Crew 306 EVA Report 24-12-2024
EVA # 03
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The purpose of this EVA was to begin collecting data for the three projects that require EVAs. Crew Geologist would collect EMF meter readings and take a sample of the soil used by the instrument, Commander would collect samples of soil from the Kissing Camel Ridge area, and Crew Journalist would test the DRONE battery capabilities and make preliminary flights.
Start time: 10:00 AM
End time: 13:00 PM
Narrative: After arriving at Kissing Camel Ridge on Perseverance and Opportunity, the group scouted for a flat location where DRONE could test fly. After checking a couple of possible locations, Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard selected a spot for the EMF meter to take readings from and placed the instrument after digging approximately two inches down. Crew Journalist Rodrigo Schmitt was able to test fly the Li-DAR/Drone system for four flights to record data. About an hour and a half into the EVA, the drone battery was getting low, making the fourth test flight the last one for the day; for future EVA planning it is good that the Li-DAR/Drone system was able to stay powered for a reasonable duration of the EVA. Crew Commander Jesus Meza used a magnet to scout for locations with metals present in the soil, and samples were taken from a few locations around the Kissing Camel Ridge site. Several different soil compositions were sampled. The EVA crew walked around the site to check for locations with possible hematite, although none were found at Kissing Camel Ridge. Before leaving, Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard picked up the EMF meter and sampled the soil where the instrument had been placed, then the group traveled back to MDRS.
Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518500E, 4249500N
Participants: Jesus Meza, Rodrigo Schmitt, Elizabeth Howard
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: EVA began from MDRS; EVA crew drove southwards on Cow Dung Road, and parked slightly North of Kissing Camel Ridges East and West. The crew took data within the bounds of (518000E, 4249500N) and (518500E, 4249500N) before returning to MDRS along the same route.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking