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MOONMARS ASTRONAUT & CAPCOM PROTOCOLS: ESTEC & LUNARES PMAS SIMULATIONS
L. Authier1,2,4, A. Blanc1,2,4 , B.H. Foing1,2,3 , A. Lillo1,2,4, P. Evellin1,2,5, A. Kołodziejczyk1,2, C. Heinicke2,3, M .
Harasymczuk1,2, C. Chahla1,2,5, A. Tomic2, S. Hettrich6 & PMAS astronauts; 1ESA/ESTEC & 2ILEWG (PB 299,
NL-2200 AG Noordwijk, Bernard.Foing@esa.int ), 3 VU Amsterdam, 4 Supaero Toulouse, 5 ISU Strasbourg, 6
SGAC
Introduction: ILEWG developed since 2008 a Mobile
Laboratory Habitat (ExoHab) at ESTEC [1,2]. It was
tested as a minimal MoonMars habitat during a short
test simulation in July. The simulation was a foretaste
of the PMAS mission on 31 July-14 August in Lu-
nAres base at Pila [3], with mission control in Torun,
Poland. Subsequent LunAres simulation missions Lun-
ex1 on 15-29 Aug 2017 & IcAres in October 2017 will
use a mission control from ESTEC.
Protocols simulation: We created various protocols
to follow during the ExoHab simulation.
1) We created a voice protocol which aimed to stand-
ardize and facilitate communication between the Mis-
sion Control and the ExoHab.
2) We created various habitat related protocols: setting
up the Habitat communication center, linking the Habi-
tat to sector, shifting the Habitat between work mode
and rest mode.
4) We created EVA related protocols: doffing and
donning, entering and exiting the Habitat.
5) We created health related protocols: medical check
and working out.
6) We uploaded pre-existing protocols for experiments,
in particular the handbook of the ExoGeoLander.
7) We wrote a script for the Analog Astronauts to fol-
low during the script. It was thought to test all the pos-
sibilities of the habitat.
PMAS CapCom: We have been involved in the
PMAS mission as Capsule Communicators (CapCom)
in the Mission Controle in Torun, Poland.
Prior-to-the-mission training
As CapComs have a crucial role in the progress of the
mission, we had to follow a training program starting 3
weeks before the launch of the mission. It cinsisted in:
1) Getting familiar with the different roles in the Mis-
sion Suport
2) Learning the protocols to be used when communi-
cating with the Analog Astronauts
3) Getting familiat with the exeriments to be conducted
during the mission.
4) Completing a self-study item.
5) Taking an exam to obtain the CapCom certification.
Role in the Mission Support
CapCom are in charge of communicating with the
Habitat. All messages from the Mission Control or
from the Principal Investigators (PI) are relayed by our
team. We were in charge of communicating the proto-
cols to the crew and make sure they were followed
correctly. We were in constant contact with the crew
and with the Mission Control and Principal Investiga-
tors in order to transmit any questions, answers and/or
precisions. As we were the first team to obtain infor-
mations from the crew, we acted as a filter to relay the
information to the proper team.
Concerning the messages from the Mission Control to
the Habitat, we worked with the Flight Director (FD)
to select and rephrase the messages.
Fig: ILEWG EuroMoonMars trainee Axel Blanc per-
forming a video call from the Mission Control in To-
run, Poland with the Analog Astronauts (at LunAres
base) during the lunar simulation part of PMAS
Effective communication
We decided to use the Hangout chat for written com-
munication with the Habitat. We created a CapCom
and a Habitat account. The choice was motivated by
the simple use of the software and by the possibility to
start video calls. We had a video call with the Habitat
every morning and every evening during the Moon
simulation, that lasted about half an hour.
Acknowledgements: we thank the LunAres team,
PMAS analog astronauts, mission control & support
teams, & ILEWG EuroMoonMars programme.
References:
[1] B.Foing et al. Vol. 12, EGU2010-13688,
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2010/EGU2010-13688.pdf;
[2] B.Foing et al Abscicon conference 2010
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/pdf/5625.pdf;
[3] http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,415249,moon-mars-base-
lunares-opened-at-the-airport-in-pila-on-saturday.html
5071.pdfLunar Exploration Analysis Group (2017)