The AARG-6i crew, featuring Mission Specialist Moses Vital, Crew Commander Sarah Guthrie, and Mission Specialist William Wallace. Image courtesy of Dennis Miller.
By William Wallace, Alumnus, Space Studies; Dennis Miller, Current Master’s Student, Space Studies; Moses Vital, Current Bachelor’s Student, Environmental Science; and Dr. Kristen Miller, Faculty Member, Space Studies
Many people – children and adults alike – have dreamed of becoming an astronaut. While only a very small percentage of the population realize the dream of going to space, there are facilities here on Earth where participants can live and work as astronauts.
These facilities, known as analog habitats, offer the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be an astronaut. On May 20, 2024, members of the American Public University System Analog Research Group (AARG) embarked on a 14-day mission in an isolated, confined space analog habitat located in North Dakota.
This habitat, known as the Integrated Lunar-Martian Analog Habitat (ILMAH) is owned and operated by the University of North Dakota’s Human Spaceflight Laboratory. It was AARG’s sixth mission to ILMAH and dubbed the AARG-6i mission.
For this 6i mission to ILMAH, the crew consisted of the University’s space studies alumni and current students:
- Commander Sarah Guthrie
- Mission Specialist William Wallace
- Mission Specialist Moses Vital (current student, bachelor’s in environmental science)
- Flight Director Dennis Miller (current student, master’s in space studies)
- Mission Control Lead Michael Orvieto (current student, master’s in space studies)
Conducting NASA-Funded Plant Research During the 6i Mission
The AARG-6i mission was the most ambitious mission to date, including many key “firsts.” The most exciting was the distinction of being the first AARG mission to perform NASA-funded research on the growth of microgreens in simulated Martian regolith (a type of soil imitating what is found in space) through a collaboration with the APUS Spirulina In Space Group.
The principles of plant growth are well understood. However, the 6i-mission crew gathered data on the performance of plants in regolith fertilized with dried spirulina and the absorption of harmful chemicals from Martian regolith into plants.
This research formed a critical part of the scientific knowledge base that will enable humans to become a multiplanetary species. The daily tasks performed by the ILMAH crew, including measuring soil temperature and moisture, watering the plants and taking hundreds of measurements were vital to helping NASA understand what will be needed in the future to grow plants in space.
As a mission specialist for the AARG 6i mission, a USSF Guardian and a person nurturing a deep-seated love for space, the NASA spirulina project was a fascinating endeavor to be part of. My aspiration to contribute to research that will enable humanity’s reach to extend to other planets led me to join AARG.
MS William Wallace
Participating in this mission and contributing to research on the feasibility of growing plants on Mars is an unparalleled experience. Not many people can claim to have participated in an analog astronaut mission, and this unique experience will undoubtedly be helpful in the future as I explore opportunities in space exploration and environmental research through the faculty and students I’ve met at UND and the University.
MS Moses Vital
Implementing a New Go/No-Go Checklist
Another important “first” during the 6i mission was the creation of a Go/No-Go (GNG) checklist for extravehicular activities (EVAs). This checklist was inspired by the book “Failure Is Not an Option,” written by Gene Kranz. Kranz was a flight director for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs.
GNG checklists are a set of rules that must be satisfied before a launch, maneuver, or task may commence. Using NASA’s approval process as an inspiration, the ILMAH crew developed a comprehensive checklist of verifiable conditions to push the authority of EVA approval down to the Mission Control Center (MCC) team and crew.
To ensure the best chance of mission success, the criteria for the GNG checklist was systematically designed. Each task had variables that could potentially damage an EVA suit, the habitat or other equipment.
The crew created a pre-established cost matrix spreadsheet to weigh the mission requirements/benefits. This spreadsheet allowed Mission Control to have a quick reference for most scenarios to see if any thresholds were crossed that would necessitate a no-go decision.
For instance, the safety of the suit and its wearer needed to be carefully considered against weather factors like moisture, rain and heavy winds. These weather factors could cause instability and slipping when someone wore the EVA suit.
As long as conditions were ideal, management did not need to be in the approval process. This change greatly shortened the time needed for EVA approval while maintaining the control needed to allow safe operations for an EVA suit wearer.
The involvement of MCC in all areas was invaluable. While sometimes the information given was not necessary, all needed data was collected. With information, it’s better to have too much than not enough.
MS William Wallace
During the AARG-6i mission, the crew submitted an EVA plan for the following day. As a result, Mission Control reviewed the plan, initiated the checklist and began monitoring the conditions needed to give a “Go.”
These conditions included set conditions for temperature, visibility and the presence of lightning strikes in the area. If all conditions were optimal, MCC would send the checklist to the crew one hour before the planned EVA egress time.
The crew would then begin their portion of the GNG, including equipment checks, a pre-EVA mission briefing and an assessment of crew health. If all items on the checklist were marked “Go,” the crew would send the form back to MCC and initiate the EVA.
If anything was a “No-Go,” the EVA excursion would be put on hold while a specific problem was either rectified or someone connected to management or safety gave an override.
In practice, the GNG worked very well, facilitating teamwork between MCC and crew and ensuring the safety and success of each EVA suit user. Based on the experience of the AARG-6i mission, AARG plans to implement this same procedure for all future missions.
Practicing EVA Rescue Exercises to Aid Future NASA Astronauts
The EVA rescue exercises were another significant aspect of the AARG-6i mission to help future NASA astronauts. Life-saving tactics vary significantly by environment and need to be thoroughly planned prior to any EVAs.
The crew practiced several rescue scenarios, overseen by Commander Guthrie, to evaluate their effectiveness while wearing UND’s NDX-2AT spacesuits. The exercises were physically taxing but successful, providing key data on rescue procedures and practices during EVAs.
By the end of the mission, the crew felt like a small family with MCC being the non-nuclear family that you should call, but sometimes don’t because you’re trying to pull someone’s leg out of a spacesuit. All of the data gathered during the mission was necessary in many ways, but having a crew like we did made it more than necessary. It made our mission fulfilling and enjoyable.
MS William Wallace
Despite a challenging schedule, the AARG-6i mission crew accomplished all of its goals. On June 2, 2024, the crew emerged victorious, tired and invigorated from the isolation of ILMAH. Now, they also have a clearer understanding of what it means to be an astronaut and what it takes to make space exploration a reality.
About the Authors
William Wallace is an alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oregon State University and a master’s in space studies from American Military University. William has completed specialized training in various Space Force programs, including space domain awareness, proximity operations, enlisted space training, satellite communications (SATCOM) and SATCOM engineering.
William currently works as an E-4 and payload engineer in the Space Force. His research interests include the mechanical processing of Mars regolith for resource extraction and soil refinement, as well as the development and application of complex algorithms for managing advanced satellite constellations. William is passionate about integrating biological sciences with aerospace technology and finds fulfillment in solving complex problems. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in space studies at AMU.
Dennis Miller has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus and is pursuing a master’s degree in space studies from American Military University. He was the crew commander for AARG’s 4i mission and the flight director for the 5i and 6i missions. Dennis used his 20 years of career experience from the Marine Corps to help guide planning and mission operation efforts, and he aspires to be a NASA mission’s flight director or program manager.
Moses Vital is an undergraduate student in the environmental science program at AMU, with a concentration in fish and wildlife management. He served as a mission specialist for Mission 6i, where his experience in the Air Force played a crucial role in successfully collaborating on astrobotany research and mission operations. Moses aspires to become a NASA pilot and travel to the International Space Station. He is currently working on obtaining his commercial pilot’s license.
Dr. Kristen Miller is a professor of space studies. She holds a B.S. in physics from Brigham Young University; an M.S. in astrophysics from the University of Maryland, College Park; and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Currently, Dr. Miller leads AARG, which recruits and trains teams of students to participate in analog research missions. She also leads the Supernova Search Program, a group dedicated to detecting supernovae and other transient objects in nearby galaxies.
Dr. Miller is the faculty advisor for the University’s student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). She is the co-Editor in Chief of the Space Education and Strategic Applications (SESA) Journal and also serves on a variety of committees at the University.
Comments are closed.