Science Report
11/06/2014
Cyprien Verseux
All seeds have now been planted. Those receiving a liquid supplement (synthetic urine
and/or water collected after regolith boiling) received the planned dose and all samples
received distilled water 4 times their routine watering dose to sufficiently wet the
(very dry) regolith and control soil. The routine watering schedule will be followed from
tomorrow on. Fingers crossed!
On a less bright side, we noticed the presence of thin fibers (presumably rootlets and
other vegetal material) mixed with the regolith simulant. The level of organic material in
the simulant is normally very low, and I never had this issue in previous orders from the
same provider, Orbitec. I contacted them to investigate. The concentration of these fibers
remain low, and we hope they won't significantly interfere with the experiments.
More information on the plant experiment will be given in Carmel and Vincent's reports
today.
Temperature where cyanobacteria's cultures are placed remains suitable through day and
night (between 20 and 30°C, mostly close to 25°C).
The first sampling EVA took place. Together with Dario, we spent close to 4 hours
collecting stone and soil samples in different locations (in the east of the Hab, between
100 and 800 m from it) from which we collected UVA and UVB intensities, solar spectrum,
GPS coordinates and pictures from various distances. Bulky gloves and reduced visibility
definitely makes everything more time- and energy-consuming, but no major problem was
faced.