Crew 206 EVA Report 12-MAR-2019
EVA #12
Author: Gaspard Thieulin
Purpose of EVA:
After the wind of past days, the LOAC is back in the Hab for inside measurements but we need to redeploy it outside for the last week. We updated the water protection for these rainy days.
Start time: 09:25 am
End time: 11:14 am
Narrative:
This EVA was quite rich in goals, and we successfully fulfilled every one of them. First we headed up to the LOAC and the weather station, using Spirit to drive Norbert and me, and Curiosity with Benjamin and Aurelien and all our heavy stuff. We had to switch the battery of the LOAC and check on the weather station.
To perform the battery switch, I used our "EVA tracking" app, and its new protocol mode. Following simple vocal instructions, we were able to replace the battery without depending on HabCom giving us instructions. While doing so, I noticed the hygrometry sensor of the station was out of batteries, which we will change on the next EVA.
After the first step of the morning, we took back the rovers to go to White Rock Canyon at 0943. We had to use Spirit, knowing its batteries are weaker than the others, so we were very careful about our driving all the way there. In the end, we were able to stop at our planned location with 74% left on spirit and more than 80% on Curiosity at 0958.
We went for a little walk inside and around the Canyon, fulfilling the second goal of the EVA : taking footage for the after-mission movie. While doing so, we had a funny incident with Norbert who found a deep water pound by mistake : his foot went down 50cm according to his words ! Using the "EVA tracking" app, I was even able to note this happened at precisely 1028.
We ended both the walking and the fiming with rovers shots at 1053. We then headed back to the Hab, again being extremly careful to our driving to save some Spirit’s battery, especially knowing it goes down much faster after 70%. Indeed, Spirit arrived to the bar of 60% at 1102, still far from the Hab. On the road, we also had a little issue with Curiosity, stopping for what appeared to be an engine issue, at 1107. Restarting the rover allowed us to safely arrive back to the MDRS at 1110.
In the end, I’m able to say the last purpose of the EVA, proving an "EVA tracking" app can work and be useful, is a success, providing me with detailed data on our EVA.
Destination: LOAC and Weather Station location, White Rock Canyon
Coordinates: 518500/425700 (LOAC and Weather Station), 52200/4247400 (White Rock Canyon)
EVA Participants: Gaspard Thieulin (NG, leader), Benjamin Auzou (COMMS), Aurélien Mure (XO), Norbert Pouzin (GHO)
Roads and routs per MDRS Map: Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road (South)
Mode of travel: Rovers and Walking