Expedition Delta (MDRS Crew 66) Final Report
February 2 - 17, 2008

John Thaler - Commander
Anna Grinberg - Executive Officer
Perry Edmundson - Chief Engineer
Michele Faragalli - Surface Exploration Systems Engineer
Nasim Kaveh - Field Exploration Systems Engineer
Cheryl Wartman - Biologist
Kerry Cupit - Geologist
Arthur Guest - Open-ended Researcher

Introduction
Anna Grinberg & John Thaler

Expedition Delta (MDRS Crew 66) was Mars Society Canada's fourth mission in their Expedition Mars Analogue Research Training Series (ExMATS). During this mission three engineers and three scientists were introduced to the systems at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) and all six also gained experience in conducting research in planetary analogue environments. This was the first ExMATS mission to be instructed by two graduates of previous ExMATS missions: John Thaler (ExBeta) and Anna Grinberg (ExGamma). The ExMATS training program has a hands-on curriculum that covers topics such as power generation, water recycling systems, and extravehicular activities (EVAs). Another important objective is the cross-training which occurs as each crewmember teaches the crew about their area of expertise during an informal evening lecture series as well as impromtu lessons in the field. The training segments of the mission were a great success and the ExDelta scientists were able to complete four science projects which fulfilled the primary science objectives of the mission. The engineers were also kept busy with numerous maintenance and engineering projects. The details of these science and engineering projects are summarized below.

Science Projects Summary

Soil Gas Analysis at MDRS as a Rapid Resource and Geologic Assessment Tool
Kerry Cupit

The geology project aimed to locate in-situ resources of water and methane close to the surface around the MDRS area with the idea that future astronauts could use these techniques for locating drinking water and fuel soon after landing on Mars. Getting equipment from Earth to Mars is considerably expensive, so using resources found on Mars would greatly benefit a surface mission. The concentrations of gases such as methane and carbon dioxide in the soil provide clues to where such resources might be located. If geologic faults are in the area, then they are ideal places for gases to flow up from, and therefore part of the project aimed to locate faults that could be sampled.

Eighteen holes were dug around a possible fault zone and the soil gases measured from each hole. While there didn't appear to be measurable resources of methane or water in the study area, a lot was learned about working with equipment in the field and what may need to be improved in order for astronauts to successfully find these resources. In particular, the arid desert environment of the area around MDRS, and ideally on Mars, means that scientists may have to dig deeper holes and over a larger area in order to get accurate results. Advancements in equipment will no doubt be made as well, reducing the sampling time required for each hole from 15 minutes down to 5. It would be worthwhile to perform a follow-up study at MDRS with improved equipment and over multiple study sites.

Smart Small Logistics Container Research Project
Arthur Guest

The MDRS Smart Small Logistics Container Research Project is a joint effort between Expeditions Delta and Epsilon (Crews 66 & 67). The overall goal of the research is to field-test using RFID technology to track supplies for future space missions and to examine operational issues involved with using Small Logistics Containers. The goal of the work done during Expedition Delta was to troubleshoot the system and ensure that it is fully operational for testing during Expedition Epsilon. This goal was completed successfully including the reprogramming of 150+ RFID tags, finding a location that enables a constant Bluetooth connection, overcoming Internet limitations and developing operational plans for Expedition Epsilon. One of the unexpected benefits of this work was the input from other crewmembers on the possible uses of RFID-enabled containers to perform actions such as tracking which EVA field samples were taken on. From data collected during Expedition Delta, it appears that while the usage of RFID-enabled containers may not be necessary for MDRS missions due to the relatively small amount of supplies involved in a two-week mission, these containers will provide time-savings and ease of operations for long duration lunar or Martian campaigns.

Water Quality Analysis in a Martian Environment: LC₅₀ Daphnia magna exposed to Green Hab Effluent
Cheryl Wartman

In this study effluent collected from the GreenHab of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) was used to expose Daphnia magna a serial dilution of the water so that the lethal concentration could be determined in a short term acute toxicity test. Due to the late arrival of the Daphnia only a fraction of the planned experiments were possible, however preliminary experiments used the grey water from the cascade tank after the trickle tank, as it should be the most toxic, as well as water from the tank after the UV filter. Grey water contains Oasis soap, food leavings, and shower waste (sweat solids & hair) and is the primary effluent from the MDRS Hab. Based on grey water measurements from the outlet of the 110 gallon tank, the combination of these wastes and the local water normally produces a pH between 7.8 and 8.2. Mortality counts were taken at 1, 12, 24, and 48-hrs for dilutions of grey water and UV treated grey water. From these results it appears that the water after the trickle tanks is more toxic than that taken after the UV filter. It has been noted that ability extract and use water sources available on Mars would be a key asset in a proposed mission. This study contributes to the methodology development for determination of water toxicity available in a martian environment.

Extremophile Sample Collection Project
John Thaler

In cooperation with Shannon Rupert and her collaborators, ExDelta and ExEpsilon are collecting rock and soil samples from the MDRS area for a project that aims to identify extremophiles. These extremophiles include halophiles, endoliths, and desert varnishes. During ExDelta 20 samples were collected from evaporite deposits which form as surface water evaporates and leave behind the dissolved salts such as gypsum or calcite. The areas sampled included Lith Canyon, Candor Chasma and Factory Bench. These evaporite deposits are prime locations to look for halophiles or salt-loving bacteria. The samples will be shipped back to Earth and analyzed for the presence of halophilic organisms.

Engineering Summary
Perry Edmundson

The Expedition Delta crew faced many engineering challenges during our two-week mission. Initially, even the basic necessities of power and water proved hard to come by. Upon our arrival, the Hab was being powered by a portable gasoline generator connected to two battery chargers that were in turn connected directly to the Hab's main battery bank. All of this was situated beside the Hab rather than in its proper location in the Engineering area. The main diesel generator, Wendy, was out of service while it waited for a new fuel pump. The water supply was also being provided by a temporary setup that included having the portable water tank on the trailer parked right beside the Hab and a hose and portable pump running from the tank into the Hab through the front airlock and up the stairs to the water tank in the attic. In addition, the hot water heater was not functioning.

Our crew arrived late in the evening on Saturday, February 2, 2008 and simply unloaded our gear and settled in for the night. The previous crew was in quite a hurry to leave the following morning, so we had very little time (less than two hours) for debriefing and training on the operation and maintenance of the Hab systems and equipment. After their departure, we got to work cleaning up the Hab and trying to digest everything we had been told during our abbreviated training. It seemed quite overwhelming at first, but the Engineering team systematically evaluated each problem and determined the best course of action. By Day 3, our first day of Sim, we had relocated the portable gasoline generator and battery chargers to the Engineering area and connected the generator to the main Hab power cable using some electrical parts that Don Foutz brought us. On the same day, we began pumping water from the main water tank in the Engineering area into the attic tank in the Hab, using the main water pump connected to the generator. The team was working extremely well together and everything seemed to be going very smoothly...perhaps a little too smoothly.

Day 4 brought a new challenge. The gasoline generator that was our only source of power began to leak oil at an ever-increasing pace. By the end of Day 4, the generator was going through oil faster than it was going through gasoline. The situation was becoming desperate. The crew wondered how much longer we would be able to continue under these dire circumstances.

The morning of Day 5 brought renewed hope with a visit from Don Foutz. Upon his arrival, we packed up the decrepit generator, which was now not only leaking oil from every orifice but also spitting out bolts, and sent Perry with Don to Price to return it and buy a new one. While they were gone, the crew went into power conservation mode, shutting off everything they possibly could to avoid draining the Hab's battery bank to an unrecoverable charge level. Several hours later, Don and Perry returned with a shiny new Briggs & Stratton gas generator. The Engineering team set to work commissioning the new generator and soon it was up and running, providing power to the Hab and charging the battery banks. Things were looking up.

A couple of days later, Don brought the new fuel filter for Wendy and got her up and running again. The engineers then changed the oil and connected Wendy to the main power cable to the Hab and gave the gas generator a well-deserved break. Wendy provided ample power to bring the Hab's battery bank back to full charge over the next two days.

With the critical resource problems under control, the engineers set out to tackle a new challenge. One of the ATVs, an older Kawasaki model, was not functional and neither Mission Support nor the previous crew had been able to provide an explanation. After some disassembly and troubleshooting, we discovered a loose electrical connection in the ignition and a clogged fuel valve. Both problems were rectified and "The Green Monster" was fired up. It was used on several EVAs during the remainder of the mission and became the engineers' favorite ATV, sort of like an old-school muscle car - raw power and a few quirks (like a grinding gear box and not being able to shift into reverse).

The GreenHab was also brought back from a crippled state to near-full functionality. All that remains is the running of some new wires from the Hab to the GreenHab, installation of a new macerator pump and repair of the automatic level sensor in the settling tanks.
The engineers completed several other objectives, including scouting a route and laying a measured line for a new internet power cable between the Hab and the peak of Hab Ridge, as well as digging and leveling a spot beside the Hab for a concrete pad for a new battery bank.
The engineers also participated heavily in science and exploration EVAs on foot, on ATV and even longer-distance EVAs in the "pressurized rover".

The final triumph for the Engineering team was the long-awaited and much-anticipated return of the hot water heater into service, thanks to a new mixer valve delivered by Don. The last two days of the mission included hot showers for the first time.

All in all, Expedition Delta was a huge success from an Engineering standpoint. Many problems were solved, objectives were met and new practical skills were acquired by the team. The engineers worked extremely well together and contributed greatly to the overall success of the mission. We leave MDRS in a much better functional state than we found it.

Surface Exploration Systems
Michele Faragalli

Several EVA and ATV issues were resolved during Crew 66's rotation:
* EVA suit #3 was patched up for tears in the crotch and leg (some other suits may need some additional repair)
* EVA helmet #3 radio-mic was replaced using spare parts and works well now
* EVA pack #5 was rewired so the air flows properly now
* All helmets were polished using scratch repair solution
* ATV#2 (aka the Green Monster) is now operational, there was a loose connection in the starter and the fuel filter was cleaned out; however the belt seems to be slipping and it is nearly impossible to get it into reverse
* The ATV refueling station was reassembled and is now operational (Note: * If fuel is low in tank, the flow is very low)
* The emergency box was mounted on ATV#1 and replenished
* Oil was changed in all 3 ATVs (and a record of oil changes is now posted in the EVA prep room near the newly labeled ATV keys) Dip sticks are now available for measuring gas level in ATVs (they are in emergency box)
* 2 radios were disassembled in attempt to fix their mic unsuccessfully, however they are operational when connected to the helmet mics
* A 7th EVA radio was found and is now in use
* A battery box was made to organize the recharged batteries vs. the uncharged ones

In addition to the aforementioned troubleshooting, the crew performed 23 EVAs including two pressurized rover EVAs (using the commander's vehicle) to Factory Bench. The EVAs achieved the scientific and research goals of the mission, while the engineering EVAs successfully completed the following tasks:

* A scouting mission to determine the length of cable required to set up a new satellite internet outpost on radio ridge
* Digging of a rectangular area between the green hab and the habitat for the new battery banks
* Removed and subsequently re-skirting the hab for PR purposes
* Displaced the battery charges and the now deceased backup generator to the engineering area
Some issues were encountered during the science EVAs where the gloves were found to be cumbersome in lighting the BBQ lighter for sterilizing the scoopula. Also, for EVAs that required significant amount of physical effort, some helmets seemed to fog more than others. Scratch remover and polisher were applied to the helmets, however for the best prevention, applying a thin layer of soap to the inside of the helmets is effective. Lastly, in pack #2 there seems to be a loose connection to the fans as changing the user's posture will stop the air flow. This could be looked into by the following crew.

Green Hab Systems
Nasim Kaveh

Regarding the greenhouse project, I was responsible for the growth and vitality of a set of plants growing in soil. These plants were initially planted by previous crews (62, 64 and 65) and consisted of the followings: sweet corn, coriander cilantro, fern leaf, basil, cherry belle radishes, radishes, plumy tomatoes, lettuce and onions. Most of the plants were planted in commercial soil and a few sets were planted in a mixture of Utah soil and commercial soil (50/50).

Greenhouse maintenance consisted of checking three times a day the greenhouse inside and outside temperature and humidity as well as watering the plants as needed (every other day). The inside temperature of the greenhouse is controlled with two propane heaters and two fans which automatically open/close in order to keep a constant inside temperature. However, the inside temperature is not always the same and it varies a lot with the outside temperature. This might be explained by the fact that the greenhouse is inherently not very well insulated.

A small change has been made in the location of the plants during our rotation. By measuring the amount of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) in the Green Hab with a quantum meter, we could determine the optimal position for the plants to capture light energy for use in photosynthesis. Consequently we moved the plants to the eastern side of the greenhouse where they could receive the maximum amount of PAR.

A set of plants from crew 65 were transplanted to bigger pots in commercial soil and this was marked and dated. An important note was to consider the soil in which plants were grown. Those sets of plants grown in half Utah soil were more vulnerable and needed to be watered more often. Also, since the Utah soil is desert soil, it does not contain the variety or levels of nutriments available in commercial potting soil. Hence, a solution of "food for plants" was used for fertilization and this was a great success in rescuing these plants :-).

Conclusion
Anna Grinberg & John Thaler

This concludes our final report of ExDelta and the experiences we have had as a crew will be with us forever. The entire crew is looking forward to meeting up again at space conferences (COSPAR & IAC) where we will be presenting some of the work that we've completed during our mission. The six trainees have preformed spectacularly here and are certainly ready to participate in future research focused and long duration missions. For now though we're all saying "goodbye" to Mars and are ready to head back to Earth where hot water flows in abundance and low-sodium food is normal!