Crew 221 EVA Report 04-02-2020
EVA # 1
Author: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer)
Purpose of EVA: The primary purpose was to set up several weather experiments. We were affixing two thermometers, a barometer and a rain gauge to the exterior of the Science Dome tunnel. We were also took several photos for outreach.
Start time: 12:06 pm
End time: 12:50 pm
Narrative: Today was our first maintenance EVA. The GreenHab Officer and Crew Astronomer were setting up several weather experiments as part of our goal to incorporate a Martian weather station into our MDRS mission. We spent the morning constructing a barometer and rain gauge, with the goal of affixing these and two thermometers to the exterior of the MDRS to measure weather conditions at our Hab site. We first assessed the GreenHab tunnel as a potential site for the weather experiments, however the entire tunnel is covered by a tarp and therefore rain runoff would confound our measures. We then headed to the Science Dome and found a strip of tunnel close to the Dome without tarp. We attempted to affix the thermometers to the tunnel exterior with cable ties, however the cable ties kept snapping, potentially because of the temperature, or because they have fatigued with age. We managed to affix the barometer and rain gauge to the base of the tunnel, resting on the floor, using pliers to assist in tightening the cable ties, a task we found particular difficult in our spacesuit gloves. We returned to the Hab with the thermometers having
unfortunately not met all of our objectives. We will need to determine a new method for affixing the experiments and a subsequent maintenance EVA will be required to mount the instruments.
Destination: Vicinity of the Hab.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518500/4250050
Participants: Jessica Todd (GreenHab Officer), Ghanim Aloitabi (Astronomer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: EVA conducted near the MDRS, at the exterior of the Science Dome and GreenHab.
Mode of travel: Walking