Crew 280 EVA Report 21-04-2023
EVA #5
Author: Núria Jar (Crew Journalist) and Ariadna Farrés (HSO)
The EVA had four goals:
Evaluating the feasibility of navigation strategies developed by Ariadna Farrés (Scientist & HSO). Towards the end of the mission, as part of the navigation experiment, Ariadna would like to do an orientation exercise with the crew members; she needs to find locations to start planning this exercise.
Collecting some iron containing rock samples to evaluate it use for martian batteries by Neus Sabate (Mission Specialist); The project aims at demonstrating that it is possible to obtain Fe3+ ions from iron-containing rocks such as hematite, jarosite, limonite or argillite by immersing small pieces of rock in acid.
Documenting the rock sampling for outreach purposes, Núria Jar (Crew Journalist) filmed and took pictures of the crew while performing the EVA.
Creating a map of the sample collection area, Cesca Cufi (Crew Engineer) has experience in the field and will be creating a map of Roberts Rock Garden area, this has a double purpose: (1) help identify the areas that have already been sample for future expeditions; (2) help with the navigation and orientation exercise in future EVAs.
Start time: 10:14 AM
End time: 12:10 PM
Narrative: After performing 5 minutes of depressurization in the front airlock, the EVA team drove Spirit and Curiosity rovers to Roberts Rock Garden to perform the four main tasks: 1) evaluating the feasibility of navigation strategies; 2) collecting some iron containing rock; 3) documenting the rock sampling for outreach purposes; 4) and creating a map of the sample collection area.
After passing Kissing Camel Ridge the EVA crew lost communication with the base and were only able to communicate with the main Hab team with Hypatia’s own Midland radios. With the latter, communication between the EVA team and base was continuous.
When reaching our destination, Roberts Rock Garden, the rovers were parked and the team organized themselves into two groups. The first group, Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist) and Núria Jar (Crew Journalist), explored the area looking for iron-containing rocks; they walked around the area around 4.5 miles, but never farther than 1000 meters from the rovers. Núria Jar documented all the sampling for outreach purposes. Unfortunately they did not find any iron-containing rocks. The second group Ariadna Farres (HSO) and Cesca Cufí (Crew Engineer) stayed closer to where the rovers were parked, identifying landmarks and planning the navigation exercise for the crew. The two groups maintained constant visual and radio communications.
After 1 hour exploring the area, the EVA crew walked back to the rovers, and started to drive back to the MDRS. The two rovers made a quick stop halfway before the main Hab, where they thought there might be iron-containing rocks, unfortunately this was not the case. The EVA ended an hour earlier than what was planned and will have to find other places to sample in future EVAs. Before entering the Hab, we followed the 5-minutes pressurization protocol.
Destination: Roberts Rock Garden
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518000 E, 4248000 N
EVA participants: 4: Núria Jar (Crew Journalist) (EVA Leader), Neus Sabaté (Mission Specialist), Ariadna Farrés (HSO), Cesca Cufí (Crew Engineer).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110
Mode of travel: Drive on Cow Dung Road 0110 to Roberts Rock Garden then walking around no farther than 1000 meters for sampling.