Category: EVA Report

Crew 205 EVA Report 16 FEB 2019

EVA #09

Author: D. Robson, Executive Officer

Purpose of EVA: Exploration of geology on Kissing Camel Ridge East and testing of drone capabilities

Start time: 1300

End time: 1520

Narrative: After the first EVA (#08) came back safely and reported favourable ground conditions the second EVA of Sol 6 decided to go ahead as planned. The team began pre-EVA preparations at 1220, and entered the airlock for depressurisation at 1305. The team of 4 drove South East along Cow Dung Road away from the Hab towards Robert’s Rock Garden, using the rovers Spirit and Opportunity. During this travel H. Blackburn’s right breathing tube came out of the backpack (remaining connected to the helmet), so the team stopped to fix it and it remained in working condition for the rest of the EVA. Communications with the Hab was lost as they passed behind the ridge as expected.

The team passed through Robert’s Rock Garden and parked on the South side of the Ridge, and here tested flying the drone in EVA suits to ensure its workability, which was successful if a little inaccurate in the wind. The team then walked back through the garden to ascend from the North side of the Ridge. This was done to re-establish and preserve comms with the Hab during the ascent which worked as planned. The team began their ascent at 1342. H. Blackburn’s radio battery died at 1345 so the team remained within shouting distance for safety, and the crew has discontinued its use. Soon after, the breathing tube on M. Grulich’s EVA backpack also detached in the same manner as H. Blackburn’s had earlier. Both suits have been set aside for work tonight to determine their usability. In addition, Grulich’s helmet had a problem, in that the indented “flap” became detached from the top of its join to the helmet and so was pressing down on her head and shoulders. Grulich didn’t notice this problem until the other team members inspected her suit when the breathing tube came out, so we are unable to determine a cause or time of malfunction. The helmet, in addition to the suit is set aside awaiting repairs. At 1407 the team reached the summit.

While at the top they took photos for outreach and tested the drone along with its vertical camera capabilities. The drone had difficulty maintaining a stable position at the summit due to the increased wind, so the team decided to land it safely.

The team noted that the South side descent appeared to be easier than their North side ascent, and so informed the Hab of their intent to climb down this way. The Hab acknowledged and wished them luck before the comms stopped as they went down the far side. The team reached the bottom safely and returned to Spirit and Opportunity and drove back towards the Hab at 1505.

Having accomplished their mission objectives early, the team decided to stop at the Mars Society MDRS sign on Cow Dung Road south of the Hab, and take some photos together there too. They also use this opportunity for a final test flight of the drone and its camera. Again, the drone flight was hampered by the wind although some photos were taken. The team returned to the Hab airlock at 1535.

Destination: North Ridge, South side base and summit

Coordinates: 0518350/4251450

Participants: Veronica Trivino (CO), Maria Grulich (MEDIA), Hannah Blackburn (COMMS), Natalia Larrea (HSO)

Roads and routes per MDRS Map: South East on Cow Dung Road, parked Southside of Robert’s Rock Garden and walked North to South over Kissing Camel Ridge East before returning by rover to the Hab on Cow Dung Road again.

Mode of Travel: Driving (Spirit & Opportunity) and walking (from 0518400/4249400 to 0518400/4248900 – from North to South side of Kissing Camel Ridge East)

Crew 205 EVA Report 16 FEB 2019

EVA #08

Author: D. Robson, Executive Officer

Purpose of EVA: Terrain familiarization and sample collection

Start time: 0930

End time: 1200

Narrative: With the weather remaining favourable overnight and the ground being safe to walk on, it was decided that EVA 08 would go ahead as approved and planned. The team began pre-EVA preparations at 0845 hrs, and entered the airlock for depressurisation at 0923 hrs. The team of 4 headed North from the hab towards North Ridge and encountered no problems on the way to the foot of the cliff. A route, separate from 1103, was found up to the top of the ridge. The crew here decided to split into teams of 2 at around 0945, with one covering the lower areas of the cliff for sample marking, while the other completed the ascent to obtain samples from the top and take photos for outreach. Communications were maintained between both teams and the Hab, and the ascent was completed safely by 1011, by D. Masaitis and D. Robson. Two samples were taken from top of North Ridge, and the team at the bottom found a “rock garden” around the ESE of North Ridge at 0518790/4251422. This rock garden has been nicknamed “Hadland’s Garden”, after our GreenHab Officer and his dauntless quest for regolith and interesting rock samples.

Once the operation on the top of North Ridge was completed, the team of 2 were guided down the slope by the ground team of N. Hadland and G. Alotaibi, who had already identified the safest route while sample location. The teams rejoined at the bottom of North Ridge safely at 1050.

From here the full EVA team began taking samples from around the base of North Ridge and the newly identified rock garden area. Sample collecting was finished by 1130, and the team returned to MDRS by 1141 for re-pressurisation.

Destination: North Ridge, South side base and summit

Coordinates: 0518350/4251450

Participants: Daniel Robson (XO), Nathan Hadland (GHO), Dave Masaitis (ENG), Ghanim Alotaibi (ASTRO)

Roads and routes per MDRS Map: Walking parallel to route 1103, before ascending North Ridge and exploring East along its base

Mode of Travel: Walking Only

EVA #07

Author: N. Hadland, Executive Officer

Purpose of EVA: Terrain familiarization and sample collection

Start time: 1030

End time: 1115

Narrative: The crew left the Hab at approximately 10:35 and headed North towards North Ridge. In a clear space about 200m North of the robotic observatory they tested their drone “Parrot Mambo No. 5” for the first time. It succeeded in taking off with its ribbon attachments below but was noticeably perturbed in its flight by the winds so it landed and the ribbons were removed. The ribbon’s purpose is part of a proof of concept experiment to see whether a hovering drone with colorful ribbon below can be used as a beacon or lighthouse for nearby lost EVA crews. The drone took off a second time without this attachment and flew to an appreciable height of approximately 10m before the wind began blowing the drone too strongly and it was landed to prevent damage to the equipment. It was then put on charge on a portable power bank and the crew set off North again along Path 1103. Approximately 300m from the base of North Ridge in a hilly area the drone was flown again to take photographs of the crew below with the vertical camera. 4 photos were taken, some of which successfully show the crew below with good resolution. Before the crew began their approach to the North Ridge ascent on Path 1103 at approximately 1055, COMMS Officer H. Blackburn called in to notify the crew that the incidental weather they had been monitoring had reached the Hab and precipitation would likely reach the EVA team in under 10 minutes. For safety, the EVA was stopped and the crew returned to the Hab before the rain made the ground unsuitable for exploration. Effective monitoring of the environmental conditions at the Hab and clear communication with the EVA team ensured this was a productive and safe short EVA. The EVA team returned to the airlock at 1110 without incident.

Destination: Pooh’s Corner, North Ridge

Coordinates: 0518800/4250900 (Pooh’s Corner), 0518600/4251500 (North Ridge)

Participants: Natalia Larrea (GHO), Daniel Robson (HSO), Maria Grulich (MEDIA) Veronica Trivino (ENG)

Roads and routes per MDRS Map: North along Cow Dung Road (0110), through Pooh’s Corner, and then northwest to North Ridge

Mode of Travel: Walking

Crew 205 EVA Report 13 FEB 2019
EVA #06
Author: D. Masaitis, Executive Officer
Purpose of EVA: Terrain familiarization and sample collection
Start time: 1500
End time: 1551

Narrative: Meteorological conditions altered the EVA plan immediately, with high winds making flight testing of Crew 205’s unmanned aerial vehicle non-viable. The UAV was therefore left at the Hab prior to departure, but sample collection materials were retained. EVA #06 began at 1500 hours. The team headed to Old Repeater Point to proceed with geological sample collection and photography.

Halfway through, it started to rain. Increasing rain intensity made terrain slippery and the helmets in the EVA suits foggy. These conditions made operations difficult, and after evaluating their situation, the team decided to return to the Hab. EVA was concluded earlier than planned at 1551 hours.

Destination: Old Repeater Point, North Ridge
Coordinates: 4250900/517950 (Old Repeater Point), 4251500/518600 (North Ridge)
Participants: Natalia Larrea (CO), Daniel Robson (HSO), Maria Grulich (MEDIA) Ghanim Alotaibi (ASTRO)
Roads and routes per MDRS Map: Climbing western ridgeline to Old Repeater Point, then proceeding north and then northeast to North Ridge
Mode of Travel: Walking

Crew 205 EVA Report 13 FEB 2019
EVA #05
Author: D. Masaitis, Executive Officer

Purpose of EVA: Terrain familiarization and sample collection

Start time: 1030
End time: 1320

Narrative: Crew 205 received a mission change at 0800 hrs from the MDRS Director, and accepted a destination change from Maxwell Montes to Candor Chasma for their morning EVA. The team began pre-EVA preparations at 0930 hrs and entered the airlock for depressurization at 1020 hrs. The team initiated movement north on Cow Dung Road, using Curiosity and Opportunity to navigate north on Cow Dung Road and then east on Galileo Road. Communications were lost as expected, so the team proceeded east on Galileo Road before assuming a short halt at 0519900/4252950 to perform an orientation map check before descending into less-elevated terrain of S. Cactus Road.

Curiosity and Opportunity tracked southbound on Cactus Road (1104) until connecting with a dried stream bed, identified on the map as Stream Bed Connector. Here the team parked and dismounted to move into the western side of Candor Chasma.

Sample collection began as soon as the team got down into the canyon. V. Trivino (ENG) assisted N. Hadland with sample collection and labeling, while H. Blackburn took photographs of sample locations. D. Masaitis (XO) maneuvered slightly ahead of the collection team to locate follow-on collection sites, and the team continued to work its way east. By the time they reached 0520378/4251094 the team decided that they had collected enough samples as they could carry, and opted to return to the rovers. Upon reaching the rovers, there was still time remaining in the approved EVA window, so the team opted to backtrack up S. Cactus Road to get closer to a unique hilltop in the vicinity of 0520050/4251650.

After relocating the rovers, the team dismounted and climbed the hilltop to take some extra photographs for the Crew Journalist. While there, the EVA team established visual contact of N. Cactus Road heading towards Maxwell Montes and confirmed it against the map. The team returned to the rovers and began moving back towards the HAB, making one additional short halt in the vicinity of 0519900/4252950 to take a few more photos while D. Masaitis (XO) re-established communications with the HAB.

After a successful communication with HAB Control, the EVA team backtracked its route to the HAB, stowed the rovers and reported rover SOC (Curiosity:71%, Opportunity:67%) and hours (Curiosity:74.3, Opportunity:50.1) to HAB Control. At 1320 hours, the EVA team initiated their 5-minute pressurization, ending the EVA.

Destination: Candor Chasma, western end
Coordinates: 0520300/4251100
Participants: Dave Masaitis (XO), Nathan Hadland (GHO), Veronica Trivino (ENG), Hannah Blackburn (COMMS)
Roads and routes per MDRS Map: Cow Dung Road (0110) to Galileo Road (1104) to South Cactus Road (1104)
Mode of Travel: Driving (Cow Dung Rd, Galileo Rd, S. Cactus Rd.) and Walking (W. Candor Chasma)

Crew 204 EVA Report 07-FEB-2019

EVA # 8

Author: Avishek Ghosh.

Purpose of EVA: A short duration EVA to demonstrate how to operate rover remotely.

Start time: 08:00 hrs.

End time: 08:45 hrs.

Narrative: EVA started on time with a bright morning under a moderate wind. EVA crew were able to communicate remotely with the rover group from Sipna Engineering college in India. The group was able to control the child rover remotely over wi-fi and performed a couple of iterations. Probably this is the first time a rover is controlled and operated remotely (around 13,000 km far) on MDRS terrains.

Destination: Surrounding of Hab; mostly close to both sides of the Greenhab.

Coordinates: 518100 E ; 4250750 N

Participants: Kunal and Sonal.

Roads and routes per MDRS map: Close to hab (Route 1103).

Mode of travel: Walking.

Crew 204 EVA #2 Report 30 JAN 2019

EVA # 2 (Afternoon)

Author: Avishek Ghosh.

Purpose of EVA: A general exploration and soil sample collection as per planned EVA. The crew also had an opportunity to participate in a photography session invited by a special guest Mr. Jad Davenport.

Start time: 13:00 hrs.

End time: 15:45 hrs.

Narrative: It was a planned EVA. A wonderful opportunity to exhibit the MDRS crew’s preparation for the simulation. The rest two crews also had an opportunity to participate in a photography session by Mr. Jad Davenport.

Destination: A low mountain region just after Pooh’s corner and before the stream bed

Crew 204 EVA #1 Report 30 JAN 2019

EVA # 1 (Afternoon)

Author: Avishek Ghosh.

Purpose of EVA: A general exploration. The crew 204 had an opportunity to participate in a photography session invited by a special guest Mr. Jad Davenport.

Start time: 14:00 hrs.

End time: 15:00 hrs.

Narrative: Although an unplanned EVA but, it was a wonderful opportunity to exhibit the MDRS crew’s preparation for the simulation. And also crew 204 feels honoured to participate in a session invited by personnel associated with a prestigious organization like National Geographic.

Destination: A low mountain region just after Pooh’s corner and before the Stream bed connector on Cow dung road, 0110.

Coordinates: X-518750; Y-4251250

Participants: Avishek Ghosh & Kunal Naik.

Roads and routes per MDRS map: Pooh’s Corner.

Mode of travel: Rover Spirit.