Chief Engineer's Crew Narrative

March 13, 2008

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. I have also learned how to do fieldwork while encumbered by a spacesuit—something not many have done and which I feel fortunate to have experienced.

My learning during the past two weeks has been more “on the job” than “by the book.” There have been many engineering issues which are not fully documented and for which we have 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, and 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).

Here are some details of what I’ve learned:

• Geology – Since the Commander and XO are both involved in geology research, this was inevitable. I’ve had the chance to help collect rock and soil samples, as well as getting a feel for the geology of the area around MDRS. I knew North America was covered by an ocean millions of years ago, but did not realize the abundance of crustacean-like fossils (there are places where you cannot avoid stepping on them).

• Engine maintenance – Although a real Mars mission will likely be powered by solar, methane (perhaps by combining hydrogen and carbon dioxide), and geothermal sources, MDRS still relies on hydrocarbons from the Earth’s crust (gasoline, diesel, and propane). My daily work at MDRS has involved monitoring of a diesel generator and several ATVs used in exploring the area (I’ve also done one oil change so far). This is very different from my usual desk job.

• Plumbing – Since MDRS recycles wash water for use in the toilet, the plumbing is slightly more complicated than my apartment back home.

• Astronomy – I’ve had the chance to use the Celestron telescope at the Musk observatory—we looked at the Moon’s crater’s, Saturn’s rings, and even Mars (we could not see clearly enough to make out the Martian polar caps though).

• Simulated Mars fieldwork - While wearing a spacesuit (even one which is only partially simulated), simple tasks like putting a pencil in your pocket or writing some numbers on a sheet of paper become challenging (due to stubby gloved fingers). Vision is also limited—you often have to physically turn your body in order to see behind you. I also found that using a foot shifter while driving an ATV was also a challenge due to stiff boots, which do not allow free ankle movement.

Despite the general success of the past two weeks, there are a few things I would have done differently when prepping for my first time at MDRS. Hopefully these suggestions will be helpful to future rookie engineers:

• If you haven’t already, spend some time learning practical skills in wiring, plumbing, and engine maintenance to be ready for small tasks and issues.

• Read the previous crew’s engineering reports before your rotation and start to familiarize yourself with typical issues and their fixes (I did not browse through crew 67 reports until a few days after my rotation started).

Warm regards and much thanks to everyone who made my trip possible—including my crew, visionary founders and members of the Mars Society, and all my family and friends waiting for me back home :)
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