The SAM team is, as always, working non-stop to cross-off a massive list of tasks and action items, while juggling a growing array of visiting researchers, artists, and film crews.
When SAM was getting going, for those first few years (2021-2023), I wrote a weekly summary of the tasks completed and those tasks that remained “TODO”. This was delivered to my entire team, via a managed list. Those items relevant to the work on-site, physically at SAM were (and are today) translated to a blackboard such that each team member is immediately aware of the full scope of projects and priorities for each day. What’s more, when a task is complete, the gratification of crossing it off the list is immediate and well received.
In the context of so many available software programs for project management, I have found, through more than thirty years project management, that software can cause as many problems as it solves, and generally requires a dedicated application manager as asking each engineer to login and check off items is a waste of time, and usually never gets done.
Blackboards require no power or recharging. They can hold a message for hours, days, or weeks without screen burn. And they engage my team members in a kinesthetic function that engages the brain in a completely different way than yet another two-dimensional screen.
Finally, and this one is difficult to formalize, there are some team members who are adept at the artistic side of communication, and truly enjoy the effort (ie. Luna). The rest of us smile with each refresh of the blackboard through the creative application of color, context, and style.
As such email-to-blackboard is not for everyone, but if you haven’t tried it, maybe you should! And now, an edited version of my email to the team, sent earlier today …
Greetings SAM Working Group,
*** SCIENCE OBJECTIVES 2026 ***
The #1 objective of 2026 is also the very reason SAM was built — to demonstrate a hybrid bioregenerative / physico-chemical crewed mission in SAM. We will host one or two crew members (TBD) for 30 days. The exact design of this mission will be crafted over the summer and fall, determining if we grow the plants to maturity during the mission, or as we did last October start the mission with mature plants and then harvest them mid-mission, immediately relying on the CO2 scrubber in EARL. There is also a three-phase approach (TBD).
Luna has this week received seeds for the next set of food cultivar experiments and will on Monday work with Jason to plant them in the incubator. Two weeks later we’ll transplant them into the TM for 5-6 weeks growth (depending on the species). Luna will provide the plant schedule by the close of this week.
[skipping a half dozen sections]
*** PROJECTS COMPLETED ***
Each day of each week we check off items on our perpetual TODOs. Here are just a few from the past month or so:
– replace Mars yard west wall panels – DONE
– fix gutters, paint south wall panels – DONE
– pour floor epoxy in EARL – DONE
– install EARL mini-split A/C – DONE
– finish EARL external paneling – DONE
– finish MedBay fabrication – DONE (for now)
– lung patches reinstalled – DONE
– replace lower lung door seal – DONE
– clean upper and lower lung – DONE
– cover Lung with tarp until sealed – DONE*** PROJECT TODOs ***
SAM AIR
– install air line from EARL
– sheetrock and paint south wall and ceilingSAM Lung
– repair foam over lung
– further test lower lung door for leaks
– final paint coat of upper lung panSAM Test Module
– install new water pumps (see prior email)
– find a way to seal the primary door more easily
– check for / seal any leaks
– test new seal(s) for TM/EB hatch
– fabricate bulkhead pass-through for water, fire detector
– replace potable water tank with stainless steel for Aug teamSAM Engineering Bay
– learn if the floor is a major leak point; and rebuild if necessary
– fabricate bulkhead pass-through for water, fire detectorSAM Crew Quarters
– learn if the floor is a major leak point; and rebuild if necessary
– build recycling shower for August team
– build sleeping pods from 80/20 for August team
– finish MedBay: install bed clip, surgical tools
– apply silicone to exterior roof (?)SAM EARL and Scrubber
– install door sweep and threshold
– install LCD screen on north wall; install scrubber control computer
– rebuild stacks with new check valve, seal
– replace DC data cables with insulated, twisted pair
– resolve RMI issues that cancel data transmission
– drain chlorinated water; replace with straight water
– install water line cover to reduce algae build-upAnd most important of all, tie the SAM Crew Quarters into EARL and the scrubber. This is a BIG project, and will surely take several days, if not two weeks. Matthias and I have explored some ideas, simplifying the effort—we’ll share more once the ideas are solidified.
SAM MedBay
– order surgical tools and supplies
– build 3D computer model
– publish paper(s)SAM IT Room
– install final piece of trim
– vacuum front of UPS to remove dust build-upSAM Mars Yard and Workshop
– complete railing and stair case to walkwaySAM OPS
– install exterior and interior door (2) trim
– install workshop chem table
– purchase and install cabinets (fiscal 26-27)
– hang new artwork
– install aluminum “T” in slot between countertop sections
– finish kitchen (stove top, microwave, pots & pans)
– replace facia (2×4) along south edge of roofWell, that’s it! No more than at any other time in the past five years, certainly not less. Yet somehow, as we bring Development Phase V to close, it feels good to see all we have accomplished since January 20, 2021.
Cheers,
kai
