Category: EVA Report

Crew 263 EVA Report 05-03-2022

EVA # 16

Author: Valentine Bourgeois

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment Battery Change and reorientation of the antennas.

The atmospheric experiment includes 5 devices: LOAC (Light Optical Aerosol Counter), an Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air (Aerosol Counter), Mega-Ares (Electrical Field Counter) and a Weather station. The aim of this experiment is to do testing of Martian-Atmospheric Study Equipment and their maintenance by human operators. Performing their maintenance and set-up while wearing spacesuits and following EVA protocols is the purpose of the experiment. All devices are located at the same place.

Batteries for the LOAC, Mega-Ares and Purple Air need to be changed daily. Hence, during this maintenance EVA, the 3 batteries needed to be replaced. As there is a chance of snowing tonight and tomorrow, we also decided to bring the LOAC back to the station as it might be damaged by the snow.

Start time: 10:36

End time: 11:28

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 10:36 Depressurization ended at 10:41. EVA participants checked the rover batteries just in case. The obtained information is:

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Spirit: Usage Duration – 157.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 85.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 169.2 Battery Charge – 100%

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 10:46. The 2 batteries were replaced. Marine turned off the LOAC and disconnected the battery. Nicolas changed the battery of Mega-Ares and protected it with a second garbage bag. Valentine found some rocks to elevate the battery in case of snow tomorrow. Léa changed the Purple Air battery. The status of the devices was checked.

At 10:52, the participants left the atmospheric experiment location. With two old batteries and the LOAC. They have been placed in front of the air-lock to continue the EVA. We went to the antenna to fix it.

At 10:55, the participants arrived at the antenna location. Because of the wind the antennas have changed their orientation. We fixed it and place some more ropes and rocks to keep them from doing it again.

When we were almost done, Valentine’s earphone broke. She couldn’t hear anything but her teammates where able to hear her. We finished to fix the last rope and went back to the Hab. We took the old batteries and the LOAC with us to go back to the air-lock.

11:23 pressurization over.

Destination: Atmospheric experience site (at intersection between Cow Dung Road and Entrance Road) and the antenna site

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518288 E, 4250586 N

Participants :Valentine Bourgeois (EVA Leader), Léa Rouverand, Nicolas Wattelle and Marine Prunier

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road

Mode of travel: Foot

Crew 263 EVA Report 04-03-2022

EVA # 15

Author: Marine Prunier

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment Battery Change and Augmented Reality application testing with a HoloLens device.

Start time: 8:56

End time: 9:35

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 8:56 Depressurization ended at 9:01 and the participants exited the airlock.

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 09:08. The 3 batteries were replaced. Marine changed the LOAC battery and Cerise changed the Purple Air Battery and Mega-Ares batteries. Mathéo took back the stored data from the two last days of MegaAres. They returned to the Hab at 9:18.

Then the AR mapping of the station started. Following the same route taken in previous EVAs, the first waypoint was successfully placed on the RAM. The pictures were successfully taken as well by Marine Prunier the astronaut wearing the HoloLens. The following waypoints were placed in the Hab, GreenHab, Science Dome and Solar Observatory. The pictures were successfully taken at every point.

Once the waypoints had been placed, the second tour of the station began. The visible waypoints were reported back to HabCom and will be analyzed.

The astronauts entered the airlock at 9:35 and pressurization began. At 9:40 they entered the Hab.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4250750 N, 518250 E

Participants: Cerise Cuny, Mathéo Fouchet and Marine Prunier. Nicolas Wattelle as HabCom.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: NaN

Mode of travel: Foot

Vehicles used (If applicable): NaN

Crew 263 EVA 14 Report 03-03-2022

EVA # 14

Author: Léa Rouverand

Purpose of EVA: Replacing the batteries for the atmospheric experiments, Analysis of geology transition zones using a handheld LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) analyzer.

Start time: 09:00

End time: 11:27

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 09:02. Depressurization ended at 09:07. EVA participants checked the rover batteries. The obtained information is:

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Spirit: Usage Duration – 157.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 85.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 169.1 Battery Charge – 100%

The EVA participants took Opportunity and Curiosity at 09:11 and drove on Entrance Road until Cow Dung Road. Batteries of the Atmospheric Experiments -LOAC, Mega-Ares, Purple Air- were replaced. The old batteries were placed on the rover trunks (09:17).

The participants drove on Cow Dung Road until Marble Ritual, as the road was muddy, the participants they stopped and parked the rovers along Cow Dung Road at 09:19. The EVA participant walked on Cow Dung Road until the junction with Stream Bed Connector (09:40).
They walked on Stream Bed Connector and reached two points of interest at 10:00 (the two points of interest were located at 519704E 4251292N and 519574E 4251279N).

The EVA participants stayed about an hour in this area, they proceeded on sketches, pictures and taking LIBS measurements. A drone was launched to take pictures of the study outcrops and to identify the entrance to Candor Chasma (area of interest for future geology studies).

At 11:00, the participants left the points of interest. At 11:21 they reached the rovers parked on Cow Dung Road

At 11:25, the participants arrived at the Hab:

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 85.2 Battery Charge – 97%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 169.2 Battery Charge – 97%

They entered Airlock and at 11:27, the pressurization was over at 11:32.

Destination: Zone F -final point of interest reached located on the Stream Bed Connector road at 519704E 4251292N

Participants: Léa Rouverand (EVA leader), Nicolas Wattelle, Mathéo Fouchet, Valentine Bourgois. HabCom was Cerise Cuny.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road

Mode of travel: Rover on Entrance Road and Cow Dung Road till Marble ritual, foot on Cow Dung Road and on Stream Bed Connector.

Crew 263 EVA Report 02-03-2022

EVA #13

Author: Mathéo Fouchet

Purpose of EVA: Changing the batteries of atmospheric experiments, Testing an EVA security protocol, and Search and Rescue exercise with a Thermal Drone with teams less than a kilometer apart.

Start time: 9:13 am
End time: 10:25 am

Narrative: We left the airlock at 9:13 and checked the rover batteries (all full), then we took Curiosity and Opportunity as requested and went to the atmospheric experiment at 9:16. We changed the batteries of MegaAres and the LOAC and we put back the Purple Air device. We went back to rovers at 9:26 to go to Robert’s Rock Garden, Opportunity and Curiosity had 100% battery.

We noticed that we passed Robert’s Rock Garden for approximately 20 meters, so we turned around and stopped the rovers next to Robert’s Rock Garden at 9:34. We checked the rovers’ batteries: Opportunity at 98% and Curiosity at 95%.

To implement the Search and Rescue with Drone experiment, the Blue team (Valentine and Elena) walked in the East direction. Then, the Red team launched the drone at 9:46 to look for the Blue team. During this time, the Blue team tried to implement the Security Protocol, everything went well and Valentine acted the «victim» well. The Red team saw the Blue team at 9:50 thanks to the drone’s camera. The drone stayed in the air to help the Red team to reach the Blue team, we carefully found an easy way to join the others. Both teams gathered at 9:57 thanks to the drone vision. All 4 EVA members reached the rovers (still 98% for Opportunity and 95% for Curiosity) at 10:17. The radio contact between the two teams has never been lost.

We finally stopped and plugged the rovers at the RAM and reached the airlock at 10:25.

Destination: Intersection between Entrance Road and Cow Dung Road, Zone I, and Kissing Camel Ridge E

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): Atmospheric Experiment: 518288 E, 4250586 N; 4249500W, 518350S (entrance of Robert’s Rock Garden), 4249500W, 518500S (Kissing Camel Ridge E.)

Participants: Valentine Bourgeois, Mathéo Fouchet (EVA Leader), Cerise Cuny, Elena Lopez-Contreras.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road.

Mode of travel: Foot at Kissing Camel Ridge E, Rover until Robert’s Rock Garden

Crew 263 EVA Report 03-01-2022

EVA # 11

Author: Nicolas WATTELLE

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment maintenance (battery change, recovering data from PurpleAir)

The atmospheric experiment includes 5 devices: LOAC (Light Optical Aerosol Counter), an Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air (Aerosol Counter), Mega-Ares (Electrical Field Counter) and a Weather station. The aim of this experiment is to do testing of Martian-Atmospheric Study Equipment and their maintenance by human operators. Performing their maintenance and set-up while wearing spacesuits and following EVA protocols is the purpose of the experiment. All devices are located at the same place.

Batteries for the LOAC, MegaAres, the Electrical Field Mill and Purple Air needs to be changed daily. Hence, during this maintenance EVA, the 3 batteries (the Field Mill and MegaAres use the same battery) needed to be replaced.

Start time: 08:59

End time: 09:19

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 08:57. Depressurization ended at 09:02.

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 09:06. The batteries of the LOAC and MegaAres were changed. Valentine was in charge of changing LOAC battery. Nicolas changed the MegaAres battery. In order to recover PurpleAir data (because we can not pull out the SD card during EVA), Mathéo took it off the mast and took it back to the station. The device will be put back on tomorrow.

At 09:11, the participants left the atmospheric experiment location.

At 09:15, the participants arrived at the Hab and entered Airlock.

09:20, pressurization over.

Destination: Atmospheric experience site (at intersection between Cow Dung Road and Entrance Road)

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518288 E, 4250586 N

Participants : Nicolas Wattelle (EVA Leader), Mathéo Fouchet, Valentine Bourgeois. HabCom was Marine Prunier.

Crew 263 EVA Report 28-02-2022

EVA # 10

Author: Elena López-Contreras González

Purpose of EVA: Augmented Reality application testing with a HoloLens device and drone image capture of the station.

Start time: 10:30h

End time: 10:51h

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 10:25h. Depressurization ended at 10:30h and the participants exited the airlock. Elena placed the drone on the ground and checked Perseverance.

The EVA started 10 minutes later than scheduled due to troubleshooting the application. Nevertheless, the re-enter time is well within the scheduled limit.

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

The drone was correctly deployed from the inside of the Hab. Several videos and pictures were taken, most notably a Birdseye view of the station, a view with the antenna and a desert view.

Following the same route taken in previous EVAs, the first waypoint was successfully placed on the RAM. The pictures were successfully taken as well by Cerise Cuny, the astronaut wearing the HoloLens. The following waypoints were placed in the Hab, GreenHab, Science Dome and Solar Observatory. The pictures were successfully taken in every point.

Once the waypoints had been placed, the second tour of the station began. The visible waypoints were reported back to HabCom and will be analyzed.

At 10:43, after finishing the second tour of the station, the drone was retrieved –the pilot posed it on the ground for safe retrieval-.

The astronauts entered the airlock at 10:46h and pressurization began. At 10:51h they both entered the Hab.

Nominal EVA and the application was successfully tested.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4250750 N, 518250 E

Participants: Elena López-Contreras and Cerise Cuny. Léa Rouverand as HabCom.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: NaN

Mode of travel: Foot

Vehicles used (If applicable): NaN

Crew 263 EVA Report 28-02-2022

EVA # 9

Author: Valentine Bourgeois

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment Battery Change

The atmospheric experiment includes 5 devices: LOAC (Light Optical Aerosol Counter), an Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air (Aerosol Counter), Mega-Ares (Electrical Field Counter) and a Weather station. The aim of this experiment is to do testing of Martian-Atmospheric Study Equipment and their maintenance by human operators. Performing their maintenance and set-up while wearing spacesuits and following EVA protocols is the purpose of the experiment. All devices are located at the same place.

Batteries for the LOAC, the Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air and Mega-Ares needs to be changed daily. The Electrical Field Mill and Mega-Ares share the same battery. Hence, during this maintenance EVA, the 3 batteries needed to be replaced.

Start time: 08:58

End time: 09:35

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 08:58. Depressurization ended at 09:03. EVA participants checked the rover batteries just in case. The obtained information is:

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Spirit: Usage Duration – 157.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 84.7 Battery Charge – 100%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 168.7 Battery Charge – 100%

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 09:09. The 3 batteries were replaced. Lea and Valentine changed the LOAC battery and changed the SD card to collect data. Valentine changed the Purple Air Battery and Nicolas changed the Electrical Field Mill and Mega-Ares batteries. The status of the devices was checked and we realized that the Electrical Field Mill was not working anymore. The three of us have dismounted it to bring it back to the station for maintenance.

At 09:25, the participants left the atmospheric experiment location.

At 09:29, the participants arrived at the Hab and entered Airlock.

09:35, pressurization over.

Destination: Atmospheric experience site (at intersection between Cow Dung Road and Entrance Road)

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518288 E, 4250586 N

Participants : Valentine Bourgeois (EVA leader), Nicolas Wattelle, Léa Rouverand. HabCom was Marine Prunier.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road

Mode of travel: Foot

Crew 263 EVA Report 28-02-2022

EVA # 9

Author: Valentine Bourgeois

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment Battery Change

The atmospheric experiment includes 5 devices: LOAC (Light Optical Aerosol Counter), an Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air (Aerosol Counter), Mega-Ares (Electrical Field Counter) and a Weather station. The aim of this experiment is to do testing of Martian-Atmospheric Study Equipment and their maintenance by human operators. Performing their maintenance and set-up while wearing spacesuits and following EVA protocols is the purpose of the experiment. All devices are located at the same place.

Batteries for the LOAC, the Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air and Mega-Ares needs to be changed daily. The Electrical Field Mill and Mega-Ares share the same battery. Hence, during this maintenance EVA, the 3 batteries needed to be replaced.

Start time: 08:58

End time: 09:35

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 08:58. Depressurization ended at 09:03. EVA participants checked the rover batteries just in case. The obtained information is:

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Spirit: Usage Duration – 157.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 84.7 Battery Charge – 100%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 168.7 Battery Charge – 100%

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 09:09. The 3 batteries were replaced. Lea and Valentine changed the LOAC battery and changed the SD card to collect data. Valentine changed the Purple Air Battery and Nicolas changed the Electrical Field Mill and Mega-Ares batteries. The status of the devices was checked and we realized that the Electrical Field Mill was not working anymore. The three of us have dismounted it to bring it back to the station for maintenance.

At 09:25, the participants left the atmospheric experiment location.

At 09:29, the participants arrived at the Hab and entered Airlock.

09:35, pressurization over.

Destination: Atmospheric experience site (at intersection between Cow Dung Road and Entrance Road)

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518288 E, 4250586 N

Participants : Valentine Bourgeois (EVA leader), Nicolas Wattelle, Léa Rouverand. HabCom was Marine Prunier.

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road

Mode of travel: Foot

Crew 263 EVA Report 27-02-2022

EVA # 8

Author: Elena Lopez Contreras Gonzalez

Purpose of EVA: Augmented Reality application testing with a HoloLens device. This AR tool has been designed for astronauts and future geological fieldwork on the Moon and Mars.

Start time: 15:00

End time: 15:15

Narrative: Mathéo (the astronaut wearing the HoloLens) and Elena (the support astronaut) entered the airlock at 14:54h. Inside the airlock, Mathéo launched the application successfully. There was no need for troubleshooting or restarts.

At 15:00h they exited the airlock. The application was functioning nominally. The first waypoint was placed in the RAM. Due to the luminosity, the menu was not as visible at it should have been. Therefore, it took a couple of minutes to find a shadowed place for the menu to be visible. The waypoint was successfully placed reported to HabCom. The pictures were correctly taken as well.

Then, waypoints were placed in the Hab, the GreenHab, the Sciende Dome and the Musk’s Solar Observatory. All were successfully placed by Mathéo and there was no need for troubleshooting or application restarts. However, a second waypoint was visible in the Science Dome. The current hypothesis is that it was placed by the previous astronaut to test the application.

Afterwards, a quick tour of the station was done, to check the waypoint placements. All of them had disappeared, with the exception of the ones placed in the Science Dome. The working hypothesis is that it was too bright outside for the waypoints to be seen –as the Science Dome was shadowed-.

Mathéo and Elena entered the airlock at 15:10h after having successfully completed the two tours around the station. The pressurization was completed at 15:15h, time at which they re-entered the Hab. Mathéo had been support astronaut twice before, therefore, he was already familiar with the application and the potential issues that he could encounter.

EVA went nominally and the application was successfully tested.

Crew 263 EVA Report 27-02-2022

EVA # 7

Author: Nicolas WATTELLE

Purpose of EVA: Atmospheric Experiment maintenance (batterie change, MegaAres Setup)

The atmospheric experiment includes 5 devices: LOAC (Light Optical Aerosol Counter), an Electrical Field Mill, Purple Air (Aerosol Counter), Mega-Ares (Electrical Field Counter) and a Weather station. The aim of this experiment is to do testing of Martian-Atmospheric Study Equipment and their maintenance by human operators. Performing their maintenance and set-up while wearing spacesuits and following EVA protocols is the purpose of the experiment. All devices are located at the same place.

Batteries for the LOAC, MegaAres, the Electrical Field Mill and Purple Air needs to be changed daily. Hence, during this maintenance EVA, the 3 batteries (the Field Mill and MegaAres use the same battery) needed to be replaced.

Start time: 08: 58

End time: 09:55

Narrative: EVA Participants entered the airlock at 08:58. Depressurization ended at 09:03. EVA participants checked the rover batteries just in case. The obtained information is:

Perseverance: Usage Duration – 228.1 Battery Charge – 100%

Spirit: Usage Duration – 157.2 Battery Charge – 100%

Opportunity: Usage Duration – 84.7 Battery Charge – 100%

Curiosity: Usage Duration – 168.7 Battery Charge – 100%

The EVA participants arrived at the Atmospheric Experiment location at 09:10. The 3 batteries were replaced. Marine was in charge of changing LOAC battery, she did it without any problem to declare. Nicolas changed the Purple Air and Electrical Field Mill batteries, and tried to recover data. But there, while taking out the waterproof protection, condensation appeared inside the box. Then it was impossible to turn it on again. Matheo set the MegaAres antenna, the installation went well, the measurement started correctly.

Nicolas’ radio moved out from his ear at 9:19, but stayed inside the helmet. He could still hear the radio, but had to make efforts speaking to be heard.

At 09:46, the participants left the atmospheric experiment location.