Category: EVA Report

Crew 215 EVA Report 12 Nov 2019
EVA # 02
Author: Jennifer Lane
Purpose of EVA: Completed deployment of Micrometeorite grid before beginning sweeping
grid squares, as well as exploring local geology.
Start time: 0945
End time: 1220
Narrative: First priority was to finish off placing the strings at site MM5 to divide
the 10×10 m grid into 1 m squares. This was accomplished fairly quickly, so using the magnet on a fishing rod type configuration, sweeping began. After each square the bag is sealed to store the micrometeorites from that 1 m square and labelled before going onto the next square. Row ‘J’ was able to be fully swept and bagged. With some time left, we travelled further south along Cow Dung Road to road 1101 to explore local geology in the search for aggregate suitable for making cement before returning to the hab with some agate to look at under the microscope. Destination: South on Cow Dung Road to the Micrometeorite site, and then back on Cow Dung Road down to road 1101, before returning to the hab.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518473E 4248960N and 519500E 4247300N
Participants: Commander Andrew Wheeler, Shane Usher and Steve Whitfield
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road and road 1101.
Mode of travel: Spirit & Curiosity Rover

***ATTN: We understand the need to give exact coordinates for safety reasons, so they are included below, however, we believe the previous issues with having our grid disturbed were due to posting the exact location online. To prevent unwanted visitors from the sampling site, are we able to replace the final 3-4 coordinate numbers with XXXX when posting in public? Thank you.***

Crew 215 EVA Report 11 Nov 2019
EVA # 01
Author: Jennifer Lane

Purpose of EVA: Geological Reconnaissance

Start time: 0955
End time: 1215

Narrative: The first EVA for Crew 215 saw us scouting for an appropriate location to set up our 10m x 10m grid (MM5) for the micrometeorite sampling, which will be our 2nd such grid since Crew 214 began. We found an undisturbed location at 518462E 4248949N just off Cow Dung Road to begin setting up the grid with the boundaries.

After a minor issue with aligning the strings to NESW (which we attribute to the crumbly Martian regolith and lack of magnetic poles on Mars, rather than human error) we were able to set up the square, ready for the full deployment on subsequent EVAs.

Just after finishing, our alarm went off signaling 11 am, and so we spent a minute in silence for Remembrance or Armistice Day.

We soon continued on our way south and were able to scout another possible location we’re calling MM6. We took the coordinates of this location (519990E 4248036N) and then continued further south along Cow Dung Road before parking at the junction with road 1101 in search of gypsum, which we were unfortunately not able to find in this location, nor was there a site appropriate for any micrometeorite sampling.

Destination: Drove from the hab, south along Cow Dung Road, where we set up our grid, and then further south on Cow Dung Road to road 1101, before returning to the hab.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518462E 4248949N and 519900E 4248030N
Participants: Commander Andrew Wheeler, Larissa Wilson, and Jennifer Lane
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to road 1101.
Mode of travel: Spirit Rover and Curiosity Rover

Cancel this!!!

Corrected EVA report to follow.

On Mon, Nov 11, 2019 at 10:32 PM BMD CapCom <bmdcapcom> wrote:

Mon 11 Nov Sol 1
by Guy Murphy

This morning we woke up on Mars. We emerged from our sleeping quarters at 7 am to views of the Sun rising across an alien landscape through the upper-level Hab windows. For the next 12 days, we are in full simulation mode (sim). We do not go outside of the designated pressurised areas of the campus unless wearing space suits and following a depressurisation protocol. We have to make do with the supplies we have and undertake our research projects and Hab maintenance while not breaking sim.

The crew is following a set daily schedule over the course of the mission, which includes rising at 7 am and lights out at 10 pm. This is to keep everyone working together on the same sleep cycle, and get the most of the available daylight hours. We are fortunate to have relatively warm, clear and dry days forecast for the next fortnight. Typically in this part of Utah, it is much colder at this time of year, with greater odds of precipitation.

The first EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) onto the Martian surface was completed this morning, with Larissa and Jennifer taking their first steps on another world. The 11th of November is Remembrance Day in Australia and New Zealand. As is customary, the crew stopped while out in the field for a minute of silence at 11 am to honour Australian and New Zealand service men and women.

For lunch, we consumed the remaining spaghetti bolognese from last night. Early afternoon, I showed the new crew how to make butter, cheese, and bread from the various dry ingredients in our stores. The bread machine is proving its worth.

On a long-duration mission with a limited pantry, we both crave novelty and must avoid wasting food products. Larissa is experimenting with creating a vegetarian mock pulled pork dish derived from banana skins. She has candied some orange and mandarine peel to include in a fruit bread she will bake tomorrow.

Mon 11 Nov Sol 1
by Guy Murphy

This morning we woke up on Mars. We emerged from our sleeping quarters at 7 am to views of the Sun rising across an alien landscape through the upper-level Hab windows. For the next 12 days, we are in full simulation mode (sim). We do not go outside of the designated pressurised areas of the campus unless wearing space suits and following a depressurisation protocol. We have to make do with the supplies we have and undertake our research projects and Hab maintenance while not breaking sim.

The crew is following a set daily schedule over the course of the mission, which includes rising at 7 am and lights out at 10 pm. This is to keep everyone working together on the same sleep cycle, and get the most of the available daylight hours. We are fortunate to have relatively warm, clear and dry days forecast for the next fortnight. Typically in this part of Utah, it is much colder at this time of year, with greater odds of precipitation.

The first EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) onto the Martian surface was completed this morning, with Larissa and Jennifer taking their first steps on another world. The 11th of November is Remembrance Day in Australia and New Zealand. As is customary, the crew stopped while out in the field for a minute of silence at 11 am to honour Australian and New Zealand service men and women.

For lunch, we consumed the remaining spaghetti bolognese from last night. Early afternoon, I showed the new crew how to make butter, cheese, and bread from the various dry ingredients in our stores. The bread machine is proving its worth.

On a long-duration mission with a limited pantry, we both crave novelty and must avoid wasting food products. Larissa is experimenting with creating a vegetarian mock pulled pork dish derived from banana skins. She has candied some orange and mandarine peel to include in a fruit bread she will bake tomorrow.

Crew 214 EVA Report 06-11-2019
EVA #9
Author: Guy Murphy

Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling

Start time: 0930
End time: 1200

Narrative: The ninth EVA for science saw us returning to the Tank Wash location #2 at 518477E 4253767N where we continued sampling the 1m x 1m plots for micrometeorites. The EVA allowed us to collect 23 samples. We anticipate 2 x normal length or possibly 1 x longer duration EVAs will complete this sampling program. We have now completed 64% of the grid, which included 4 grid squared compromised by footprints.

Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash and then returned to the hab.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518477E 4253767N
Participants: Guy Murphy, Sandy Dance
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash
Mode of travel: Spirit Rover, Curiosity Rover

Crew 214 EVA Report 05-11-2019
EVA # 8
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling
Start time: 0930
End time: 1200
Narrative: The sixth EVA for science saw a change in target with the change in investigation focus. Hydrated minerals are a potential source of water here on Mars and at White Moon (517800E 4254650N) the mineral gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is one such source. We collected both crystalline specimens and gypsum rich soils to demonstrate liberation of water through simple heating. Results are pending. On our return from White Moon, we called in to TW#2 at 518477E 4253767N to collect more micrometeorite samples and we sampled 3 plots. We have now completed 43% of the grid.
Destination: White Moon via Cow Dung Road to Brahe Highway intersection and Tank Wash on return to the hab.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 517800E 4254650N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Dianne McGrath
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Brahe Highway (White Moon)
Mode of travel: Spirit Rover, Curiosity Rover

Crew 214 EVA Report 04-11-2019
EVA # 7
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling

Start time: 0945
End time: 1215

Narrative: The fifth EVA for science saw us returning to the Tank Wash location #2 at 518477E 4253767N where we continued sampling the 1m x 1m plots) for micrometeorites. The longer EVA allowed us to collect 28 samples. We have now completed 40% of the grid and anticipate 3 x normal length or 2 x longer duration EVAs will complete this sampling program.

Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash and then returned to the hab.

Coordinates: 518477E 4253767N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Sandy Dance
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash
Mode of travel: Spirit Rover

Crew 214 EVA Report 02-11-2019
EVA # 6
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling
Start time: 1400
End time: 1600
Narrative: The fourth EVA for science saw us returning to the Tank Wash location #2 at 518477E 4253767N where we continued sampling the 1m x 1m plots) for micrometeorites. The success of the magnet in attracting particles from the surface is both encouraging and satisfying. In the time allotted, 10 samples were collected.
On the return to the hab, a revisit to the line of sight from the Cactus Road #1 location at 519570E 4251974N allowed the next crew member to operate the heliograph. This was successfully accomplished and observed and recorded at the hab.
Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash and then returned to Galileo Road and the junction it has with Cactus Road.
Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518477E 4253767N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Guy Murphy
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash
Mode of travel: Curiosity Rover

Crew 214 EVA Report 01-11-2019
EVA # 5
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling
Start time: 1400
End time: 1600
Narrative: The third EVA for science saw us returning to the Tank Wash location #2 at 518477E 4253767N where we continued setting out the 100 square metre (100 1m x 1m plots) sampling grid. Having completed that task, we took our first samples looking for micrometeorites in the evaluation of the micrometeorite flux. 2 plots were sampled and very fine magnetic particles were recovered from both.
On the return to the hab, a revisit to the line of sight from the Cactus Road #1 location at 519570E 4251974N allowed another crew member exposure to the heliograph. With radio communications established and the hab personnel alerted, the heliograph operated as expected and was observed and recorded at the hab.
Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash and then returned to Galileo Road and the junction it has with Cactus Road. Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518477E 4253767N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Dianne McGrath
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash

Crew 214 EVA Report 31-Oct-2019
EVA # 4
Author: Andrew Wheeler

Purpose of EVA: Geological Sampling

Start time: 1000
End time: 1200

Narrative: The second EVA for science saw us traversing to the Tank Wash location #2 at 518477E 4253767N where we commenced setting out the 100 square metre (100 1m x 1m plots) sampling grid.

This location appears to be a relatively undisturbed natural surface that hasn’t undergone recent erosion or weathering. It is sufficiently away from the hab that metallic residue won’t contaminate the surface and appears to be upwind of vehicular and pedestrian activity.

A secondary experiment was a test of material brought to the surface by ants at a nest adjacent to the sampling grid. It was hypothesized that the magnetic material of a terrestrial origin may be present and would contaminate the micrometeorite sample material. Using a small neodymium magnet, it was observed that there was zero magnetic material located on the anthill.

A tertiary experiment was the use of a heliograph as an emergency communications method. There is a line of sight from the Cactus Road #1 location at 519570E 4251974N to the hab. With radio communications established and the hab personnel alerted, the heliograph operated as expected and was observed and recorded at the hab.

Destination: Drove from the hab along Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash and then returned to Galileo Road and the junction it has with Cactus Road.

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518477E 4253767N

Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Sandy Dance

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road to Tank Wash