The following engineering report summarizes and presents the accomplishments and difficulties in the activities conducted by the engineering team of Crew 28 with the assistance of Mission Support during the rotation.

Accomplishments:

During the rotation of Crew 28 the following accomplishments were reported to and acknowledged by Mission Support:

• Units of the values measured were reported using the International Metric System.
• Water flux from Green Hab’s tank #5 to toilet supply tank (TST) automatic control achieved with the float switch installation and calibration.
• The organization of plumbing supplies available in the Hab.
• Organization of the work bench at the Hab.
• Cleaned and polished all helmets and extra Plexiglas fittings.
• Fixed 4 backpacks (2 faulty switches and 2 failed fans).
• Cleaned inside all backpacks.
• Fixed ATV by replacing nuts.
• GreenHab weather station testing and assembly.
• The successful power and energy management for TST and GreenHab’s operation during main power generator failure.
• An experiment making use of HOBO sensors to take temperature readings inside space suits.
• Put up with generator breakdowns without breaking down ourselves.

Future Recommendations

For the improvement and further expansion of the MDRS initiative the Crew 28 engineering team identified the following as observations that will help the accomplishment of the vision and purpose of the Mars Society.

• Standardize units of measured and reported values to the International Metric System for all crews. In the future exploration of Mars the most probable scenario in which this happens is such that International Cooperation is required to overcome the costs of a long-term exploration programme to the red planet. In this line of action and in order to maintain a basic set of standards, the International Metric Systems plays an important role for a successful cooperation between partners and safe manned spaceflight to and from Mars.
• Automate the water system as much as possible, making use of float switches and more adequate and efficient pumping system.
• Re-design all electrical installations under the National Electric Code.
• Install a proper lightning rod with a good grounding for the effective electric shielding of the Hab.
• Detach old weather station from the roof of the Hab. Observation: It is NOT serving as an electric shielding for the communications antenna or the Hab structure!
• Install equipment to force ventilation/air circulation in the upper deck of the Hab.
• Design and install air filters in the backpacks of the space suits to help alleviate the dust infiltration problems into the helmet and the respiratory system of the user-astronaut.
• Muffle the sound of the water pumps throughout the Hab (sounds like a jack hammer).
• Resize/increase or adequate the capacity of the pumping system from the external water supply to the internal water supply.
• Provide a reliable (primary) and backup system for all future generators.
• Repair all the radios including the radio towers.
• Provide standardized connectors for radios, push buttons, microphones, and earpieces (please see Kathleen’s report).
• Provide a new, better quality hot plate.
• Design and build a sound proof wall for the generator .
• Automate everything.
• Provide a user’s manuals for every major piece of equipment and keep organized the literature available in the Hab.
• Build a new and more adequate work bench area (shelving, hooks, etc) for the mechanics/engineers.
• Build a “pressurized” storage shed for materials such as wood, bricks, PVC pipes, etc. to protect them from the environment.
• Provide a larger fridge to keep food fresh.
• Provide at least 2 ATV’s working at all times.
• Install more shelving and cabinets throughout the Hab (fix the ones in the Hab so that they open properly).
• Repair the Musk Observatory and provide instructions on how to use it
• Never Use China Special Again ... please push it off the top of Factory Butte and send us the pictures.