Archives for: February 2006, 22
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Pre-Mission Update from Hugh S. Gregory T-Minus 3 Days
by Moonbase Team 
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Feb 22nd, 2006 00:02PST
. . . . . . this is Artemis Control at T-minus 3 days, 10 hours and 24 minutes until Descent Orbit Insertion commences for the Big Blue lunar (simulated) lander. At this time all crew members have reported in on their preparation for the first attempt in over 34 years to return a human presence (in simulation) to the lunar surface.
Mission Commander Peter Kokh reports that the plans for the construction of a tunnel from the Artemis One Lunar Habitat (actually the MDRS Habitat) to the GreenHAB grey water recycling greenhouse and farm are now complete and that the proper materials for this construction are awaiting collection at their various Depot's at the Selene Launching Complex in Utah (SLC aka Salt Lake City, Utah). This tunnel will be a perminent addition to the Mars Desert Research Station and wlll remain behind when the ascent stage of the Big Blue lunar lander/ rover lifts off on March 12 to return the Crew to SLC where they will change to their respective commercial Earth return transports.
Crew Scientist Leslie Wichman reports that her prepartions for her plans to upgrading the existing flow meters for the GreenHab water reclamation system to enable instrumented data output, as well as the addition of filters to allow the meters to function more consistently are proceeding on schedule. Leslie will also be installing and testing a "solar still" to try to harvest some of the GreenHab recycled greywater for drinking water purposes. She has also been corresponding with other crew members to figure out how to collect the crew activity and food consumption data she needs for one of her projects without impacting the already busy crew schedules. Finally, she reports that her recovery from a nasty bout with the flu is nearly complete and that she is on time and track for seperate arrival at the Artemis One landing site at approximately T plus 3 days and 2 hours into the Artemis One Moon Base simulation mission.
Telemetry at this time indicates all systems are nominal on the Big Blue lunar lander currently docked at the Comfort Inn portion of the Selene Launching Complex. Reports from the Engineering Desk indicate that the (simulated) nuclear power plant at MDRS failed to power up yesterday morning for a battery charging cycle on the MDRS Hab and current crew had to make a Rover EVA into Lowellville. There they requested the assistance of the Mars Society's local representitive and engineer to get the power plant affectionately known as Wendy fired up. Don Foutz made two EVA's to the lander site yesterday and latest telemetry indicates operations are once again nominal.
All of you back on Earth can observe the activities of the crew currently in residence at the MDRS hab by web cam. To do this point your web brouser to
Here you will also be able to observe the activities of the Artemis One Moonbase (simulation) crew as they live and work on the analogue Moon at MDRS starting on Saturday February 25th.
Further reports will be transmitted as events warrant.
This is Artemis Control. . . .
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02/22/06 09:41:21 am,