Crew 219 EVA Report 07-01-2020
EVA #3
Author: Dave Masaitis
Purpose of EVA: Geologic sample collection
Start time: 0903 hrs
End time: 1002 hrs
Narrative: EVA #3 entered the airlock at 0858 hours, and departed the Hab on foot at 0903. The EVA team moved north around the science dome and headed out towards North Ridge. Due to ambient temperature hovering around freezing, only a third of the distance towards North Ridge had been covered before the majority of crew members were reporting excessive visor fogging. CO called a short halt fogging and then resumed movement towards North Ridge. A second short halt had to be conducted just shy of the target sampling area for the same reason. Once on the target area at the base of North Ridge, crew members identified 5 locations to sample from in accordance with the crew geologist’s sample plan. The coring tool provided did a sufficient job of collecting the first sample, but the substrate was so frozen that the EVA team was unable to get the sample back out of the coring tool. CO crested a nearby ridge to reestablish communications with the Hab, and a secondary sampling technique was approved by the crew geologist. The EVA team collected and recorded locations of 10 samples, and then the CO and HSO discussed the plausibility of summiting North Ridge. Both concurred that between ground conditions and the persistent visor fogging being experienced by most of the team would make a summit attempt unsafe, so the EVA team opted to return to the Hab. EVA #3 reached the airlock at 1002 hours, for a total EVA duration of 59 minutes.
Destination: Vicinity of North Ridge
Coordinates: 0518600/4250800
Participants: D. Masaitis (CO), K. Crisman (HSO), H. Blackburn (LSO), C. Montanez (GHO)
Roads and routes per MDRS Map: North from the Hab towards North Ridge
Crew 219 EVA Report 07-01-2020
EVA #4
Author: Nathan Hadland
Purpose of EVA: Sample collection for mineralogy project and deployment of optical mount for dust mitigation project
Start time: 1250 hrs
End time: 1434 hrs
Narrative: EVA #4 initiated a 5-minute decompression at 1250 hours and moved out on foot to the vicinity of the Robotic Observatory. After setting up our experimental optical mount and safety flag to mark its location, we moved back to Curiosity and Spirit. After reporting SOC and hours, we progressed south along Cow Dung Road. We dismounted the rovers just past Robert’s Rock Garden and moved east on foot along the base of Kissing Camel Ridge E. The Crew Geologist identified a site with no snow cover and flat terrain for sample collection. We collected 5 samples in a grid and recorded GPS locations. After sample collection, we found a safe route up the side of Kissing Camel Ridge without snow cover and took 3 additional samples on the side of the formation. We then headed down and returned to the rovers. Curiosity and Spirit proceeded safely back to the Hab at 1428 hours and the EVA crew successfully pressurized in the air lock at 1434 hours.
Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge E
Coordinates: 0518100/4249300 (Kissing Camel Ridge E)
Participants: Nathan Hadland (XO), Abdul Elnagdi (GEO), Alejandro Perez (ENG), Robinson Raphael (ASTRO)
Roads and routes per MDRS Map: South along Cow Dung Road (0110), parked just south of Robert’s Rock Garden and then proceeded east on foot towards Kissing Camel Ridge E.
Mode of travel: Rovers (Spirit and Curiosity) and foot travel