Crew 305 EVA Report 14-12-2024
EVA # 06
Author: Ian Pamerleau
Purpose of EVA: Take measurements along the main channel running into Eos Chasma (a.k.a. Tank Wash) both west and east of Cow Dung Road.
Start time: 10:05 hr
End time: 12:50 hr
Narrative: Ian led the EVA accompanied by Monish and Peter. We planned on taking Curiosity and Perseverance to the Tank Wash but were informed by the Hab that Curiosity’s rear wheel was too low to be taken, so the team took Perseverance and Spirit. Both rovers began the day with 100% battery and had 295.4 hr (Perseverance) and 251.5 hr (Spirit). We took the rovers to the intersection of Tank Wash and Cow Dung Road and parked the rovers at the closest safe offshoot to the road. We then walked into the Tank Wash and headed east. We took some measurements along the stream and up some of the tributaries (which helps with Ian’s project). There were some interesting rocks in the tributary to the northeast that at first looked wood-like, but they did end up just being siltstones/fine grain sandstones (which are still interesting!). After we obtained enough measurements to the east of the road, we traveled to the western part of the wash. The tributaries here were much narrower, cutting into the clay-rich, loose soil they were found in. These canyons were so narrow and short that only one person went in to take measurements (though they were still visible by the other EVA team members). The crew’s method of taking normal-sized ephemeral stream measurements has been ironed out to high efficiency now; two people hold the tape measurer and read off the value, then they move down a few feet and take another measurement, then another. All the while, Ian is writing down the width values while taking the GPS locations and noting any other important geologic information. Because of our efficiency (and lack of canyons that took time getting into), the EVA team took all the measurements needed for the day before 13:00 hr and were able to head back early. We arrived at the Hab around 12:50 hr, with Perseverance at 63% battery and 295.8 hrs and Spirit at 62% battery and 257.9 hr.
Destination: Tank Wash (the main ephemeral stream running across Cow Dung Road into Eos Chasma)
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Eastern most point (518663E, 4253839N) and western most point (517815E, 4253709N).
Participants: Ian Pamerleau, Peter Zoss, Monish Lokhande
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS driveway, Cow Dung Road to the intersection of Tank Wash.
Mode of travel: Rover to the intersection of Tank Wash and Cow Dung Road. Then walk both east and west along the Tank Wash.