Category: EVA Report

Dear MS,

This is our EVA Report from today. Thank you

EVA #4

Author: Carlos Mariscal, XO

Purpose of EVA:

1.- For the “Behaviour of Artificial Vision algorithms for Autonomous Navigation” project, the purpose is to take as many pictures as possible (at least 100) of different terrains. The purpose of the pictures is to use them to train artificial vision algorithms for pattern recognition (color, size and shape). In order to get a good algorithm training, it is necessary to get pictures of terrains with high rock formations, medium rocks and planitia, as well of different red-ish tones.

Tools required: 2 webcams, cannon camera, laptop.

2.- For the “Martian Soil Analysis for usage on Greenhab” project, the purpose is to collect the first soil samples from different locations to prepare initial organic material mixes. This will serve as a starting point to validate soil mixes.

Start time: 11:15 h (15 min delay)

End time: 13:15 h

Narrative:

Today we were all really excited of doing the first EVA for experiments, four of us suited up (with the help of the other crew members, of course). At 11:15 (with a small delay), we left the hab and started the ride to our destination. Once we arrived at junction of Galileo Road and Cactus Road, we realized that Cactus Rd is not a way for rovers, so we had to continue by walk. Because of the time originally planned for the EVA and the distance to the destination, we could only get to our first location and the nearby of Cactus Rd.

The purpose of the activity was successfully achieved, since the GreenHab Officer got three really generous and different soil samples and the XO got some amazing pics for his artificial vision experiment, besides the landscape and team pics, which are pretty awesome too.

The walk back to the rovers taught us to better estimate the clothes we have to use under the suits… we were exhausted, but so happy to have achieved our goals and get back home to have some delicious pasta!

Destination: Nearby of Galileo Road, Cactus Road

Coordinates:

Target locations:

N 4252233.867, E 519641.711

N 4252238.317, E 521387.643

N 3586606.658, E 523036.484

Actual locations achieved:

N 4252233.867, E 519641.711

N 4252219.69, E 479921.76

Participants: 4 participants

Tania Robles – Commander

Carlos Mariscal – XO

Genaro Grajeda – HSO

Walter Calles – GreenHab Officer

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Road 1103, then Galileo Road 1104 until Cactus Road 1104, at that point the crew members walked to destination.

Mode of travel: Driving, using Curiosity and Opportunity rovers.

Crew 201 EVA Report 17-Dec-2018

EVA #1-3

Author: Carlos Mariscal

Purpose of EVA: Training

Start time EVA 1: 13:30

End time EVA 1: 14:35

Start time EVA 2: 14:40

End time EVA 2: 14:45

Start time EVA 3: 14:50

End time EVA 3: 15:40

Narrative:

We had planned a couple of smooth EVAs to train the crew in the usage of the rovers and the suits. The plan was to have two teams of 4 people each (2 members would do 2 EVAs), however, once outside the Hab, the teams realized the Opportunity and Spirit rovers had low charge levels and the only one with full charge was Curiosity. After running in circles for some minutes, we decided to completely change the plans, we set our main priority as have all the team members trained and have their chance do to EVA.

Then we set the new plan as having three 2-people teams and use wisely the Curiosity rover. All three teams would do a short drive to Marble Ritual, explore 20 minutes at most and come back so the next team could do the same. From having planned two quite long EVAs with estimated end time at 16:30, we had three quite short (and efficient EVAs) of around 40 minutes each instead, having the last one ended at 15:30.

A quick troubleshoot from MDRS Director seemed to have solved the issue, but at the moment of writing this report, the rovers are not charging again.

We still don’t know what the problem is, which worries us a little; we’ll keep in touch with MDRS Director in order to find out what is happening.

Destination: Marble Ritual

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS):

Participants:

EVA 1

– Genaro Grajeda

– César Serrano

EVA 2

– Tania Robles

– Federico Martínez

EVA 3

– Carlos Mariscal

– Walter Calles

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map

Mode of travel: Curiosity rover (all 3 EVAs)

Crew 200 EVA Report 12-13-2018

EVA #6

Author: Lindsay Rutter

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations that allow radio communication
between EVA crew and HabCom around Phobos Peak 2) Test how EVAs can
safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crew, including
rover use.

Start time: 14:12

End time: 16:00

Narrative: With media guests visiting the habitat today, our EVA was
pushed back in time, which was authorized by Shannon. We continued our
communication and radio strength and connectivity testing protocol
today. Our EVA began with an engineering check. We then used
Opportunity to drive north on Cow Dung Road. We intended to stop at
the west end of Stream Bed Connector, but we inadvertently stopped at
the east end of Galileo Road 1104, which we walked along for almost
its entirety. Through our GPS system and our communications with
HabCom, we realized we were probably on Galileo Road 1104 and so we
returned back to the west end of it. We then continued driving
Opportunity northward. We intended to explore areas about 1 kilometer
north of Reservoir Dam, but by the time we were 0.2 kilometers north
of Reservoir Dam, we had lost connectivity with HabCom for several
consecutive radio tests. This lack of connectivity continued even when
we parked the rover and stood on higher points. We decided to return
driving south, communicating with HabCom throughout the return,
sometimes having to park the rover and stand on higher points.
Arriving back at the habitat about fifteen minutes early, we explored
the hills on the west side of the habitat, still following our
communication and radio strength and connectivity testing protocol. We
are excited to report that the battery usage on Opportunity was much
more efficient than it has been lately.

Destination: Galileo Road 1104, above 0.2 kilometers north of Reservoir Dam

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519100 E – 4252000 N, 518250 E – 4253000 N

Participants: Makiah, Lindsay

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : Driving on Cow Dung Road and walking
on Galileo Road 1104

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 200 EVA Report 12-12-2018

EVA #5

Author: Antoine Bocquier

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations that allow radio communication
between EVA crew and HabCom around Phobos Peak 2) Test how EVAs can
safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crew, including
rover use.

Start time: 10:35

End time: 12:30

Narrative: The media filming around the Hab this morning, we had to
delay a bit our planned EVA. In addition, in agreement with Shannon
they were using the rovers, so we had to change our plans and perform
a walking EVA. We chose to go to Phobos Peak, which we could not reach
on our EVA monday, to map the radio coverage.
The walking went very fine (30mn to get to Phobos Peak), once there,
we walked north up to Mountain Goat Trail before coming back to the
Hab by the north. Radio link was pretty clear all along, we estimated
that Phobos Peak could be a very good location to settle a radio relay
(to explore eastern areas) and may be accessible on its northern side.
We are currently processing the acquired data (radio check every 2mn +
GPS positions) to complete our radio coverage map.

Destination: Phobos Peak + Southern part of Mountain Goat Trail

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519500 E – 4250500 N

Participants: Lindsay, Antoine

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : N/A

Mode of travel: walking

Crew 200 EVA Report 11-12-2018

EVA #4

Author: Antoine Bocquier

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations that allow radio communication between EVA crew and HabCom, in northern and southern regions 2) Test how EVAs can safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crew, including rover use.

Start time: 9:10

End time: 10:55

Narrative: After the engineering tour, we drove with Curiosity to the north, then to the south to explore and map the regions of communication strength/readibility. We applied a communication protocol to control the radio strength/readability (QSA/QRK codes) every minute and communicate GPS coordinates every 5mn.
We first drove to Galileo road, planning to stop for a short walk at Connector Stream Bed. However we did not find both of them, being focused on our communication test protocol and with the recent snow melting. We went further than expected to the north, up to cowboy’s corner where we stopped as we realized from the transmitted coordinates that we were too far.
On our way back to the Hab to change the rover and go to the south, we confirmed the location of Connector Stream Bed. Arrived at the Hab at 9:50, we took Opportunity to go to Robert’s Rock Garden, applying the same communication protocol. From there we walked along Kissing Camel Ridge Edge to complete yesterday’s mapping of this area. We then drove back and came back on time at the Hab. Analysis of the acquired data is in process and the first results are promising!

Destination: Galileo Road (up to Cowboy Corner) + Robert’s Rock Garden

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518000 E – 4249300 N to 519000 E – 4252500 N

Participants: Makiah, Antoine

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : Cow Dung Road by driving, walking along Kissing Camel East Ridge

Mode of travel: driving, walking

Crew 200 EVA Report 10-12-2018

EVA #3

Author: Antoine Bocquier

Purpose of EVA: 1) Map out locations around the habitat that allow for radio communication between EVA crew and HabCom, 2) Test how EVAs can safely and effectively be conducted with three-member crews.

Start time: 10:35

End time: 12:30

Narrative: Crew conducted first 3-crew member EVA to explore and map the regions of communication strength/readibility. We applied a
communication protocol to control the radio strength/readability (QSA/QRK codes) every minute and communicate GPS coordinates every 5mn. We planned contingency plans for loss of signal and navigation. Afterwards, the crew mapped the locations of perceived path by each crew member against the estimated path based on recorded GPS coordinates. We could not explore as much area as planned (we planned to have a walk to Phobos’s Peak) given the time left but the experiment was a success, both on the EVA crew and HabCom sides for a 3-member crew.

Destination: Kissing Camel East Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 519000 E – 4249500 N to 518500 E – 42505000 N

Participants: Makiah, Lindsay

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : N/A

Mode of travel: walking

EVA #2

Author: Makiah Eustice
Purpose of EVA: Engineering check, experiencing walking/hiking,
finding purple samples

Start time: 10:50

End time: 13:00

Narrative: Makiah performed the engineering check of the station, we
traveled until we could spot purple-like regolith. We hiked about 12
meters to collect a sample and view the landscape. We walked back.

Destination: Not-named

Coordinates (use UTM NAD27 CONUS): 518000 E – 4250000 N to 518000 E – 4252000 N

Participants: Oakley, Makiah Ilaria, Lindsay

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : not used, short travel

Mode of travel: walking

Crew 198 EVA report 15-11-2018

EVA #: 5

Simulation of medical contingencies during EVA.

EVA Participants: Bindhu, Jayne, Aakar, Joe, Chuck, Andrei, Dan, Andy, Ben

Location: 12S Easting: 517500 Northing: 4150500

EVA Objectives: Simulation of medical contingencies during EVA.

Results: Medical contingencies successfully simulated

Issues/Mitigation: none

ATVs x3, Spirit, Curiosity, Opportunity

Crew 198 EVA report 14-11-2018

EVA #: 4

Simulation of medical contingencies during EVA.

Participants: Bindhu, Jayne, Aakar, Joe, Chuck, Andrei, Dan, Andy, Ben

Location: 12S 519800 4251500

EVA Objectives: Simulation of medical contingencies during EVA.

Results: Medical contingencies successfully simulated

Issues/Mitigation: Curiosity’s battery died, rover needed to be abandoned for later retrieval

ATVs x3, Spirit, Curiosity, Opportunity

EVA #2

We received our FAA clearance, called in our NOTAM, and successfully launched our rocket.

EVA Crew Members – All + MDRS Director (Approved by the Director to have all present to view the launch)

Location

Approximately 500m northeast of the Hab.

EVA Objectives

Rocket Launch

Results

We had a successful launch of the rocket. Initial estimates of an altitude are approximately 8,311 feet. We will have final data later today.

Issues/Mitigation

None

ATVs/Rovers Used

ATVs x 3, EVs x3