EMMIHS-2, the second EuroMoonMars IMA HI-SEAS 2019 campaign: Simulated moonbase outlook and outcomes - An engineering perspective

The EuroMoonMars IMA HI-SEAS 2019 campaigns (EMMIHS) are field research campaigns with the purpose to conduct scientific experiments and test technological instruments relevant to space exploration and extra-terrestrial habitation. The team for the second edition of this campaign consisted of six crewmembers, based at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) habitat with support from the Mission Control Centre (MCC), based at the Blue Planet Research Lab in Hawaii, and remote support based at EuroMoonMars ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. During the two-week Moon simulation and isolation mission (from the 8^th to the 22^nd of December 2019) at the HI-SEAS habitat, located in an isolated environment on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, the EMMIHS-II crew performed various research in the space exploration field, such as the study of the radiation in locally-grown food, geological and drone surveys, architectural studies, lava tube exploration, and space technology testing. Based on results from previous missions, it was established that at least two crewmembers serving as engineers with strong analytical, troubleshooting and hands-on technical skills is vital for the mission's success. The crew engineer is responsible for various time-consuming tasks during the mission ensuring nominal operations and the maintenance of the EVA (extra-vehicular activity)) equipment (EVA suits, life support systems, the communication network, and devices; the habitat equipment (power systems, solar panels, inverters, batteries, generators, weather stations, surveillance systems, heating systems, and the network communication systems). The crew engineer is also responsible for supporting other crew members' research projects if needed. This paper will deliver an overview of the crew engineer's routine and will present the challenges and outcomes of the mission and its activities from an engineering perspective. The outcomes and feedback from the research and technological experiments conducted at HI-SEAS will be used to improve the habitat itself and will allow for further understanding of requirements to build a Moon base analog in Hawaii and ultimately, allow humans to build a habitat on the Moon.