Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition (F.L.A.M.E.): MDRS Crew 68 Final Report
March 01 - March 16, 2008

Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto -- Commander / Planetary Scientist
Stacy Sklar -- Executive Officer / Exopaleontologist
Angelina Zabala -- Executive Officer in Training / Mission Specialist
Eric Harkleroad -- Chief Engineer
Gino Zabala -- Security Officer
Jared Szymanoksi -- Chief Health and Safety Officer
Madeline Zabala -- Assistant Health and Safety Officer / EVA Spacesuit Technician


Introduction
CDR V.A. Zabala-Aliberto

Can we live and work on Mars? The Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition is a study designed for the future of human exploration and settlement to the Moon, Mars and Beyond. This is the last of a series of field investigations held at the Mars Desert Research Station. The F.L.A.M.E. missions have studied constraints in mission design, operations, planning and mission support along with technological advances with respect to science and technology. Analogue stations provide a low cost-risk scenario where situational awareness can be maximized and illustrated. No one country or organization alone can handle the immense task of developing innovative strategies for exploration. It will take an international effort and the general public's support and participation.

The F.L.A.M.E. crews have developed protocols implementing the Vision for Space Exploration and fully understand that the data derived from these missions will be used as reference missions for future exploration and settlement. Many lessons have been learned at the Mars Desert Research Station. Members from the scientific, academic and private sectors join in force to study what life would be like to live and work on Mars. By engaging all the sectors and the general public in promoting the benefits of human space exploration and settlement and by recommending solutions to issues that deserve serious attentions, the Mars Society and F.L.A.M.E. lead the way to the Moon, Mars and Beyond.


Engineering Summary
Eric Harkleroad

As a first-time MDRS engineer, I have learned a lot about a variety of topics in a very short time, including geology, engine maintenance, plumbing and astronomy. My learning during the past two weeks has been more "on the job" than "by the book." There were a number of engineering issues which were not fully documented (since they are new) and for which we had to improvise solutions using the materials at hand (just as an engineer on an actual Mars mission would do while millions of miles from home with communication delays). This has been an excellent growth opportunity for me since this learning mode, while similar to the "on the job" learning I have done in the corporate world, has required a lot more independent thinking (due to lack of immediate access to experts).

Crew 68 had an excellent engineering handover from crew 67 and benefited from the expertise of crew 66 as well -- both of our predecessor crews were very responsive to our questions and we owe much to them. We plan to return the favor by being available to answer questions from future crews should they have any.

Here are a few engineering tasks accomplished by our crew:

* Added labels and signs in several places to help future crews get up to speed quickly (examples include labeling of oil types by intended use and labeling of gauges and meters); created a "cheat sheet" to help future crews collect data for the engineering report.
* Rinsed and sanitized the internal loft water tank (despite our preference for dirt-flavored water).
* Built the official Crew 68 reusable toilet bowl cleaner from salvaged PVC pipe (not quite as heroic as recent overhauls of the facilities, but a worthy contribution all the same we hope).

We hope we helped make MDRS a better place to live and work.


GreenHab Systems
V.A. Zabala-Aliberto

During our rotation the MDRS GreenHab was given special attention. Plants were transplanted and potting soil was applied to planters that did not have enough soil in them initially which exposed the vegetation which stunted their growth. Each plant was given roughly two cups of water every other day and was pruned on the same day it was watered. Crew 68 made their own contribution to the MDRS GreenHab by planting corn, radishes, onions and carrots. The corn has matured much more rapidly then the other vegetables that we had planted and should be in need of a transplant by the end of Crew 69's rotation.

The plants in Aquatic Tank (AT) #2 were transplanted back to AT#1 but by the time our rotation ended we have had to re-transplant the plants back to AT#2 due to the plants dying. It will be investigated further as to why the plants are dying in that specific tank.


Extremophile Sample Collection Project
V.A. Zabala-Aliberto

In cooperation with Shannon Rupert and her collaborators, Crew 68 continued collecting soil samples from within the Mars Desert Research Station vicinity. The purpose of this project is to understand extremophiles. These extremophiles include halophiles, endoliths, and desert varnishes. Samples were collected near the MDRS, the Martian Squeeze, Candor Chasma, near Brahe Highway and Copernicus Highway.


Executive Officer Summary
Stacy Sklar

My science objectives were to determine the extent of the Gryphaea oyster fossil bed and to further research field documentation methodologies (known as the FDM and the Zero-Zero Strategy). All of these projects are multi-rotational projects. Taphonomic and biostratinomy observations were collected and added to the current database that I am collecting over each of the field seasons. Within the next year I hope to have a taphonomic facies map of the Gryphaea area west of MDRS.

The new S-2 Suits are great but as a geologist they are not functional....they must have pockets!

The ability to switch from Executive Officer to scientist to engineer is a skill that is absolutely necessary for a successful Mars mission. Common sense and logic will guide you to troubleshoot the process of elimination; however, that can only take you so far. Training (on all systems by all crew members) and support from Earth will be necessary in order for humans to survive during the first human space settlements.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers of the Mars Society for their hard work and dedication for without them the Mars Desert Research Station would not be possible! I would also like to thank all of my fellow F.L.A.M.E. crew members as well!


Executive Officer in Training Summary
Angelina Zabala

For every beginning there is an end but the memories here won't leave -- they will stay with us. As our crew goes into its last rotation we all try to enjoy our last time here at the Mars Desert Research Station. For our first day, when the previous crew left, we took over the HAB and started our rotation. We all got last minute things in the nearby town and the next day we started our simulation. Our first few days were ok. We started out a little shaky getting back into the routine of being here and staying in simulation. There were a few days when we all went into cabin fever and everyone got a little cross with each other. In the following days we all started calming down as our Executive Officer came to join us. EVAs were planned and were as interesting as ever. Going to new places that we haven't been to and going to familiar places that just never get old.

When I first found out that our Executive Officer was going to be coming a few days after we started our rotation. I soon realized that I was going to be the Executive Officer until she arrived. It was more fun then I expected it to be making sure everyone was doing what they were suppose to do and making sure that I knew what everyone was doing all the time. The reports were fun to write even though at times it was a little difficult because the Internet would go in and out. Sooner or later we would be able to send our reports. All of us at once, that's right all six of us on a laptop at once really slowed the Internet sometimes.

The one thing that I have to say is that this was one enjoyable time that I had. Going on the ATVs and going out to have ATV fun time. I learned that when you are going up a sandy hill on an ATV you need to give it more gas and when you are strating to slow down you need to lean back so the back wheels can dig in and keep going. Another thing that I learned was that when you are on an ATV with a suit on you want to make sure that you don't go that fast. Playing the role of Executive Officer when our real Executive Officer wasn't here was really fun.


Health and Safety Summary
Jared Szymanoski and Madeline Zabala

Well this rotation was a little more interesting then the previous rotation. There was somewhat of a lot of minor injuries. We had one of our crew members fall off of an ATV when they were trying to get off; also we had a crew member cut their finger when they were going into the GreenHab. Then we had a crew member fall in the Heinlein Tunnel and sprained their ankle. The other day the same crew member who sprained their ankle fell on their ankle again while trying to help with the new path. So this rotation was pretty interesting with crew members getting hurt. The most common medication administered was aspirin. We had more then a handful of headaches. The only real issue we had this rotation was that we forgot to bring our blood pressure cuff. We were planning on doing daily blood pressure counts; we later found a cuff here at the HAB. Other then that, the rotation went very well. No major injuries and no one got sick. We enjoyed ourselves here and will miss coming to the Mars Desert Research Station.


F.L.A.M.E. Educator Summary
Jared Szymanoski

This was my second rotation here at the HAB. It was also my second time being the crew educator. Last rotation was full of unknowns. We didn't know what to expect from the students nor the rest of the crew. Being the first educator on Mars was an endeavor that was in uncharted waters. This rotation was different though, much different.

We started off the rotation with a lot of confidence. We knew that last rotation we finished early and assumed this rotation we would do the same. This was not the case though. We ended up finishing right on time. We had a few problems with getting work from the student's teachers but it was not as bad as last rotation. The students participated in many more EVAs this time around and were much more energetic. School went by fast and their days were short. We have been so busy that it feels like we are just starting our second week, not ending it. The students feel a much higher sense of accomplishment because they have finished all of their work in what feels like no time at all. Today the students will be doing their Power Point presentations for their class as well as their fellow crew members. Today feels like a gloomy day but we don't know why. Because the rotation is over? Because its time to go back home?

Knowing that this is the last time that we will be coming to MDRS feels strange. This place feels like a second home. It feels like a part of our daily life. School on Mars is much different from school on Earth. We work faster, get more done and are able to focus more. On Mars we are only working with three students at a time vs. thirty on Earth. They get more attention thus are much more productive. Trying to readapt to earth school will most likely feel strange for them. They will have a short break on "Earth" before they begin class again. A lot has happened here at MDRS this time around. Everything has been so fast paced and now everyone is just mellow. I think this means that everyone has found their peace and is ready to fly home.


MDRS S-2 Spacesuit Summary
V.A. Zabala-Aliberto

The Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition Crew had the honor and privilege, for the second year in a row, to test a new spacesuit designed by the MDRS Spacesuit Task Force. Last year it was the S-1 spacesuit. This year is was the S-2 spacesuit. Though it was new and pure white and clean, we noticed right away that it did not have any pockets for sample collecting or to house our COMM links or various field instruments. This became apparent as we went out into the field for the first time with the suit. We kept on looking for our instruments and then had to rely more so on our backpacks or actually walk over to our mode of transportation numerous times to either put samples in the transport box on top of our vehicles or go back just because we could not carry everything out to our test site.


Security Summary
Gino Zabala

This whole time that we where here no one broke into the Hab. All the locks work and NO ONE got sent to the Brigg so that is good news. We locked up the Hab every night. We had ATV fun time and I rode on the green, big one. It was a lot of fun. We went on a lot EVAs. We went to Box Canyon and Hab Ridge. There were concretion sites that were awesome. It was cool and we went to a local outpost known as "Stan's" through a pressurized lava tube all the way there so we DID NOT BREAK SIM. So Yah! I burned stuff with a magnifying glass and I was digging to find evidence of life on Mars.


Conclusion
V.A. Zabala-Aliberto

This has proven to be a very interesting mission with respect to how the F.L.A.M.E. students acclimated themselves to the Mars Desert Research Station and the Crew around them. I firmly believe that the more times we visit the MDRS the more work we do and more tired we become. Not to mention how we deal with living on "Mars Time". With the thirty-nine extra minutes each day it has been very hard for us, this rotation, to stay awake and keep to our Sleep / Wake schedule. I have even noticed that after our EVAs we are very tired as well. Is it because we have added more work to our Daily Duty Rosters (DDRs) or is it because we are too comfortable at the Hab.

The main focus of F.L.A.M.E. was to incorporate children, under the age of fifteen, to live, work and play in an analogue regime. Our missions have proven many theories on how a family can thrive on Mars. Children are willing to learn much more rapidly and actually become a contributor to their environment much more quickly than children back on "Earth". They take what they learn from their coursework and apply it much sooner. Crew Members work well with the children and the children work well with them. The children participate in EVAs and helped maintain the Hab. All in all, the children are now sad that they must go. They will miss their martian home.

The F.L.A.M.E. expeditions are privately funded by the Crew Members themselves. With the commitment of the Crew Members and the full support of the Mars Society and its Sponsors, we truly appreciate the opportunity to take up residence at the Mars Desert Research Station. The Crew is actively seeking Sponsors to help in the endeavor to further understand human space exploration. To Sponsor the F.L.A.M.E expeditions, please contact the Commander at Veronica.Zabala@asu.edu. Donations are tax deductible through the Mars Society as a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable organization in the United States. The Mars Society's federal tax identification number is 31-1585646. Please ensure that you state that you want to Sponsor the Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition Crew!