Log entry Sol 58
I've pulled and replanted the first set of potatoes. All of the Martian dirt I've brought in is active. I have more than enough water. Now it's time to start thinking more about how to let NASA know I'm alive if they don't already. There's no way for them to let me know without the damned satellite dish and I don't know where it is or what condition it's in. There has to be another way and I think I know how. This planet is littered with rovers because multiple countries have landed them here. I'm worried about one in particular: Pathfinder.
The drive to get to it would only take a week or a few sols more than that. I can get it, return to the Hab, and use my mechanical engineering skills to bring it back online, hopefully. It probably just died due to the lack of the battery's charging capability. Everyone knows that the capacity a battery can charge and hold diminishes over time. I can replace the batteries or maybe even wire them directly into Hab power.
First things first, I have to get it. I've been looking over the schematics for the rovers to determine what I need to bring on this trip. If I use a single battery I can go 35 kilometers, which is not nearly far enough, especially as that's on totally level and mostly clear ground. So I'm taking the battery out of the other rover which gets me to 70 kilometers per charge. Really 70 kilometers per day because it takes the whole day to recharge the batteries, or longer if I can't find a way to take solar cells with me.
So I have two things to figure out; first, how can I take solar cells along, and second how can I extend the distance. Well, the obvious thought is that the heater eats up energy. So first I'll try driving without the heater.
Log entry Sol 59
So driving with two batteries is definitely the way to go, but I can't survive without the heater. I'll freeze. It's possible to drive wearing my EVA suit, but it's redundant, ridiculous, and a waste. That just uses up the CO2 filters I need. Not to mention the suit has its own batteries that would need to charge to keep heating and running the hot water through the tubes. So then I'd have to use batteries to charge the ones in the suit. So no, I just need to use it only when I'm laying out and picking up the solar panels.
It sucks because according to my math, the heater uses up half of my battery power. There has to be a solution, but I don't know what it is yet. Gonna take a few days and think about it.
Log entry Sol 61
So I've been thinking maybe I can find a way to add to the insulation in the rover, or rather make a smaller insulated space around my seat to keep my body heat better contained. So I'm looking at all the supplies we have trying to construct something. I think maybe one of the large rigid containers, you know, a large rubbermaid style tub, could be used, but I'm a bit hesitant to cut one apart at all. I never know what I might need to use it for in the future. I also don't know if we have one large enough for me to fit in sitting down. Never mind, it's a stupid idea so I'm tossing it out.
Log entry Sol 62
Ok, so I have an idea. It's an absolutely crazy idea, dangerous and crazy, dangerously crazy, but I think it might be a risk worth taking. So the MAV has to sit here and charge for years before we get here. NASA chose to use proven technology, the radioisotope thermoelectric generator, RTG for short. The radioisotope in question is plutonium. Perfectly safe so long as it stays contained. Ok not perfectly safe, but it is contained. Still, because of its inherent danger, NASA had us bury it when we first got here. No need to leave a big ole box of plutonium sitting around people when we can bury it and keep ourselves safer. Of course that leaves the question of what are we doing to this planet by littering it with radioactive substances even if they are in containers. Are we tracking where we put them so that if we do colonize someday we can put them all in one spot and minimize the possible radiation dangers? Has anyone ever even considered that? Are they thinking that far ahead? What the hell am I thinking that far ahead for? I need to concentrate on now.
So why do I need the RTG? What good will it do? Well, the obvious answer is that it will power the heater, allowing me to leave it on while I drive, but it's even more simple than that. The RTG puts off 1500 watts of heat, so I'm going to use it in place of my heater. Honestly, it's probably more heat than I need but I can deal with that. First I have to go find it. I know it's buried 4 kilometers away and I know the direction Commander Lewis went when she took it. So I guess that's my next step.
Log entry Sol 62 (2)
Ok, so I found the RTG. It was actually really easy to find once I got close, due to the bright green flag placed on top of it. It's intact so I put it in the rover and started driving back.
It works incredibly well as a heater. I was sweating massively by the time I got back. It was mildly uncomfortable knowing that a big box of radiation is what was keeping me warm. Strangely though, it wasn't the most uncomfortable part of the drive. The worst was being out of sight of the Hab. In all the time I've been here I've always kept the Hab in sight.
Academically I knew I would be that far away and have to go further to get to Pathfinder and even further to get to Schiaparelli, but the reality of it didn't hit me until I was standing at the RTG burial site and saw absolutely no signs of any living thing anywhere around. I'm completely alone here. Again I knew that, but it's different to know it than to experience it.
Log entry Sol 64
I spent some time yesterday working on the rover and just sitting around, testing the RTG heat. I removed part of the inner insulation of the rover. No worries, it didn't change the ability to maintain atmospheric pressure. Anyway, I removed a small bit of insulation and sat, then removed a bit more, then a bit more. I think I finally reached a balance point, or close to it. I may have to occasionally stick pieces back up but I have magical gray tape so I'm good. Tomorrow I have to tackle the solar cells, I've put that off long enough. I probably should have started with them because if I can't find a way to take enough with me to recharge the batteries, then there's no use in going. I'm confident I can make it work though, so I'm not worried. I am the best mechanical engineer on the planet after all.
Log entry Sol 65
I was able to stack solar cells on the roof of the rover and strap them down with extra Hab canvas. I never thought we'd use that extra canvas but I'm so glad NASA insisted on including it now. I did a test run with the solar cells on the roof. I started out slow and on the flattest ground, I could find, which is pretty easy here around the Hab. That's why it's set up here after all. Then I sped up as fast as I could go and aimed for rockier areas. I didn't want to break any solar cells, because if I don't have enough power to keep the Hab life support systems online, then I'm out of luck and I die. I didn't aim for any boulders. Even at top speed, the rover is still practically crawling along like you're supposed to drive through subdivisions filled with kids that might be playing in the streets. All good, they stayed on tight and it's surprisingly easy to take them down and put them up.
Log entry Sol 68
I'm spending today planning out how to keep my plants alive while I go off in search of Pathfinder. Then I need to work on my plans for the rover for the trip and how to retrieve Pathfinder when I find it. When they first started designing rovers, they had one option that had a small crane on the back. The rationale behind it was that we could use it to help collect all of the supply boxes scattered around the area from their bouncy landing. For whatever reason, it was decided that wasn't needed as we have carts with wheels specially made for the surface, which are miniaturized versions of the rover wheels. I know I can't get Pathfinder inside the cabin of the rover; it won't fit through the door. There is no trailer, though the rovers do have a tow hook so they can be connected. I might be able to attach one of the carts to that hook. The other option is the roof next to the solar cells. How to get it on the roof is the biggest problem with that idea though. I think I'll start with the cart as a trailer.
Log entry Sol 69
Yeah, using the cart as a trailer didn't work. It doesn't have the right attachment to connect it to the tow hook and I can't keep an eye on it, you know no rearview mirror, and even with the backup camera, I wasn't comfortable with it. So the roof it is. Now how to get it up there. I can build a ramp out of rocks and soil but that could take a long time, not that I'm really in a rush, but working in this suit is not easy.
NASA has worked for years, decades, half a century even, to try and improve upon the moon EVA suits and while the Mars suits are less bulky and weigh less, there is still the struggle to grip and grab and bend against one atmosphere of pressure in the suit.
So I'm going to see if I can take landing struts from the MAV along as ramps. I can tie them down next to the solar cells and if I need to leave them behind, it's not a big deal as there are still more on the MAV and the MDV.
Log entry Sol 70
Plan for the plants and the Hab: I'm going to saturate the hell out of the farm before I leave and detach the atmospheric regulator so it doesn't pull water out of the air. Things are going to get humid and I'm going to have to run checks on all systems when I get back, but I'd do that anyway after being away for so long. Also, since I'm not going to be there, I can turn the temp up a touch more than I'd normally be comfortable with. Now, onto the plants breathing. Yeah, not something most people think about, even though we all learn in elementary school that plants breathe CO2 while we breathe O2 and we each expel the opposite. That's great for when I'm here but when I'm not there isn't an active return of CO2 for my potatoes. So right before I leave I'll vent a CO2 tank from the MAV into the Hab while wearing my EVA suit. So I'm all set. Yes, I'm also turning off the oxygenator before I leave.
The rover already has the water I'll need for the trip. I also have a rigid plastic container with a lid to serve as my toilet. Yeah, it's gonna smell as bad in the rover as Gemini 7 did after their fourteen days in space, and probably for most of the other Apollo missions as well. I have plenty of oxygen with the addition of a tank from the Hab that I'll put back when I return. I've even packed a pillow and sheet, not that I need it because the rover can be the perfect temp but it's gonna be hard enough to sleep in the rover as it is, might as well take a little bit of comfort along.
Tomorrow I'm going to spend the day running diagnostics on everything and then the day after, I'm Pathfinder-bound.
Log entry Sol 72
This is it. I've got the Hab set up for the plants. I'm in the rover and headed out. Wish me luck...yeah that was dumb but I'm not deleting it.
Log entry Sol 74
The trip has been ok so far. Fairly smooth driving. Sleeping is taking some getting used to as I don't have a bed, and sleeping in a chair is uncomfortable. I stretch out as much as I can around all the stuff I've packed in here. It's only going to get worse as I shift things around.
The biggest issue right now is navigation. I'm well beyond the 40 KM range of the Hab beacon. I went out of range at the end of the first day's drive so now yeah no way I can use it. I planned on using the maps we brought along on our laptops. Easier said than done because those were all taken from orbit. The ones that were up to that 40 KM boundary are fairly detailed, in case we had to drive to get our supplies, anything past that is much less detailed so nearly useless for navigation.
I did some calculations and am using Phobos. As long as it's rising in front of me when it orbits twice a day. I'm headed in the correct direction.
Log entry Sol 77
I'm bored, so bored, so bored it's boring, Boronus, boreetus, boreemus. I came, I saw, I bored. He bored, she bored, they bored. All aboard.
Yes, I'm so bored I'm now quoting crappy seventies tv shows. Ok not so crappy, I've said before I like this show, well most of it. The first season or two are still a bit slapstick and the last season or so get preachy but still good, especially compared to a lot of the shows on Lewis's data stick. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm now officially repeating myself in my logs. That's probably a sign of mental decline in solitary confinement right? You'd think I'd know that just from the tests they put us through but we all know I didn't pay attention to that.
Log entry Sol 81
I should make it to Pathfinder tomorrow. Now the trick will be finding it. The lander has been here since 1997. Mission parameters for Ares listed cleaning our solar cells daily due to the light breezes carrying the dust and sand around. After nearly forty years of sitting on the surface with no movement, who knows if the lander will even be visible? Yes, wind could clear it off as easily as it could cover it, but that's the problem I just don't know. When I see the Twin Peaks in the distance, I just drive straight towards them. It may take a few days of wondering and kicking at the dust to find any signs but I'm hoping not. I want to take as much of the lander back as I can.
Log entry Sol 82
I found it. There must be less wind here or there was a decent one recently. Pathfinder was partially buried but the top half was visible, although I will need to dust it off more/again when I get it back. Fortunately, the lack of moisture in the air and the minimal atmosphere means no corrosion, no rust.
I spotted Twin Peaks within an hour of driving this morning and by the time I'd run down the batteries enough to need to charge I could see something glinting in the distance. There it was.
The biggest challenge is getting it up and transportable. My goal is to take as much of the lander back as I possibly can. I wasn't able to find any schematics in our files, which is no surprise because NASA, never in a million years, would have thought we'd go looking for it. Since I don't have the schematics, I don't want to take off any of the panels. With my luck the way it's going so far on this mission, I would take off the wrong panel and it won't work when I get it back.
All this means is that I have to dig it out as completely as I can and then separate it from the deflated balloons beneath it. Digging means more than just digging. I have to move the dirt away from the lander entirely so it doesn't slide back into the hole I'm digging. Time to stop procrastinating and start digging.
Log entry Sol 82 (2)
Hopefully, there won't be a big storm or lots of wind tonight because I'm not done, but had to stop as it was getting too dark and the lights on my suit helmet just weren't bright enough to keep digging. I might have the power to run the headlights on the rover. Yes, there are headlights that were never supposed to be used but the "just in case" philosophy of NASA meant they were installed. I don't want to use the batteries for the headlights though and I'm tired so I'll just get back to it tomorrow.
The whole platform is uncovered and I got to the balloons, but cutting them away and keeping the dirt back is a job better done by two so obviously, it's taking me longer. I needed a bigger shovel to move dirt though that would risk damaging the lander so I guess it's good I only have a gardening trowel. I didn't think to bring an extra-rigid sample container, you know a plastic box to move the dirt so it's been a process. First I tried walking shovelfuls a few steps away, but that was taking way too long. I ended up just throwing the trowel full of dirt over my shoulder as hard as I could.
My back is killing me from digging on my hands and knees. Hopefully, sleep will help.
Log entry Sol 83
I'm done. Pathfinder is on the roof and tied down with spare Hab canvas, and in my digging, I also found Sojourner, the mini rover. Not sure what I'll do with it, but it's in the rover with me. Now, time to head back home.
Cutting away the leftover balloons was easier than I thought it would be except for the fact that I was bent nearly in half against the pressure of my suit. Then I had to drag the lander to the rover and up the ramp, I made from the MAV struts. Again my back is killing me. I didn't bring any medication with me which was just dumb. I should have thought that far ahead. I knew I'd have to do at least some digging. So now to rest as much as possible which is pretty much all I do when I'm driving and waiting for the solar cells to charge. I've been reading my way through Johanssen's Agatha Christie collection which keeps my mind off everything else.
Log entry Sol 89
Nearing the halfway point back to the Hab and I'm so tired of living in a men's room. It makes me so thankful for the Hab and the "plumbing" on Hermes. Every time the lid comes off, it smells more in here. I'm starting to go stir crazy being in the rover. I might have to find a way to scrub the CO2 filters to reuse them because I've been taking walks each day. I stay in sight of the rover, but I need to move. Occasionally I pick up a rock that looks interesting but I have no way of knowing where I am exactly so I tag it with the sol because I can always track that with a map later and then put an estimated location.