A preserved expedition record. Dates, ages, roles and descriptions reflect the original account; references to live activities describe that period.
In 2013 Kiwi school kids had the rare opportunity to follow a mock Mars Mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the Utah desert for the duration of two weeks.
Education Log-MDRS
The following log is written to give a record of what type of questions were being asked by the students and teachers who interacted with the crew in SIM. The method of communication was via “Chatroll” an online tool of instant messaging.
Early morning sky at MDRS
Chat Log Mission Heights School Auckland - UNedited
Feb 8 2013, 9:11 AM
MelanieNewfield: Melanie here. I'm ready when you are (still expecting that the chat is 20 minutes away).Feb 8 2013, 9:19 AM
MelanieNewfield: Yes, still here. Just eating leftover bolognese. Still tastes great!Feb 8 2013, 9:26 AM
LZ2: we here
Feb 8 2013, 9:26 AM
MelanieNewfield: I'm here on chat. I was just showing pictures of the sprouts we have growing. We ate salad last night.Feb 8 2013, 9:28 AM
MelanieNewfield: Here, we have to bring water in on a trailer,and then the engineer has to pump it from one tank to another.But on Mars you would have to get it from the soil or the ground, and also recycle everything.Feb 8 2013, 9:29 AM
MelanieNewfield: We pump it from one tank to another - or the engineer does - that's her job.Feb 8 2013, 9:30 AM
MelanieNewfield: If you were in a habitat, yes. But outside,the gas bubbles would act differently because there is only a think atmosphereFeb 8 2013, 9:32 AM
MelanieNewfield: Martian soil has lots of useful things in it. It contains useful chemicals that you could use to make water and fuel, you could mine it to make metals for building and tools.Feb 8 2013, 9:33 AM
MelanieNewfield: Wow, great question. We have a toilet, but it wasn't working so we had to use plastic bags for a whole week - just like astronauts did on the Apollo mission.Feb 8 2013, 9:34 AM
MelanieNewfield: On Mars you could have a normal toilet, but you would probably use a composting toilet so the compost could be used to grow plants.Feb 8 2013, 9:35 AM
MelanieNewfield: Hari can send you a link to the pictures, but we have great bunks.Feb 8 2013, 9:35 AM
MelanieNewfield: I have a top bunk, and the bottom bunk is accessed from another room, so you get your own room in a really small space.Feb 8 2013, 9:36 AM
MelanieNewfield: There are some creatures that live at MDRS. Emma found a spider this morning. Also there are a few very tough plants and lichens and bacteriaFeb 8 2013, 9:36 AM
MelanieNewfield: On Mars we might get something like bacteria and lichen living underground or inside rocks, but probalby not on the surface.Feb 8 2013, 9:37 AM
MelanieNewfield: Earth animals could only live inside a special habitat, like humans. But some creatures have been found on earth in amazing places, like in lakes under the ANtarctic ice sheet. SO maybe some are alive on Mars tooFeb 8 2013, 9:39 AM
MelanieNewfield: Mars has less gravity on earth, so you would feel very light. But there is a 6 month space journey to get to Mars, and you would be weightless the whole time. So when you arrived on Mars you would feel like you were very heavyFeb 8 2013, 9:41 AM
MelanieNewfield: Yes, but it would take a while to adjust.Astronauts can spend months in space, and they do adjust back to earthFeb 8 2013, 9:44 AM
MelanieNewfield: I made banana and chocolate chip muffins. I tried making icecream but it wasn't very successful.Feb 8 2013, 9:48 AM
MelanieNewfield: Our cooking experiments have worked very well, and we used a tool that measures light to look at rocks and that worked well.Feb 8 2013, 9:48 AM
MelanieNewfield: We have done some experiments on dust,and they haven't worked yet, after this we will have another tryFeb 8 2013, 9:49 AM
MelanieNewfield: Dust on Mars contains poisons that could hurt people if you brought it inside. So we need to know how to stop getting dust inside. Also it damages equipment as wellFeb 8 2013, 9:52 AM
MelanieNewfield: Also, I visit Auckland quite often. If you would like me to come to your school and show you some of my photos, let Hari know and she can organise that.
Melanie with the Curiosity wheel replica and the students at Mission Heights school
Chat Log Wellington East Girls College - UNedited
| Questions from students | Replies from the crew of TasMars |
|---|---|
Feb 8 2013, 12:38 PM
MelanieNewfield: OUr internet is really slow. I think this is going to work bestFeb 8 2013, 12:43 PM
MelanieNewfield: Our internet speed is really slow. Just like real communication with Mars!Feb 8 2013, 12:46 PM
MelanieNewfield: Any questions for us? I've learned a lot about cooking with dehydrated food.Feb 8 2013, 12:47 PM
MelanieNewfield: Dehydrated eggs work quite well -dehydrated sour cream not so good. Freeze-dried meat is good.Feb 8 2013, 12:47 PM
MelanieNewfield: I've been making curry quite a bit. And tomato soup with bread as well.Feb 8 2013, 12:48 PM
MelanieNewfield: Freeze-dried cheese is not too bad - better than processed cheese. I made a really nice batch of scones with the cheese.Feb 8 2013, 12:49 PM
MelanieNewfield: I've been gardening too, growing various seeds and sprouts. We ate some yesterday.Feb 8 2013, 12:50 PM
MelanieNewfield: David is trying to fix a remote control quadcopter, and Emma is fixing some of the space suits which aren't working too well.Feb 8 2013, 12:50 PM
MelanieNewfield: Looks like I'm having a conversation with myself - won't be the first time of course!Feb 8 2013, 12:52 PM
MelanieNewfield: I've taken a huge number of photos - it will take me months to sort through them.Feb 8 2013, 12:53 PM
MelanieNewfield: I love looking out the windows and seeing the amazing landscape.Feb 8 2013, 2:42 PM
WEGC (guest): Good afternoon from Wellington East Girls'College, WellingtonFeb 8 2013, 2:45 PM
MCC-WLG (guest): Good afternoon from mission control WellingtonFeb 8 2013, 2:49 PM
WEGC (guest): No skype sorry.Feb 8 2013, 2:49 PM
KiwiSpace: we are just waiting for the crew on Mars to come online
Feb 8 2013, 2:49 PM
WEGC (guest): We have some questions for you Martians.Feb 8 2013, 2:50 PM
WEGC (guest): The MartiansFeb 8 2013, 2:51 PM
KiwiSpace: Meanwhile and whilst we are waiting I was the commander in charge of KiwiMars last yearFeb 8 2013, 2:52 PM
WEGC (guest): how long did it take to plan and set up this experiment?Feb 8 2013, 2:52 PM
KiwiSpace: KiwiMars mission, which was the first mission where we had a New Zealand crewFeb 8 2013, 2:53 PM
KiwiSpace: this year mission took a bit less since we had the skeleton already in place Feb 8 2013, 2:56 PM
WEGC2 (guest): yes we areFeb 8 2013, 2:56 PM
WEGC2 (guest): we are watching the trailer on the big screenFeb 8 2013, 2:56 PM
WEGC2 (guest): so you did the trip last year?Feb 8 2013, 2:57 PM
WEGC2 (guest): yes that trilerFeb 8 2013, 2:57 PM
WEGC2 (guest): wow really coolFeb 8 2013, 2:58 PM
WEGC2 (guest): so when you were there did you have to strap yourself in to go to bed because there was no gravity?Feb 8 2013, 2:58 PM
WEGC2 (guest): we are only year 9 students is it possible/Feb 8 2013, 2:58 PM
WEGC2 (guest): ?Feb 8 2013, 2:59 PM
MDRS (guest): Hi everyoneFeb 8 2013, 2:59 PM
WEGC3 (guest): hi thereFeb 8 2013, 2:59 PM
MDRS (guest): here is MDRSFeb 8 2013, 2:59 PM
WEGC2 (guest): nice another question we have is how do you go to the tolietFeb 8 2013, 2:59 PM
WEGC2 (guest): ?Feb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
WEGC2 (guest): okayFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
WEGC3 (guest): what sort of things do you eatFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
MDRS (guest): this year the toilet brokeFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
MDRS (guest): and we had to do just like the Apollo astronauts didFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
MDRS (guest): use plastic bagsFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
WEGC2 (guest): lovelyFeb 8 2013, 3:00 PM
MDRS (guest): for a while till we got a port-a-looFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest): I knowFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest): as for eating,Feb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
WEGC3 (guest): what sort of things do you eatFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest): our colleague Melanie is making the best foodFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
WEGC2 (guest): yummyFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest): and you can find great recipes with space food she cookedFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest): onlineFeb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
MDRS (guest):**********************************************************************************Feb 8 2013, 3:01 PM
WEGC3 (guest): great thanksFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): here are some of themFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest):**********************************************************************************Feb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
WEGC2 (guest): do you forget your still actually on earth?Feb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): i guess the link is not workingFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): you can find it on our website on day sixFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): sometimes when you look on the window or outsideFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): at the immensity of horisonFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): and the hues of the landFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
MDRS (guest): yes you can forget you are on EarthFeb 8 2013, 3:02 PM
WEGC (guest): what is the purpose of humans inhabiting Mars????Feb 8 2013, 3:03 PM
MDRS (guest): we eat all sorts of things but dehydrated foodFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
WEGC3 (guest): how do you know what mars really looks like?Feb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
WEGC2 (guest): is there zero gravitiyFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
MDRS (guest): We know because we already have many rovers in hereFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
MDRS (guest): on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
MDRS (guest): on the real oneFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
WEGC2 (guest): YESFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
MDRS (guest): Mars actually has 1/3 of Earth's gravityFeb 8 2013, 3:04 PM
MDRS (guest): so you can bounce really highFeb 8 2013, 3:05 PM
WEGC3 (guest): would you be able to bring animals to mars??Feb 8 2013, 3:05 PM
MDRS (guest): let's hope soFeb 8 2013, 3:05 PM
WEGC2 (guest): fuun!Feb 8 2013, 3:05 PM
MDRS (guest): we are working on a list of organisms (plants, animals etc) that people may be able to bring on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:05 PM
MDRS (guest): that's quite coolFeb 8 2013, 3:06 PM
WEGC3 (guest): awesomeFeb 8 2013, 3:06 PM
WEGC2 (guest): lolFeb 8 2013, 3:06 PM
MDRS (guest): you can check it out and let us know what would you get on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:06 PM
WEGC (guest): was the change in living conditions hard to adjust to?Feb 8 2013, 3:07 PM
MDRS (guest): it was hard as we are working lots of hours hereFeb 8 2013, 3:07 PM
MDRS (guest): and there are different routinesFeb 8 2013, 3:07 PM
MDRS (guest): like you have to do space chores
Feb 8 2013, 3:07 PM
MDRS (guest): and engineering reportsFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): and you must cook every dayFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
WEGC3 (guest): can you go outside on mars without floating away?Feb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
WEGC (guest): what are space chores ???Feb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): you should be able to but you would still be able to jump really highFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): space chores are like cleaningFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): but with a space flavourFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
WEGC3 (guest): coooool!Feb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): there is lots of dust on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:08 PM
MDRS (guest): as there is here at MDRSFeb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
WEGC2 (guest): how do you take water up to mars to water your plants that are growing and to drink??Feb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
MDRS (guest): you would have to make the water thereFeb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
WEGC2 (guest): how?Feb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
MDRS (guest): we also suspect that there is a lot of water undergroundFeb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
MDRS (guest): of course you would have to filter itFeb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
MDRS (guest): from CO2 and CH3Feb 8 2013, 3:09 PM
WEGC3 (guest): is the eatFeb 8 2013, 3:10 PM
WEGC (guest): what is the average temperature on mars ???Feb 8 2013, 3:10 PM
MDRS (guest): the highest temperature is 20 degrees in summertimeFeb 8 2013, 3:10 PM
MDRS (guest): a bit like WellingtonFeb 8 2013, 3:10 PM
WEGC2 (guest): do you have showers???Feb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
MDRS (guest): the lowest is lower than in AntarcticaFeb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
MDRS (guest): we have showers every couple of daysFeb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
MDRS (guest): otherwise just wipesFeb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
WEGC3 (guest): is the earth on mars fertile?Feb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
MDRS (guest): *take showersFeb 8 2013, 3:11 PM
MDRS (guest): the earth on Mars we believe is quite loaded with lots of saltsFeb 8 2013, 3:12 PM
MDRS (guest): so a first take would be yes but will have to be amelioratedFeb 8 2013, 3:12 PM
MDRS (guest): firstFeb 8 2013, 3:12 PM
WEGC3 (guest): what is the difference between Utah and Mars?? Feb 8 2013, 3:12 PM
MDRS (guest): Mars has lower gravityFeb 8 2013, 3:12 PM
MDRS (guest): I guessFeb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
MDRS (guest): Utah is actually the closest or one of hte closest places on Earth to MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
MDRS (guest): which is why is used as analog for Mars researchFeb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
WEGC (guest): how does it feel to be isolated from civilisationFeb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
WEGC (guest): ??????Feb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
MDRS (guest): it feels weirdFeb 8 2013, 3:13 PM
MDRS (guest): but in the same time peacefulFeb 8 2013, 3:14 PM
MDRS (guest): I guess is up to everyone and their own personality typeFeb 8 2013, 3:14 PM
MDRS (guest): that's why crews for space exploration are carefully selectedFeb 8 2013, 3:14 PM
WEGC2 (guest): how do you have internetFeb 8 2013, 3:14 PM
WEGC2 (guest): ?Feb 8 2013, 3:15 PM
MDRS (guest): yes which is why we can communicate nowFeb 8 2013, 3:15 PM
MDRS (guest): but it's very poorFeb 8 2013, 3:15 PM
MDRS (guest): so we only have 450 MB of data allowance per dayFeb 8 2013, 3:15 PM
MDRS (guest): in which we have to squeeze our daily reportsFeb 8 2013, 3:15 PM
WEGC2 (guest): how come you have internet if you won't have internet on mars???Feb 8 2013, 3:16 PM
MDRS (guest): the place here on Earth is a simulation of what it would mean to be on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:16 PM
MDRS (guest): however there are strict rulesFeb 8 2013, 3:16 PM
WEGC2 (guest): okFeb 8 2013, 3:16 PM
MDRS (guest): for healt and safetyFeb 8 2013, 3:16 PM
MDRS (guest): *healthFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
WEGC3 (guest): do you ever get bored of each other? Feb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): which is why we are not allowed to stay by ourselves in the jab etcFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): OH NO!!!Feb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): not this crewFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): you get too tired of work perhapsFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): but not even have time for boredFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
WEGC3 (guest): OkayFeb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
WEGC (guest): are there height reqierments for patrons who want to participate in the program???Feb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): Feb 8 2013, 3:17 PM
MDRS (guest): well I guess perhaps not too many basketball players would be accepted but in general noFeb 8 2013, 3:18 PM
MDRS (guest): you mean for MDRS or MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:19 PM
WEGC3 (guest): * MDRSFeb 8 2013, 3:19 PM
WEGC2 (guest): do you believe in aliens ???Feb 8 2013, 3:19 PM
MDRS (guest): I hope there are aliens out there yesFeb 8 2013, 3:20 PM
WEGC2 (guest): lolFeb 8 2013, 3:20 PM
MDRS (guest): Feb 8 2013, 3:20 PM
WEGC2 (guest): why do you want there to be aliensFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
WEGC2 (guest): what would you do if you found aliensFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
MDRS (guest): why notFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
MDRS (guest): I would be really happy if that would happenFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
MDRS (guest): it would mean we are not aloneFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
WEGC2 (guest): kFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
WEGC2 (guest): Feb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
MDRS (guest): so far we don't know of any other place that may have life on itFeb 8 2013, 3:21 PM
WEGC (guest): DO U LIKE MARS BARS ???? lol Feb 8 2013, 3:22 PM
MDRS (guest): so if we found life on other places in our Solar System or Universe it would help us understand how life formedFeb 8 2013, 3:22 PM
MDRS (guest): yes I love Mars barsFeb 8 2013, 3:22 PM
WEGC3 (guest): We have to go thank SOOOOOO MUUUUUCH have fun on MarsFeb 8 2013, 3:23 PM
MDRS (guest): thank you and hope to have the chance to visit you as well perhapsFeb 8 2013, 3:23 PM
WEGC (guest): Thank you for taking the time to talk to us Feb 8 2013, 3:23 PM
MDRS (guest): thank you for being hereFeb 8 2013, 3:23 PM
MDRS (guest): Mars over and outFeb 8 2013, 3:24 PM
WEGC (guest): Over and out from the East Girls (9ANS)"This is an exciting opportunity for students around the country to talk to real scientists doing real exploratory work at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah," said Kiwispace Education Coordinator Haritina Mogosanu. A crew member on two previous MDRS missions and Flight Director for TasMars, Mogosanu said "students don't need a passion for Mars, just a passion for knowledge".
"The varied work done by the crews at MDRS covers human interaction, geology and geography, palaeontology nutrition, engineering, biosecurity and more," she said. "There are so many areas of the New Zealand science curriculum covered."
The TasMars 2013 Team - following on from last year's KiwiMars mission - was stationed at MDRS two-week analogue mission to study planetary science, engineering, biosecurity and human factors at the mock Mars base.
Two members of the crew (David Willson and Jen Blank) are from NASA AMES Research Center in the heart of Silicon Valley in California. Willson is an Australian engineer working on future Mars sample return instrument concepts. Blank is a geochemist and member of the Mars Science Laboratory science team working with the Curiosity rover that landed on Mars last August. The other two members are Melanie Newfield, a biosecurity manager at New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries, and Emma Braegen, an aeronautical engineer from Australia working for BAE Systems.
Courtesy of the KiwiSpace Foundation, all schools around New Zealand have a chance to interact live with the team at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) via the mission's chat facility page.
The TasMars crew will remain at the base until 10 February.