Category: EVA Report

EVA # 9
Author: Cristina Vazquez Reynel, Crew Exec Officer and HSO
Purpose of EVA: Test Dronomy robot, experiment 3
Start time: 10am
End time: 12pm
Narrative: The crew took the robot Lazarus for a third trial behind MDRS station where the orography is very different from the previous test. The crew did 3 trials in a straight line and 3 trials in a square ending at the starting position. Cristina’s EVA suit ventilation stopped working and the crew had to come back to the station to change it.
Destination: Around MDRS station
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4251000-218000
Participants: Cristina Vazquez and Marta Ferran
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: N/A
Mode of travel: Walking

Crew 265 EVA Report 04-05-2022

EVA # 9

Author: Laude

Purpose of EVA: Social media filming by the Crew Journalist.

Start time: 0900
End time: 1140

Narrative: We made our way on foot to the base of Phobos Peak taking photos and videos along the way. Many interesting rock and sediment formations were seen with all displaying the forces of erosion likely by weather and water. We readily hiked a short way up to its southern slope and stopped at a nice nearly flat overlook, but could not view MDRS.

We then descended to the base and walked partway around the base looking for another perch. Finding none, we rehiked up to the previous overlook where Treadwell continued her work. We stayed there for about 40 minutes until she got everything she could think of and several minutes longer as Laude was reluctant to leave such an awesome view and time was on our side.

Finally, we made good speed and arrived at the hab 20 minutes early.

Destination: Phobos Peak

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): UTM NAD27 CONUS 519324 4250177

Participants: Laude and Treadwell

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Walking to Phobos Peak.

Mode of travel: Foot

Crew 265 EVA Report 04-05-2022

EVA # 10

Author: Levesque

Purpose of EVA: Long-range communications testing

Start time: 1300
End time: 1600

Narrative: The EVA team drove to Zubrin’s Head and then proceeded on foot to a point 500 meters west for a comms check. They returned to the rovers and drove down the road to repeat the process on foot on a road near White Rock Reservoir and later in White Rock Canyon to the south. They next drove back to the junction of Cow Dung Road and a rough road leading to Barrainca Butte and walked on foot from there to conduct two comm checks along that road. After completing all checks, they returned to the rovers and drove back to the Hab, having to stop twice because of a rover’s overheating.

Destination: Zubrin’s Head, White Rock Canyon, Barrainca Butte areas

Coordinates: UTM NAD27 CONUS 518804 4247962, 520100 4248538, 515968 4254298, 520369, 4247380, 519554 4247285, 518956 4247098

EVA Participants: Iakymov, Blanco, Licea

Road(s) and Routes per MDRS map: Cow Dung Road, Zubrin’s Head, White Rock Reservoir and Canyon, and Barrainca Butte.

Mode of Travel: Perserverance and Opportunity and on foot.

Crew 265 EVA Report 30-04-2022

EVA # 6

Author: Laude

Purpose of EVA: To conduct more distant communications project testing, examine possibility of rover travel to the north of Moon Overlook, map areas of interest and to simulate a first Phobos manned mission from Mars and perhaps from anywhere. The crew will collect limited regolith samples and small rocks, plenty of photos and explore on foot in nearby areas that warrant closer examination. Also, we will look south from Moon Overlook to view the condition of Copernicus Highway for a possible future rover EVA.

Start time: 12:30

End time: 16:25

Narrative: We got off on time and traveled to Moon Overlook stopping along the way for radio checks. At the overlook we looked south to see the condition of Copernicus Highway leading south for another day EVA down that road. Conditions looked good for rover travel. We took photos at the overlook of the marvelous moon like terrain below us and to the north and then we descended down into it by rover. After a few hundred meters we stopped to collect a regolith sample with a scoop from Phobos, set some footprints and get photos. As we continued by rover the scenery quickly shifted to more Mars like as Phobos is tiny in size. Red canyon walls with stratigraphic layers enveloped us, opening up and closing in as we proceeded. At one open area we came across remnants of a fence that we passed through and soon the path became sandy and the rovers squirmed about from time to time. Shortly after coming across Muddy Creek the path narrowed and the sand loosened around our wheels. We might soon need 4WD to proceed if not for the decision to stop for a better look and turn around. The two rovers did need 4WD briefly to turn about. On the way out Laude decided to stop where there was a shallow slope up to a higher point (8M) to better view the area on foot. When looking down during ascent he noticed sea shells by the thousands (crew named it the Sea of Shells 4255097 N 516370 E)! Dense collections of them on the hill side. After calling the crew to see them he walked higher and noticed many other nearby hills covered with them! This area may warrant closer examination during a future EVA. After this unexpected find the crew returned back to MDRS.

Destination: Moon Overlook then north to the end of the drivable Copernicus highway.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4254360 N, 516052 E (Moon Overlook) 4257885 N, 518294 E (End of passible road on rover near Muddy Creek. Dirt road turned sandy and narrow there.)

Participants: EVA Commander Laude, Jounalist Treadwell and Mapping /Radio Tech Licea

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: North on Cow Dung Road 0110 then Brahe Hwy1572/1575 then Copernicus Hwy 1574/0157.

Mode of travel: Spirit and Curiosity and on foot

Crew 265 EVA Report 02-05-2022

EVA # 7

Author: Laude

Purpose of EVA: To conduct remote communications project testing.

Start time: 12:00

End time: 16:20

Narrative: We left Percy at the junction of Lith Canyon and Cow Dung Roads as it was down in charge more than Spirit and Curri and then proceeded to the Green Mars View overlook for radio testing. Just several plants were along the wheel tracks. The ground below us where the Muddy River runs was thick with vegetation from the creek up to the base of the escarpments. We then traveled back passing Percy to end up on rover to near the end of Lith Canyon Rd. We hiked about for a couple hours with variations in elevation for more radio testing. All prescribed radio tests were completed and then we headed back to the hab picking up Percy on the way.

Destination: Green Mars View. Lith Canyon area.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): (4256658 N, 520662 E). (4256474 N, 518949 E) .

Participants: Laude (EVA Commander) Sergii Iakmov (Engineer) Benny Blanco (Comm Tech)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: To Green Mars View at Cow Dung Rd north end then back track to Lith Canyon Rd 1106 and park at west end to proceed on foot in canyon area at various elevations for comms checking.

Mode of travel: Rovers and Walking

Crew 265 EVA Report 29-04-2022

EVA # 5

Author: Levesque

Purpose of EVA: Communications testing and road condition evaluation.

Start time: 0930

End time: 1345

Narrative: The EVA team drove along Cow Dung Road testing radio communications along the way using the project radios via the repeater on North Ridge and a simplex MDRS channel. Upon parking the rovers at the entrance to the dinosaur quarry, the team proceeded on foot down into Lith Canyon. During their trek along the canyon floor and its south rim, several communication checks were made with the Hab to test the project repeater and the MDRS radio channel. Radio contacts continued on the project radios via the repeater, but none were achieved on the simplex MDRS channel because of the terrain. It wasn’t until the team reached a high point on the south rim that contact was re-established on the MDRS channel, where line of sight communications could be obtained. After completing the testing, the team returned to the rovers and traveled back to the Hab. About a mile from the Hab, the Opportunity rover overheated and had to stop for 10 minutes before proceeding. It did so again just short of its parking space in front of the station and had to be pushed to its recharge station.

Destination: Lith Canyon

Coordinates: UTM NAD27 CONUS 0518270 4256052

EVA Participants: Levesque, Iakymov, Blanco

Road(s) and Routes per MDRS map: Cow Dung Road to Quarry Road and return.

Mode of Travel: Opportunity and Perseverance and on foot.

Crew 265 EVA Report 27Apr2022

EVA # 3

Author: Levesque

Purpose of EVA: Conduct communications testing to the south of the Hab.

Start time: 0930
End time: 1145

Narrative: The team proceeded south from the Hab on Spirit and Perseverance to Kissing Camel Ridge, where it conducted its first radio check. From there, the crew split into two teams on foot, with two members proceeding on the south side of the West Ridge, and two headings on the south side of the East Ridge. While on foot, the teams conducted radio checks on both the repeater frequency and on a Hab frequency to test the ability of both to contact the Hab. GPS locations of these checks were captured by the HabCom in a log for later mapping. Both teams then returned to their rovers and continued south to Zubrin’s Head as the final check of the communications test before returning to the Hab.

Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge East and West and Zubrin’s Head

Coordinates: UTM NAD27 CONUS 0518292 4249252 (Kissing Camel Ridge); 519533 4248058 (Zubrin’s Head)

Participants: Levesque, Laude, Blanco, Licea

Road(s) and Routes per MDRS map: Cow Dung Road and return

Mode of Travel: Spirit and Perseverance and on foot

Crew 265 EVA Report 04/26/22

EVA # 1

Author: Levesque

Purpose of EVA: To set up a radio repeater on North Ridge.

Start time: 0830
End time: 1030

Narrative: The team proceeded on foot to the base of the North Ridge, where it began a steep climb to attain the ridge. Despite the steepness in a couple of sections and the heavy equipment, the team made good time. At the deployment site, the crew then set up the mast, antenna, and repeater before checking and securing all components. A final check was made to ensure the repeater was working before returning to the Hab.

Destination: North Ridge
Coordinates: UTM NAD27 CONUS 0518428 4251615
Participants: Levesque, Iakymov, Blanco, and Licea
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: North from the Hab
Mode of travel: On foot

Crew 265 EVA Report 26-04-2022

EVA # 2

Author: Laude

Purpose of EVA: To capture comparison coordinates, check road conditions, and test repeater operation.

Start time: 13:30

End time: 17:05

Narrative: We had a timely start and made some comm checks along the way to The Peanut. The Peanut is actually a ridge about 8M in height, 20M in-depth, and 100M in width and somewhat resembling a peanut on its side. Coordinates were recorded in 3 systems of coordinates for later comparison. We then returned to the rovers and drove to where Lowell Rd 1104 should intercept Galileo Rd 1104 and stopped. Galileo road conditions were mostly smooth with a few rougher spots requiring a crawl.

Laude walked the area to find the best access to Lowell Rd as there has been little traffic to make a noticeable trail at that point. Finding a probable route, we drove to what was obviously Lowell Rd and went some 2KM all the while logging GPS coordinates. Lowell road conditions were similar to Galileo’s except narrower.

A semi-skilled or better rover driver would be able to drive these roads. At that point, Percy (one passenger) was down to 74% SOC while Spirit (two) was 94% and so we doubled back to find easy access into Candor Chasm on foot. We entered the Chasm and traveled ~1.5KM testing radio comms and logging data as we went. There were blocks of conglomerate rock composed of pebbles and coarse sand particles indicating water flow in the distant past. Also, the stratigraphy of the walls indicated water flow. No other signs of liquid water were apparent. After completion, we traveled back to the hab. The EVA was completely successful and rewarding.

Destination: The Peanut and Candor Chasm

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): UTM NAD27 CONUS 0519598 4252491 (The Peanut); 0520347 4251078 (Candor Chasm entrance)

Participants: EVA Commander Laude, Iakymov, Treadwell

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Galileo Road to Lowell Road if accessible and return

Mode of travel: Spirit and Perseverance and on foot

Crew 245 EVA Report 20-04-2022
SOL: 10
EVA #: 15
Author: Vittorio Netti

Purpose of EVA: Fourth EVA of the spit cortisol test.

Start time: 10:45
End time: 13:00

Narrative: This EVA was part of 4 EVAs to evaluate the cortisol levels in 2 crew members before and after an EVA, with or without the help of a detailed map of the area obtained previously with a drone. In this EVA, Vittorio navigated between 2 waypoints with a map generated by a drone (the other crew member will have a GPS in case). The EVA team walked in the beautiful landscape, trying to find their way to the arrival waypoint. Once reached, they went back to the rover and got back to the Hab.

Destination: Tank wash
Coordinates (UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4252697 N; 519588 E

Participants: Vittorio Netti (EVA Commander), Nadia Maarouf (HSO), Simone Paternostro

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: North on Cow Dung Road 0110
Mode of travel: Rover and Walking