Category: EVA Report

Crew 223 EVA Report 07-03-2020
EVA # 6
Author: Luc Fortin (Engineer)
Purpose of EVA: Change the batteries for MegaARES and LOAC. Install the
solar oven. Test a protocol for a soundless EVA.
Start time: 09:09 AM
End time: 11:20 AM
Narrative: This EVA was very special for us as it was a soundless one.
So I made an extensive briefing before entering in the airlock to make
sure everybody (including the Habcom of course) had the protocol
(detailed in the EVA request) in mind.
The five minutes (09:09 – 09:14 AM) of depressurization were the
opportunity for each of us to think about their upcoming actions and
tasks. We walked out of the airlock, Aurélien installed the solar oven,
while Clément and Marion checked the 3 rovers, and I checked the level
of water in the static tank. Then Marion, as communicator, was in charge
to communicate through the window all our data to Valentin, the Habcom.
She did it successfully.
Then we drove to the LOAC and MegaARES with one passing between rovers 1
and 2 that went smooth. In 5min, we change the batteries of the 2
instruments, still without a word ! We leaved the place at 09:33 AM and
arrived at Reservoir Dam 11min later. The protocol for the rover ride
was very efficient and safe for both teams.
We walked to the Reservoir which was almost empty. Then we decided to
walk East in the canyon. Landscapes were really amazing. Was also the
opportunity for us to test our communication protocol, especially the 1
to 5 scale, used to know how each EVA team member feels. It was
efficient, but we found that it can be improved. Because two members
answered 3 out of 5 for the fatigue but during the debriefing, we
noticed that they had a really different interpretation of that number
(one was about to ask to go back home, while the other one was almost
ok). So we need to clarify what does each number correspond to, to make
sure we all have the same reference scale.
We leaved Reservoir Dam at 10:57 AM, and arrived at 11:10 AM in the Hab
zone. As planned, the Habcom was waiting for us, looking through the
window with binoculars. He gave us the approval to park the rovers near
the RAM. Marion once again was in charge of communicating the rovers’
data to the Habcom. We brought back the solar oven and entered in the
airlock at 11:15 AM for the 5 last minutes of silence of the day !
It was an interesting experience for all of us, and it was the
opportunity to demonstrate that this type of protocol is efficient and
usable in case of loss of all our radios during an EVA !
Destination: Reservoir Dam.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 518500 4250800 and 12S 518350 4252800
EVA Participants: Luc Fortin (EVA Leader, Engineer), Aurélien Mure
(Commander), Marion Lebrun (Crew Scientist), Clément Plagne (Journalist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Driving (and walking when off-road)
Vehicles used (If applicable): Rovers Perseverance and Spirit

Crew 223 EVA Report 06-03-2020
EVA #5
Author: Clément Plagne
Purpose of EVA: Change the batteries for MegaARES and LOAC.
Familiarising ourselves with the terrain and the hiking required for
exploration of the environment. Testing the recently repaired suits.
Start Time: 09:07
End Time: 11:04
Narrative:
We left the airlock at 09:12, a bit later than planned. Checks for rover
status and water level went nominally. Valentin was tasked with testing
the Honda ATV, that had failed to start previously – attempt was a
success and Valentin reached first gear to confirm ATV was running.
We reached the LOAC/MegaARES area at 09:20, and battery replacement
tasked went nominally as usual.
We took off for North Ridge and parked the ATVs near Stream Bed
Connector, heading west by foot. We witnessed a helicopter making a
close approach near us and kept going. We hiked through steep terrain,
trying to make our way to the top of the Ridge but stopping due to
safety concerns.
Our hike lasted for a bit less than an hour, going from hilly, red-hued
hills to rockier zones, to gray, nearly Moon-like zones. We decided to
leave earlier instead of attempting a tough looking climb in a rocky area.
We arrived back near the hab at 10:56, and were back in the airlock by
11:04. All suits worked perfectly.
Destination: North Ridge.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 518500 4250800 and 12S 518500 425000
EVA Participants: Clément Plagne (EVA Leader, Journalist), Blandine
Gorce (HSO), Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz (GreenHab Officer), Florian
Delpech (Astronomer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Driving (and walking when off-road)
Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Rovers Deimos/Perseverance
and Curiosity

Crew 223 EVA Report 05-03-2020

EVA # 4

Author: Marion Lebrun (Scientist)

Purpose of EVA: Change the batteries of MegaARES and LOAC. Explore a bit
further the surroundings of our Martian habitat and have a look at a
different kind of relief of the planet.

Start time: 8:50 AM

End time: 10:48 AM

Narrative: After the five minutes of depressurization, at 8:55 AM, we
walked out of the airlock. We checked the water level of the static tank
as well as the charge and usage duration of all 3 rovers. We wanted to
take the ATV Honda but we could not get it to start so we ended up
taking rover Spirit and ATVs 1 and 3.
We drove to our first stop which was right by the Hab where the LOAC and
MegaARES were set, to change the batteries of the two instruments. As we
were very organized, by 9:13 AM all the procedures were done and we
could leave for Candor Chasma.
We parked the vehicles before Steam Bed Connector and started the
exploration towards our final destination. The walk lasted about 35min.
It was quite surprising to see how sandy the area was. We also found
water on Mars during that EVA as well as antelope footsteps. The canyon
was truly beautiful and we were happy to find shade under some rocks
since it was getting really hot and sunny.
At 10:00 AM we decided to turn around to make sure we will on time at
the Hab. Unfortunately, on the way back, I lost my headset after
Aurélien tried to adjust my backpack that was hurting my back and my
neck. I had just enough time before I lost it to give the lead to Luc
who became the EVA Leader for the rest of the EVA.
We arrived at the place where we had left the vehicles at 10:31 AM and
we came back to the Hab at 10:43 AM to start the five minutes of
pressurization.

Destination: Plane area near the Hab along Cow Dung Road and the East
side of Candor Chasma

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 518500 4250800 and 12S 520750 4250889

Participants: Marion Lebrun (EVA Leader, Scientist), Florian Delpech
(Astronomer), Aurélien Mure (Commander), Luc Fortin (Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road (driving) and Stream Bed
Connector (walking)

Mode of travel: Driving rover Spirit and ATVs 1 and 3 (and walking when
leaving the PEV road)

Crew 223 EVA Report 04-03-2020
EVA # 3
Author: Blandine Gorce (XO)
Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaAres, and get a good view of our planet Mars from Hab Ridge

Start time: 9:03 AM
End time: 10:34 AM

Narrative: We walked out of the Hab at 09:08 AM after the five minutes of pressurization. We took the rovers to go and change the batteries of Mega Ares and LOAC. We were really organized and at 09:28 we had finished the procedures for the two measure instruments, so we came back to park the rovers next to the Hab.

We then started the exploration towards Hab Ridge, we walked a little bit next to the Hab and then we started to go up the ridge. It was not too hard because the soil was very dry and it was not too hot yet. When we arrived the top, the view was beautiful and we were really happy
to see the campus from there. We then decided to use Hab ridge road to go down the hill. we took the road close to North Ridge so we could get a good view at North Ridge which was beautiful.

We decided to come back early because the backpack were hurting a bit the back of one of us. We came back at the Hab at 10:29 AM to start the 5 minutes of pressurization.

Destination: The flat place next to the Hab and Hab Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS):12S 518500 4250800, 12S 517850 4250350

Participants: Team red: Blandine Gorce (EVA Leader, HSO), Clément Plagne(Journalist), Luc Fortin(Engineer), Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz(Green Hab Officer)

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

Mode of travel: Rovers : Curiosity & Deimos

Crew 223 EVA Report 03-03-2020
EVA # 2
Author: Aurélien Mure (Commander)
Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaAres, and then first
exploration for Marion, Florian and Valentin.
Start time: 9:05 AM
End time: 11:05 AM
Narrative: First, we went out to check all the rovers and the water in
teams of two. We took then the two rovers to go on our experiments site
to change
batteries. We have had a serious problem with SpaceSuit 10 as it stoped
definitively. We reacted to this ermergency issue. We tried to restart
it and quickly we realised that we have to come back to the hab to save
me (SpaceSuit 10 user).
The EVA team worked well to make me survive! I came back to the Hab at
09:35 and I came out at 09:43 with a brand new Spacesuit. We respected
the 5min pressurisation protocol. We went back to the MegaAres location
to change the battery.
Today we needed to extract data from the instrument. We took out 2,4GB
of electric field measurement, great news for our partners from CNRS
(french national center for scientific research).
The data processing were long and after our issue with backpack 10 we
had not much time left but we went to Kissing Camel to explore during
half an hour.
We came back to the Hab at 11:00am.
Destination: Marble’s Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS):12S 518500 4250800, 12S 518000 4249250
and 12S 518500 4249250
Participants: Aurélien Mure (EVA Leader, Commander), Valentin Bellemin
(GHO), Marion Lebrun (Scientist), Florian Delpech (Astronomer)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Rovers : Spirit & Deimos

Crew 223 EVA Report 02-03-2020
EVA # 2
Author: Aurélien Mure (Commander) and Blandine Gorce (XO)
Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaAres, and then first exploration for the crew 223
Start time: 9:14 AM
End time: 10:57 AM
Narrative: First, we went out to check all the rovers and the water in teams of two. We took then the two rovers to go on our experiments site to change
batteries. Everything went fine so we moved a few meters to go to our site of exploration: the Marble’s Ritual. We arrived there at 09:43 to start our exploration, Curiosity was at 96% of charge, and Deimos was at 100%.
All of us were very excited for that. We walked for approximately one hour between Marble’s Ritual and Phobo’s Peak. Landscapes were really beautiful and we were amazed to see so many different types and rocks. We walked around to appreciate the landscape. Then we came back to the hab around 10:45. We entered the airlock again at 10:52 AM for our 5 minutes pressurization.
Destination: Marble’s Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS):4250800/518500, 4251750/518700 Participants: Team red: Aurélien Mure (Commander), Clément Plagne (Journalist), Team Blue: Luc Fortin (Engineer), Blandine Gorce (HSO) Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance Road, Cow Dung Road Mode of travel: Rovers : Curiosity & Deimos

Crew 222 EVA Report 28FEB2020

EVA # 13

Author: Marie BOCHARD (Journalist)

Purpose of EVA: Change batteries of LOAC and MegaARES, and then exploration of the Copernicus area

Start time: 9:15 AM

End time: 12:20 PM

Narrative: First, we checked all the rovers and the water level. We then took the ATVs to the experiments site and changed the batteries for the LOAC and the MegaARES in teams of two. Once that was all done, two of us we went back to the Hab with the batteries and left them in front of the Ram, because carrying them by ATV would have been dangerous. Once they were back, we headed up North to the Moons and Copernicus. We rode the ATVs on Brahe Hwy, but stopped soon after because the terrain was too rough for me to feel comfortable using an ATV. We stayed in Copernicus about 2 hours, exploring the area and enjoying our last EVA. Suit n°7 stopped working in the middle of the EVA, but this problem was solved by our Engineer once we were back (battery unplugged). At about 11:50 AM, we were back at the ATVs and headed back to the Hab. The Honda ATV had trouble restarting but worked in the end. We entered the station at 12:20 PM.

Destination: Copernicus Hwy

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 4254500-517000

Participants: Marie BOCHARD (Journalist, EVA leader), Nina SEBDON

(Scientist), Eishi KIM (AST), Valentin PRUDHOMME (Crew engineer)

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

Mode of travel: ATVs: 1, 2, 3, Honda

Crew 222 EVA Report 27-02-2020
EVA #12
Author: Benjamin Auzou (CO)
Purpose of EVA: Replacement of the batteries of MegaAres and LOAC. Then
exploration from Galileo road to Candor Chasma.
Start time: 9:08am
End time: 12:30am

Narrative: We quickly replaced the batteries of MegaAres and LOAC. We
then headed towards Galileo road with 3 ATVs and Deimos. On the road, we
met a group of antelopes that crossed the road in front of us, we
managed to drive slowly and tried to disturb them as less as possible.
We stopped at the end of the road and then walked toward the canyon. We
walked along it and stopped at 11am to turn back. The road back to the
Hab was nominal. Near the Hab we took five minutes to take portraits for
the communication of our mission.

Destination: Experiments site and Candor Chasma
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518494-4250679 and 12S
0519900-4251500
Participants: Benjamin Auzou (CO, EVA leader), Bleuenn Roiron (GHO),
Marie Bochard (Journalist), Nicolas Bourdeaud (HSO)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road, Hab Ridge Road
Mode of travel: Deimos and ATVs 1, 2 and Honda

Crew 222 EVA Report 26-02-2020
EVA #11
Author: Eishi Kim (Astronomer)
Purpose of EVA: Replacement of the batteries of MegaAres and LOAC. Then exploration along the Hab Ridge by foot, after parking the rovers at the Hab.
Start time: 9:08am
End time: 11:20am

Narrative: We quickly replaced the batteries of MegaAres and LOAC before returning to the Hab to park the rovers. We then headed towards the North Ridge by foot to join the Hab Ridge and enjoy the view of the MDRS from above. We got off the ridge as soon as we reached abeam the station.

Destination: Experiments site and Hab Ridge
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518494-4250679 and 12S 0517800-4250800
Participants: Eishi Kim (Astronomer, EVA leader), Valentin Prudhomme (Engineer), Bleuenn Roiron (GreenHab Officer), Nina Sedbon (Scientist) Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road, Hab Ridge Road Mode of travel: Rovers – Curiosity and Deimos, walking

Crew 222 EVA Report 25-02-2020
EVA #10
Author: Valentin Prudhomme (Engineer)
Purpose of EVA: Replacement of the battery of MegaAres, Setting up the
LOAC and exploration of the reservoir.
Start time: 10:00am
End time: 12:12pm

Narrative: Everything went just fine. We rapidly changed the battery and
assured the waterproofness of the experiment. We installed the LOAC. We
went to the Reservoir Dam. There was very little water. After this we
went to the Cowboy Corner. We found a canyon and went along it.

Destination: Experiments Site and Reservoir Dam.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 12S 0518494-4250679 and 12S
0518500-4252800
Participants: Valentin Prudhomme (Engineer, EVA Leader), Benjamin Auzou
(Commander), Marie Bochard (Journalist) and Nicolas Bourdeaud (HSO)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Entrance road – Cow Dung Road
Mode of travel: Rover – Curiosity and Spirit