Category: EVA Report

Crew 222 EVA Report 20Feb2020

EVA # 4

Author: Marie BOCHARD (Journalist)

Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaARES, and then second exploration for the crew 222

Start time: 9:10 AM

End time: 11:21 AM

Narrative: First, we checked all the rovers and the water level.

We then took the rovers to the experiments site and changed the batteries for the LOAC and the MegaARES in teams of two. Once that was all done, we went back to the rovers with the used batteries and headed out to the Kissing Camels at 9:45.

We arrived soon after, and left the rovers on the side of the road before the Kissing Camels to go exploring. We walked towards the Camels looking for an old road going west towards the ridge. We explored the Kissing Camels for 15 minutes, and then we went back to the road we had found. We followed the road as best as we could until we reached the bottom of the Ridge. One crew member’s helmet was a little foggy, so we took breaks every 5 minutes to let his helmet defog. The hills in front of us were beautiful, and we looked for a way to climb up safely to the Ridge. We followed a dry stream of water until it was too steep, and continued walking up wherever the path was walkable for everyone.

Once we were up the Ridge, we admired the different views that were offered to us: the view of the plain up the Ridge, the view of the snowy mountain in the distance, and the view of the plain we came from and where we could see the rovers. We stayed up the Ridge for about 30 minutes, I made sure to have enough time to walk back down safely because climbing down is always more difficult than climbing up.

We then walked back to the rovers and headed back to the Hab. We entered the station at 11:21 AM.

Destination: Kissing Camels and Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518500-4249500

Participants: Marie BOCHARD (Journalist, EVA leader), Benjamin AUZOU (Commander), Eishi KIM (AST), Valentin PRUDHOMME (Crew engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road

Mode of travel: Rovers : Curiosity & Deimos

Crew 222 EVA Report 19-02-2020
EVA # 3
Author: Bleuenn ROIRON (GHO)
Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaAres, and then first
exploration for the crew 222
Start time: 9:04 AM
End time: 11:07 AM
Narrative: First, we went out to check all the rovers and the water. We
moved then in teams of two to our experience site to change
batteries and check the data for the MegaAres. Everything went fine so
we moved to URC Northsite and arrived at 9:45 to start our exploration.
All of us were very excited for that. We walked for approximately one
hour bewteen URC Northsite and North Ridge. Landscapes were really
differents from those we are used to, especially because of colors, the
ground was red, beige and sometimes almost purple. We climbed a
small hill to have a large overview on what was around us and took a
break on it to really appreciate landscapes. Then we came back to the hab.
Before coming back in it, we had a small check on tunnels. We entered
the station again at 11:07 AM.
Destination: URC Northsite
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS):4251800/519000
Participants: Bleuenn ROIRON(GHO), Nina SEDBON(crew Scientist), Nicolas
BOURDEAUD(HSO), Valentin PRUDHOMME(crew engineer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Rovers : Spirit & Deimos

Crew 222 EVA Report 18-Feb-2020
EVA # 2
Author: Nicolas Bourdeaud
Purpose of EVA: Install the electric field sensor (named MegaARES). Start time: 9:26am
End time: 11:01am
Narrative:
After the first steps on Mars for three of us, we checked all rovers status and the static tank level.
Then we decided to check the ATV’s batteries. Three of them started more or less easily. After 5 minutes, as we did not succeed in switching on the last one, I decided to give up, and to let this issue for the engineer’s EVA of tonight.
Then we moved to the place we needed to set the experiment, the same we chose yesterday, for the weather station and the LOAC.
One team began by changing the LOAC’s battery.
The installation of the MegaARES has been successfully carried out. We came back earlier than what we had planned.

Destination: plane area approximately 500m away from the Hab, along Cow Dung Road (same than yesterday)
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518494 4250679
Participants: Nicolas Bourdeaud (HSO), Benjamin Auzou (CO), Marie Bochard (Journalist), Eishi Kim (AST)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Driving (needed for material transport)

Crew 222 EVA Report 17-02-2020
EVA # 1
Author: Benjamin Auzou
Purpose of EVA: Install weather station and aerosol counter, then find a place the installation of an other experiment, The electric field measure. Start time: 9:37am
End time: 11:33am
Narrative:
First of all this EVA was followed by a journalist, who filmed the activities on the field.
After the first steps on Mars for three of us, we checked all rovers status and the static tank level. Then we moved to the place we needed to set the experiment, which needs to be a plane area.
The installation was successful for both parts of the experiment. At 11:10am, the installation was finished and then we had some minutes to study the area to find a location for MegaAres, the experiment that we will deploy tomorrow.

Destination: plane area approximately 500m away from the Hab, along Cow Dung Road
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518483 4250677
Participants: Benjamin Auzou (CO), Bleuenn Roiron (GHO), Valentin Prudhomme (ENG), Nina Sedbon (SC)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Driving (needed for material transport)

Crew 221 EVA Report 14FEB-2020

EVA #14

Author: Rawan Alshammari (Health and Safety Officer)

Purpose of EVA: Taking out robot for further testing and deployment of the crew engineer’s antenna to see how both systems perform in the field. Looking for geological rocks if applicable as secondary purpose.

Start time: 10:55am

End time: 1:20 pm

Narrative: Today we wanted to further test our robot and antenna to see how they perform on different terrain. We were able to set up the antenna successfully, and MOUSIE was ready for deployment. We were headed to the Moons, to send MOUSIE to collect some new samples. The moons were a perfect site to re-test MOUSIE. MOUSIE was able to access rock samples using her little robotic arm again.

Destination: White Moon, Beige Moon.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4254800/515700

Participants: Rawan Alshammari (Health and Safety Officer), Maria Grulich (Commander).

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drove along Cow Dung Road (0110) and parked to walk Brahe Highway (1572) and Brahe Highway (1575)

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Crew 221 EVA Report 13FEB-2020

EVA #13

Author: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer)

Purpose of EVA: The primary purpose was to test our Martian rover, MOUSIE. EVA #7 selected sites of interest in Candor Chasma, that were inaccessible to astronauts and featured some interesting rock stratification that we wanted to sample. Today’s EVA aimed to test our rover in these sites.

Start time: 2:30 pm
End time: 4:32 pm

Narrative: Today is the day to finally test our robot! Our crack team of roboticists (Hermani – Crew Journalist, Jessica – GreenHab Officer, Maria – Commander) has spent the better part of the last two weeks building MOUSIE (the Mars Overland and Underground Scientific Investigative Explorer). After a morning filled with last-minute debugging, involving four separate computers and five different crewmates, MOUSIE was finally ready for deployment.

We were headed to Candor Chasma, to send MOUSIE where no Mars astronaut had gone (or could go) before. Candor Chasma features some interesting rock overhangs that the astronauts can’t access in their bulky EVA suits, but are a perfect site to test MOUSIE. We did some initial tests out the front of the Hab, in close proximity to our brains’ trust inside if something went wrong.

A last-minute wheel reattachment (quite the task in bulky EVA gloves) and we were ready to go. Upon discovering one of the intended rovers was not charged, Hermani offered to remain behind, and Maria and Jessica set off for Candor Chasma in the other rover.

Tests in the Chasma were a success! MOUSIE was able to access rock samples under the overhangs using her little robotic arm, though she did struggle on the more sandy patches at the bottom of the Chasma. MOUSIE 2.0 might need some more intense overland tires!

Destination: Walking along Stream Bed Connector and Candor Chasma.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 0520285/4251221

Participants: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer), Maria Grulich (Commander), Hemani Kalucha (Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drove along Entrance Road then north along Cow Dung Road (0110). Parked at entrance to Stream Bed Connector and walked along with it to Candor Chasma.

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Crew 221 EVA Report 12Feb 2020
EVA # 11

Author: Maria Grulich (Commander)

Purpose of EVA: We will be performing the deployment of a dipole antenna and document the whole process. The antenna will be deployed near to the habitat with radio instruction from the team that performed the procedure in the previous day.

Start time: 10:40 am
End time: 12:30 pm

Narrative:

Crew commander M. Grulich, Crew Journalist H. Kalucha, and Crew Greenhab Officer J. Todd went out to see how easy it is for an untrained crew to install the antenna of Crew Engineer L. Monge. The weather was great, and the team found a metal pool for the first installation site, which was still in communication range to the hab where L. Monge was crew support.

The installation went smoothly within a record time of 15 min so the team decided to go for another site where there was no support structure. The location was a rock formation where the pole could be locked to install the antenna, showing that such a concept could be done on Mars.

On the way back, the team of three carried all the equipment back and lost “Fuzz” our mascot that we took out for outreach videos. This resulted in a rescue walk back as Fuzz feels like a real crew member now and was actually found. Everyone was relieved.

The team is preparing an MDRS dance video and the EVA team spent 15 min on shooting some parts of it so stay tuned. The EVA crew was back at 12:30, meeting some Martians fixing the diesel leak.

Destination: close to the habitat

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): close to the habitat

Participants: Maria Grulich (Commander), Hemani Kalucha (Crew Journalist), Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: None

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles used: N/A

Crew 221 EVA # 10 Report 11 Feb 2020

EVA # 10

Author: Luis Monge (Engineer)

Purpose of EVA: We will be performing the deployment of a dipole antenna and document the whole process. The antenna and required implements will be carried in the rovers and assembled close to them at the destination.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:30 pm

Narrative: Today we conducted the first of the two EVA for antenna deployment exercises. L.Monge, and G.Alloitabi went out to drive towards Cowboy Corner with the aim to practice long wave antenna installation. The Martian weather was sunny and chilly during the EVA. L.Monge took the lead and drove directly to the spot, once there proceeded to assemble the antenna.

The procedure was documented with video and pictures, the antenna was disassembled the components stored in the rovers and the crew headed back home on time.

Destination: Cowboy Corner

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4252600/518770 (Cowboy Corner)

EVA Participants: Luis, Ghanim

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Park along Cow Dung Road (0110) to stop at Cowboy Corner

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Curiosity and Spirit

Crew 221 EVA Report 10FEB-2020

EVA # 9

Author: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer)

Purpose of EVA: We performed a duplicate EVA of this morning’s EVA, trekking over to the North Ridge and up along Hab Ridge to collect 8 samples for microbiology studies. We attempted to follow instructions based on landmarks located by EVA team 1, and follow a designated path from the terrain map. We will be comparing the results of the efficiency, traversing and science of the two EVAs.

Start time: 2:50 pm

End time: 5:09 pm

Narrative: Our EVA team set off from the Hab heading north towards North Ridge. We were aiming for the metal pole marker, indicating the Hab Ridge Rd. We got a little lost at the marker, trying to locate the path, but after a bit of exploring we found the ATV trail that indicated the start of the path up the ridge. We hiked up Hab Ridge, taking samples on the way up, however progress was slow due to one of the EVA team members having a sore knee. Once we reached the top of the ridge, the wind started to pick up, so we turned around and headed back down, taking some more samples on the descent. On the way back to the Hab, one of our radios ran out of charge, so we communicated with hand signals to navigate the path back. We had caught a mouse in the Hab earlier that day, and so with the permission of the mission support team, two EVA members retrieved the trapped mouse from the airlock, swapped out the faulty comms, and headed back out on two rovers. The team member with an injured knee remained behind and finished up their EVA. We drove the two rovers out to Cowboy Corner, let loose Kim the Mouse and returned to the Hab.

Destination: North end of Hab Ridge (EVA). Cowboy Corner (Mouse drop off)

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 0517500/4251800 (Hab Ridge), 0518700/4252650 (Cowboy Corner)

Participants: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer), Hemani Kalucha (Journalist), Rawan Alshammari (HSO)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Walked north towards North Ridge, turned onto Hab Ridge Rd (1103) and up to Hab Ridge. After returning to the Hab, we picked up Spirit and Curiosity to drop off Kim the Mouse at Cowboy Corner north of Galileo Rd.

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Crew 221 EVA # 8 Report 10 Feb 2020

EVA # 8

Author: Luis Monge (Engineer)

Purpose of EVA: We will be performing a similar EVA both in the morning and the afternoon to study EVA operations, team dynamics and scientific productivity when adapting to variable terrain. Team 1 in the morning was tasked with collecting a set number of scientific samples and make field geography observations over a specified area, while attempting to follow a preplanned route (based off terrain maps).

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 12:30 pm

Narrative: Today we conducted the first of the two walking EVA. L.Monge, and M.Grulich went out to walk towards North Ridge with the aim to collect samples mainly for microbiology projects. The Martian weather was sunny and hot during the EVA. L.Monge took the lead and some problems were faced in order to find the route at first. The team stopping on the way to check the maps and road conditions and climbed two small hills to determine the location of the road.

Once on the road, Crew Commander M.Grulich was looking for geology traces where microbes could be found. Samples at eight different locations were collected. Including cotton rubbing of a rock that seemed to have microbial colonies on top of it.

Destination: North end of Hab Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 0517500/4251800

EVA Participants: Maria, Luis, Ghanim

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Walk up Hab Ridge Rd (1103), through Schubert Pass to the north end of Hab Ridge

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): NA