkin gloves probably). Just remember to keep far enough from low hanging cliffs so as not to damage the helmet, even to see a recessed stratum!

It has been a great pleasure to discover some of the wonders of the area!!

Figure 1 Cross-bedding in Bob's Rock Garden	Figure 2 Meteorological erosion	Figure 3 Meteorological erosion
Figure 4 Meteorological erosion	Figure 5 Chemical erosion in Lith Canyon	Figure 6 Your two faithful Geologist Reporters!

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Student Experiments
Christyne Legault

Student experiments were conducted during this rotation; now the students have to analyze the results so only general comments on how the experiments were run will be posted here.

Experiment 1 (elementary): "Personal Weather Forecast: Feeling Good!" Collecting data was not easy at all. Sometimes inside the space suit the sensors move around. But anyway, our body had to adapt itself a lot with the desert conditions and environment. We did collect data in different conditions, different times of the day and different environments; the GreenHab, the airlock, inside the space suit at the beginning of a space walk, after 50 minutes of activities with the space suit, inside the Hab first floor and inside the Hab second floor. As the mission progressed, people became more fatigued thus affecting the blood pressure and heart rate. A lot of data to be analysed...

Experiment 2 (high school): "Compare Solar Energy and Aeolian Energy" We received a lot of unexpected rain. These affected the data of the two systems. In addition, we had high winds blowing all evening and night for most days. The Aeolian system didn't resist the high winds and lost its wind panel. We got only half a day of data. The high wind turned the solar panel face down on the ground for the solar experiment. We collected a lot of variable data. A lot of fun for the students to draw conclusions from those two experiments!

Experiment 3 (adults): "The Effects of Mars's Environment on Two Electrics Harness" American Customs loved those two electrics harnesses so much that they wanted to keep them! Yes, these experiments didn't pass Customs to get into Utah. We plan to conduct the two cable experiments up North in Canada where is very cold and windy. To be continued…

Experiment 4 (elementary): "Evacuation Operation" The primary crew, 6 mans, had fun to plan the evacuation route for us and set up a very hard itinerary. We trained and did the evacuation procedure with a lot of energy. For sure, it's difficult to run with a space suit, climb a hill, jump and carry a rock. Does the gender change something in the results?

Experiment 5 (elementary): "Stress and Concentration" Tired or not, we have to fill out this questionnaire on the day it is scheduled. These questions required a lot of attention and concentration. Of course, at the beginning of the mission it was funny. But, after sharing the same environment with 6 women for 15 days, working hard all day, the questionnaire doesn't look the same at the end of the mission compared to the beginning. Also, writing in the diary about how you feel makes you more aware of your feelings and the way you react to isolation. Under pressure and tired, how will these affect the results?

Experiment 6 (high school): "How Humid is Mars's soil?" The ground is so hard, impossible to go deep enough to collect a nice sample of soil. So we did the experiment on the surface of the ground. We heated the soil twice the required time on the students' procedure and... no water. It seems that the desert took all the water for itself!

Experiment 7 (elementary): "Proper Handling is Tricky!" Learning for sure helps. We had so much fun repeating the same procedure and trying to beat our time… Gloves definitely reduce our dexterity and we needed more time to build the structure. Did the women record better time then the men?

Experiment 8 (elementary): "All the Pressure on Sprouts" The only place where the potatoes reacted was in the airlock. We found water in the bottom of the pot. In the GreenHab, the potatoes began to have some green spots on the surface. For all the potatoes, no matter where they were placed, no sprouts at all. Which place is better for conserving food? Maybe there is none!