Day: December 18, 2023

EVA # 5
Author: Cesare Guariniello
Purpose of EVA: Scouting EVA for accessibility and location for drone experiments on HAB ridge, and searching for kaolinite at the bottom of skyline ridge.
Start time: 1100
End time: 1428
Narrative: This EVA is dedicated to our friends at Nanohmics, Inc. The EVA began at 1100 led by Hunter and Cesare and joined by Jesus and Jilian. The crew prepared a limited amount of equipment for the long walk (GPS units, rock hammer, flags, sample bags, notepad with paper and ruler, a map, and the outdoor first aid kit). The crew walked north of the habitat, while observing the emplacement of various layers, then identified the intersection with 1103, Sagan Rd, and began ascending to Hab Ridge. This part of the EVA also had an exploratory function, to assess whether the gentle ascend is easily accessible (it is), and to identify a suitable location for an experiment of transportation of small samples with our drone. We also took panoramic context photos for past EVAs. After a brief stop to collect Gryphaea fossils, the crew began the long walk (about 2 miles) to Skyline Rim. A few stops along the way occurred when interesting examples of gypsum made their appearance. Once at the foot of Skyline Rim cliff, the crew identified a location with diverse samples from the various overlying layers, established a station and collected samples under the direction of our crew geologist Hunter. Two and a half hours into the EVA, the crew began its long and satisfied walk back to the habitat. During the walk back, they picked some old trash and played some MDRS-themed game of 20 questions. They began airlock re-pressurization at 1453.
Destination: Hab Ridge + Skyline Rim
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N516000 E4251500
Participants: Jilian Welshoff (Health and Safety Officer), Hunter Vannier (Crew Geologist), Cesare Guariniello (Commander), Jesus Meza (Crew Engineer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Walk north and then east from HAB on 1103 up Hab Ridge to the base of Skyline Ridge.
Mode of travel: walking

EVA # 4
Author: Hunter Vannier
Purpose of EVA: EVA to obtain volcanic samples in fluvial channel near Barainca Butte.
Start time: 1100
End time: 1530
Narrative: EVA began at 1100 led by Hunter and Cesare and joined by Lipi and Jesus. The crew took Spirit and Opportunity rovers south on Cow Dung Road to Barainca Butte. Spirit started with 100% charge and 238.3 hours. Opportunity started with 100% charge and 149.1 hours. The crew drove south until reaching the beginning of 1101 and parked. The crew unloaded equipment and walked west along the trail and observed numerous volcanic rocks. Approximately ~1200 they established a station to sample one large vesicular basalt boulder. The region contained numerous scattered fist-sized volcanic rocks, mostly basalt but some andesite, which appeared to be transported fluvially. We obtained spectra and documented the sampling with photographs and GPS coordinates; these steps were repeated at subsequent stations. The crew continued walking until reaching Barainca Butte and investigated the area for any other source of volcanic rocks. We then approached the butte and Cesare led sample collection of light toned sedimentary boulder and accompanying sediment, establishing Station 2. The crew observed boulders at the butte base representing multiple stratigraphic units. They then began returning to the rovers. Approximately ¼ of the way back, they established a third station and collected six samples that well represented the volcanic diversity of transported material in the region, but the question remains where exactly they were sourced from. The crew returned to the rovers at 1406 and packed the gear and stowed samples. then stopped at Kissing Camel Ridge on the way back. There, Hunter led the gathering of spectra and samples at 2 geological sites on the north side of the West Camel Ridge, following up on scouting from EVA #3. The team made it back to the HAB with Spirit at 41% charge and 238.3 hours and Opportunity at 47% and 238.3 hours. They began the reentry process for the HAB at 1520.
Destination: Barainca Butte, Kissing Camel Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Barainca: N519000, E4247300; Kissing Camel: N5180000, E4249500
Participants: Cesare Guariniello (Executive Officer), Lipi Roy (Crew Journalist), Jesus Galvan (Crew Engineer), Hunter Vannier (Crew Geologist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive south on Cow Dung Road and park at intersection with 1101. Then walk west 1-1.25 km. On return to Hab, stopped at Kissing Camel to conduct second set of measurements along the northern base of Kissing Camel Ridge W within ¼ km of road.
Mode of travel: driving and walking (Spirit and Opportunity)