Category: EVA Report

Crew 306 EVA Report 30-12-2024
EVA # 09
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The first purpose of this EVA was to make it back to the base of Eos Chasma to allow Crew Commander Jesus to assess the base for soils and rocks that may be especially relevant to his project, and to log more data on Crew Commander Elizabeth Howard’s EMF meter from a location deeper into the chasma compared to yesterday’s EVA. Additionally, the EVA team performed a “search and rescue” mission for Crew Commander Elizabeth Howard’s phone, which was lost during yesterday’s EVA.
Start time: 10:00 AM
End time: 14:13 PM
Narrative: After arriving at the entrance to the chasma, the EVA crew kept a steady pace as they headed towards the base of the chasma, since it had taken the full four and a half hours to make the same trip yesterday. Although the crew kept an eye out and collected a few rocks during the walk to the base of the chasm, no additional soil samples were taken for Crew Commander Jesus Meza’s project. Additionally, although the crew did not stop along the way, there was not enough time for the EVA crew to both take EMF data at the chasma base and still make it back on time. After making it to the base of Eos Chasma to check for any possible soils to collect and finding the lost phone, the EVA crew headed back along the same route.
Destination: Eos Chasma
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 521750E, 4256000N
Participants: Jesus Meza, Adriana Sanchez, Elizabeth Howard
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: From MDRS, the crew drove north up Cow Dung Road to coordinates (518250, 4253750). The rovers were parked there along the side of the road. EVA crew then walked east along the creek bed that feeds into the entrance of Eos Chasma at (519500, 4254000). They walked along the inside of the canyon, reaching the base of the chasma (521750, 4256000) before heading back along the same route.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 306 EVA Report 01-01-2025

EVA # 11

Author: Ryan Villarreal

Purpose of EVA: The first objective of this EVA was to test Crew Journalist Rodrigo Schmitt’s DRONE project for GPS and Li-DAR data collection capability. The second objective was to collect EMF meter readings from the region for Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard’s research.

Start time: 10:02

End time: 12:55

Narrative: The EVA Crew stepped out of the airlock at 10:02 and proceeded to drive Perseverance and Opportunity South along Cow Dung Road until reaching the intersection of Trail 1101 and White Rock Canyon. The crew dismounted the rovers and took a short walk to the bottom of White Rock Canyon to begin testing the DRONE system. The DRONE was unable to collect data due to an issue connecting wirelessly via SSH to the data collection system. The crew spent 30 minutes troubleshooting before determining it would need to be investigated back at the HAB where the onboard computer could be directly accessed. The crew then continued the mission of EMF readings by walking out of the canyon and North along Cow Dung Road, placing the EMF reader at the start of trail 1101. The crew activated the reader and buried it, marking the location for later retrieval. As the EMF reader needs to be active over a period of time, the crew continued to hike West on trail 1101 to scan for potential iron-containing rocks along the trail for Crew Commander Jesus Meza’s research. The crew stopped at the base of Barrainca Butte before turning around and taking the same trail back to the EMF reader. The crew recovered the EMF reader and returned to the parked rovers and drove back to MDRS, arriving at 12:55. From this EVA, potential drone locations were marked for EVA #12, and approximately 1.5 hours of EMF readings were recorded. The crew also gathered 4 samples of potentially iron-containing rocks for analysis by Crew Commander Jesus Meza. The communication issues for the DRONE system were investigated after the EVA and were successfully resolved for EVA #12.

Destination: White Rock Canyon at (520250E, 4247500N), and Barrainca Butte at (519000E, 4247400N)

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Rovers were parked at (520216E, 4247499N), and the crew hiked to White Rock Canyon (520297E, 4247567N), before then hiking to Barrainca Butte (519050E, 4247313N).

Participants: Crew Engineer Keegan Chavez, Crew Journalist Rodrigo Schmitt, and Health and Safety Officer Ryan Villarreal

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road taken South to White Rock Canyon. Rovers were parked on the road at (520216E, 4247499N) and the crew proceeded on foot Northeast into the White Rock Canyon. The crew then proceeded Northwest to Trail 1101, which was taken to Barrainca Butte.

Mode of travel: Rovers along Cow Dung Road from the MDRS campus until disembarking at (520216E, 4247499N) and proceeding on foot.

EVA # 01
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The purpose of this EVA was to test equipment and team operations for half of the crew. Crew members familiarized themselves with the process of driving to and from EVA sites, team communications, and equipment use.
Start time: 10:00 AM
End time: 11:30 AM
Narrative: Prior to going on EVA, crew members completed pre-EVA surveys; these are administered by the crew HSO and are intended to gauge how crew members are feeling about the mission. Spirit and Perseverance were driven to the site. During the EVA, Jesus showed Adriana and Keegan around the Marble Ritual and introduced them to the tradition of having each crew member find a marble to put in one of the baskets. EVA members observed the geography and variety of rocks in the area and got accustomed to how their suits fit. Crew Geologist, Elizabeth Howard, acted as CAPCOM. After EVA, the crew completed post-EVA surveys from the HSO and debriefed with the second EVA group.
Destination: Marble Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518800E, 4251000N
Participants: Jesus Meza, Adriana Sanchez, Keegan Chavez
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: EVA began at MDRS and travel Northeast on Cow Dung Road 0110. The EVA took place at Marble Ritual, with the crew intending to walk approximately 1000 ft East of Marble ritual. The crew followed the same route back to the habitat.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 306 EVA Report 23-12-2024
EVA # 02
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The purpose of this EVA was to test equipment and team operations for half of the crew. Crew members familiarized themselves with the process of driving to and from EVA sites, team communications, and equipment use.
Start time: 12:00 PM
End time: 13:30 PM
Narrative: Because the first and second EVAs of the day were back-to-back, the post-EVA survey from EVA 01 doubled as the pre-EVA survey for EVA 02. Spirit and Opportunity were driven to the site. During the EVA, crew members observed geography south of Marble Ritual, deviating slightly from the planned route eastward. This deviation was observed by mission support and corrected for with directions from crew CAPCOM. Crew Engineer, Keegan Chavez acted as CAPCOM. While the first crew of the day had stayed on Channel 1, which is shared between the EVA and Hab crew members, the second crew attempted to switch between this and Channel 2. Channel 2 only transmits between crew on EVA; switching channels while in EVA gear proved to be tricky and is something the crew anticipates getting smoother at. After EVA, the crew completed post-EVA surveys from the HSO. So far, all members of Crew 306 have opted to go on EVA using the two-piece suits.
Destination: Marble Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518800E, 4251000N
Participants: Elizabeth Howard, Ryan Villarreal, Rodrigo Schmitt
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: EVA began at MDRS and travel Northeast on Cow Dung Road 0110. The EVA took place at Marble Ritual, with the crew intending to walk approximately 1000 ft East of Marble ritual. The crew followed the same route back to the habitat.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 306 EVA Report 24-12-2024
EVA # 03
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The purpose of this EVA was to begin collecting data for the three projects that require EVAs. Crew Geologist would collect EMF meter readings and take a sample of the soil used by the instrument, Commander would collect samples of soil from the Kissing Camel Ridge area, and Crew Journalist would test the DRONE battery capabilities and make preliminary flights.
Start time: 10:00 AM
End time: 13:00 PM
Narrative: After arriving at Kissing Camel Ridge on Perseverance and Opportunity, the group scouted for a flat location where DRONE could test fly. After checking a couple of possible locations, Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard selected a spot for the EMF meter to take readings from and placed the instrument after digging approximately two inches down. Crew Journalist Rodrigo Schmitt was able to test fly the Li-DAR/Drone system for four flights to record data. About an hour and a half into the EVA, the drone battery was getting low, making the fourth test flight the last one for the day; for future EVA planning it is good that the Li-DAR/Drone system was able to stay powered for a reasonable duration of the EVA. Crew Commander Jesus Meza used a magnet to scout for locations with metals present in the soil, and samples were taken from a few locations around the Kissing Camel Ridge site. Several different soil compositions were sampled. The EVA crew walked around the site to check for locations with possible hematite, although none were found at Kissing Camel Ridge. Before leaving, Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard picked up the EMF meter and sampled the soil where the instrument had been placed, then the group traveled back to MDRS.
Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518500E, 4249500N
Participants: Jesus Meza, Rodrigo Schmitt, Elizabeth Howard
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: EVA began from MDRS; EVA crew drove southwards on Cow Dung Road, and parked slightly North of Kissing Camel Ridges East and West. The crew took data within the bounds of (518000E, 4249500N) and (518500E, 4249500N) before returning to MDRS along the same route.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 306 EVA Report 25-12-2024
EVA # 04
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The primary purpose of this EVA was to take Li-DAR scan data using the drone. Because the Li-DAR/Drone system was troubleshot following EVA #03, the crew used this EVA to check that the issues were repaired.
Start time: 14:11 PM
End time: 15:20 PM
Narrative: After heading to a less rocky area around the Habitat, the EVA crew set up the helipad and Drone, then began testing for connection. Using the external keyboard, they were able to trigger the data collection process, solving the issue observed during EVA 03. Crew Journalist Rodrigo Schmitt piloted the Drone. Initially, a southward wind was blowing on the Drone during flight but not to the point that it interfered with the system’s flight capabilities. However, the Drone made an automated landing due to the on-board sensors detecting electromagnetic interference (EMI). Upon this happening, the EVA crew also discovered that the custom 3D printed Li-DAR scanner brace had a fracture in it. In order to continue flight testing, the crew used duct tape and electrical tape to secure the brace and then recalibrated the Drone. During the next flight, the southward winds were too strong, and the Drone was landed again. Because the conditions were not conducive to good controller signal, the crew finished the EVA for the day by inspecting areas of the Habitat that had been fixed up by Crew Engineer Keegan Chavez yesterday.
Destination: MDRS Habitat
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518250E, 4250900N
Participants: Rodrigo Schmitt, Ryan Villarreal, Keegan Chavez
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: After exiting the Habitat, the EVA crew walked to a distance within 500 ft in the eastward direction to a location with smoother terrain for testing.
Mode of travel: Walking

Crew 306 EVA Report 26-12-2024
EVA # 05
Author: Elizabeth Howard
Purpose of EVA: The primary purpose of this EVA was to collect samples for Crew Commander Jesus Meza’s in-situ resource utilization project and take magnetic readings for Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard’s project. Samples were collected from Hab Ridge, and the EVA crew also looked for locations with possible hematite to collect.
Start time: 10:46 AM
End time: 14:19 PM
Narrative: When the EVA crew left for Hab Ridge, the weather was overcast; they stopped at a few locations along the way to collect a couple of samples for Crew Commander Jesus Meza’s research. Once getting onto the collapsed road leading to Hab Ridge, Crew Geologist Elizabeth Howard chose a spot to leave her EMF meter to the side of the trail after digging a spot approximately three inches down and collecting a sample of the soil the meter would be taking readings from. Once the EVA crew reached the location near Hab Ridge that is suspected to have hematite, they surveyed the area for it and collected some rocks from the area that matched the description of hematite. As the sky cleared and became sunny, the EVA crew headed back, picking up the EMF meter and turning onto Sagan Street instead of going directly back. They traveled about a third of the way to the base of Skyline Ridge; Crew Commander Jesus Meza collected a couple more samples before the crew headed back. Crew Health and Safety Officer (HSO) Ryan Villarreal and Crew Engineer Keegan Chavez acted as CAPCOMs.
Destination: Hab Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 4250250E, 518000N
Participants: Jesus Meza, Adriana Sanchez, Elizabeth Howard
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: The EVA team left the HAB and traveled on foot towards North Ridge, then took the collapsed road upwards to Hab Ridge (4251500, 517750). The team then traveled south along the top of the ridge towards an area marked on the geology guide as having “Hematite Concretions” at (4250250, 518000). The team then traveled back north to Sagan Street. The EVA team had time to travel west along Sagan Street towards Skyline Ridge (4251500, 515000), making it about a third of the way to the base of the ridge to take samples before returning to MDRS along the same routes.
Mode of travel: Walking

Crew 305 EVA Report 15-12-2024

EVA # 07

Author: Ian Pamerleau

Purpose of EVA: Obtain Paleosol samples, measure ephemeral stream widths, and scout south of Kissing Camel Ridge for media day.

Start time: 10:00 hr

End time: 12:55 hr

Narrative: The initial plan for EVA 07 was to visit the area just south of Kissing Camel Ridge (KCR) to take samples and measurements and generally familiarize ourselves with the area for Wednesday (media day). However, we decided it might be a good idea to go a bit further south/southeast along the channel for EVA 07 and save the area adjacent to KCR for Wednesday, which we would have to drive through and be able to plan out a bit. I believe an error occurred on my end when I had the EVA request copied from the template document into an email draft waiting for comms, but then only adjusted the document to reflect this decision and never updated the email draft before sending. Therefore, the updated, more southern coordinate was not in our official EVA 07 request. I made another error in the field which led to us walking even further south along the stream than I anticipated. I was searching for a large tributary (at approximately 520253E, 4248330N) that flows into the main wash during this EVA. I expected a relatively large tributary flowing into the channel (as it was the junction of two streams a little bit upstream). Based on my topographic analysis before the EVA with a digital elevation model (DEM), this tributary should have been distinct form others in the region. However, when we passed it, I mistook it as one of the many smaller tributaries due to its size and similarity with the other small junctions into the main wash. Therefore, we kept moving south along the streambed, and I had assumed I mistook the distance to the tributary from the map (the DEM is fairly coarse compared to satellite images but suitable to define streams). Due to the limited time of our EVA and both geologists in the field already, I did not radio the Hab for advice, and we just returned to the rovers after traveling south for a bit and ended up going much further than what was on the official EVA 07 request. I apologize for my clerical error with the email and for the mishap in the field.

Ian led the EVA accompanied by Peter and Hunter. Curiosity and Opportunity began the day with 291.4 hr and 197.3 hr, respectively, and 100% battery each. We took Cow Dung Road south for the first time ever and arrived at the bend in Cow Dung Road at about 519500E, 4248300N. The team disembarked from the rovers and headed east towards the stream. The tributary we parked the rovers by soon flowed into the main channel that flows north from KCR, which is probably the largest ephemeral stream we have been in! Peter and I took some width measurements while Hunter was taking some samples along a cut bank of the stream. We then headed south in search of some large tributaries Ian planned on taking measurements of. We went up a couple small tributaries, but passed the main one Ian was looking for unfortunately as it blended in as another small tributary (there were quite a few). We kept heading south in search of a larger tributary, but did not find one. Instead, we found a lot of igneous rocks, which is something that was very rare or not present in Candor and Eos Chasma. At our stopping point, where we turned back towards the rovers, we noted that there was an ATV path that led down from Cow Dung Road closer to the main channel for a future EVA. We also saw a great outcrop of many of the stratigraphy exposed throughout the MDRS campus. On the way back to the rovers, we took another stream measurement as Hunter took some Paleosol samples, but both Ian and Hunter think they could get some more data out of the region. When the team returned to the Hab, the rovers were at 291.8 hr and 73% battery (Curiosity) and 197.8 hr 69% battery (Opportunity).

Destination: Main ephemeral stream running south & the tributaries nearby

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): drive rovers to 519750E, 4248250N; traveled east to the main ephemeral stream then south as far as 520341E, 4247512N.

Participants: Ian Pamerleau, Hunter Vannier, Peter Zoss

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS driveway, Cow Dung Road south through Kissing Camel Ridge down to the bend in the road going east (about 519750E, 4248250N). Then dismount and walk along the stream south.

Mode of travel: Rovers (Opportunity and Curiosity) & walking

Crew 305 EVA Report 16-12-2024

EVA # 08

Author: Ian Pamerleau

Purpose of EVA: Obtain samples on Hab Ridge, take a stream measurement east of Hab Ridge Road, obtain samples near Zubrin’s Head, take two stream measurements east of Zubrin’s Head.

Start time: 12:00 hr

End time: 15:25 hr

Narrative: Ian led the EVA accompanied by Hunter and Spruha. We had planned on testing Hermes around the Hab and in the field, but he was not operational for EVA 08. Instead, we proceeded with the other plans for the EVA. We began by walking north of the Hab along route 1103. Crossing over the flatter lands before the climb to Hab Ridge, Spruha noted that it would be a good place to test her rover on a later EVA. We walked the slope up to Hab Ridge to get some pictures of Factory Butte and the large Mancos Shale exposure to the west. Hunter took some samples of a bleached paleosol that had peculiar red/brown dots throughout the unit along the climb. We then headed east to take a stream measurement of a small flow that was less than 400 m upstream from where we took our first measurement and eventually flows into Candor Chasma. We then walked back to the Hab and loaded our gear into Perseverance and Spirit. Each rover was at 100% battery and had 257.9 hr and 295.8 hr, respectively. We drove the rovers to Zubrin’s Head and parked the rovers where we did for EVA 07. Hunter finished taking paleosol samples from EVA 07. After the samples were done, we walked to the main ephemeral stream east of Zubrin’s Head and took a measurement of a tributary to the north and of the main channel. We then walked back to the rovers and returned to the Hab, noting where we would return for the EVA on Wednesday to Spruha. At the end of the EVA, Perseverance had 88% battery and 258.3 hrs, and Spirit had 88% battery and 296.2 hrs.

Destination: Hab Ridge Road; SE of North Ridge; E of Zubrin’s Head

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518000E, 4251500N (halfway up Hab Ridge sample); 518690E, 4251605N (stream measurement); 519614E, 4248284N (paleosols); 519687E, 4248746N (stream measurements)

Participants: Ian Pamerleau, Hunter Vannier, Spruha Vashi

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Route 1103; MDRS driveway to Cow Dung Road heading south until Zubrin’s Head

Mode of travel: Walk to Hab Ridge Road and back; rovers (Perseverance & Spirit) to Zubrin’s Head, walk to samples and stream

Crew 305 EVA Report 17-12-2024

EVA # 09

Author: Ian Pamerleau

Purpose of EVA: Test rover parts and get a few stream measurements.

Start time: 13:35 hr

End time: 15:00 hr

Narrative: Unfortunately, Hermes is still under construction. However, Spruha cleverly found a way to conduct some tests about how the rover will likely operate when it is functional. Ian led the EVA accompanied by Spruha and Rashi. We walked up Route 1103 to the region north of the Hab. Spruha and Rashi took measurements of Herme’s wheel tracks as it crossed over different terrain like sand and desert pavement. As they did this, Ian was taking some stream measurements of flows that came down from Hab Ridge and eventually led to Kissing Camel Ridge. After some measurements and observations were taken, we headed north at a quick pace because with our limited time, we wanted to find a disposable camera that was left behind accidentally on EVA 08. As we searched for the camera, “aliens” ironically took pictures of us with their own cameras. We ran out of time before finding the camera as the region had many valleys it could have been hiding in, if it is even at that location as we think. We hustled back to the Hab and entered the RAM for depressurization.

Destination: North of Hab, a little SE of North Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518250E, 4251500N (Hermes wheel testing); 518690E, 4251605N (looking for lost camera)

Participants: Ian Pamerleau, Rashi Jain, Spruha Vashi

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Route 1103

Mode of travel: Walking