Category: EVA Report

Crew 292 EVA Report 09-02-2024
EVA #005
Author: BHARTI SHARMA
Purpose of EVA: To draw the geological structure for space art and measure the dip angle of the outcrop.
Start time: NA – the EVA got cancelled
End time: NA – the EVA got cancelled
Narrative: The EVA was cancelled because of snow outside as roads were inaccessible and the weather was not clear at all for the EVA fieldwork. We will aim for this spot when the weather is clear, as this spot is of utmost importance for our research.
Destination: South of Cowboy Corner – 518681, 4252888
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518681, 4252888
Participants: Annalea, Bharti and Clare (the ABC)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: NA – the EVA got cancelled.
Mode of travel: NA – the EVA got cancelled.

EVA #001
Author: BHARTI SHARMA
Purpose of EVA: Training EVA
Start time: 10:30 AM
End time: 11:50 AM
Narrative: Our Crew Members Clare, Mehnaz, Rajvi and Aditya were all excited about their training EVA. Clare was the expert on this training EVA so she was helpful in the field. She was explaining the geology and Dos and Don’ts of EVA in the field like a leader. For her, the experience was great and fun to be back on the field in the spacesuit. Rajvi had an amazing time in the field, her suit was comfortable and she drove the rover as well in the suit and she was great in that. Aditya had an amazing experience too driving the rover in the suit and he is looking for more EVAs and to learn about geology. Mehnaz, being an expert rider and a driver had a splendid experience driving the rover in the suit, she felt like she is on Mars. She had an amazing time in the field, but later in the field, her suit was a bit uncomfortable. She felt strain in her neck and the crew aborted the mission and came back early. Their overall experience was great and they all are looking for more EVA missions.
Destination: Marble Ritual
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518500, 4251000
Participants: Clare, Rajvi, Aditya and Mehnaz
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exited the Hab through the main Air Lock, drove driveway to Cow Dung Road 0110 and reached the Marble Ritual, walked within the 300 m radius, hiked a little bit to get used to the space suit.
Mode of travel: Curiosity Rover and Spirit Rover, walked and hiked a little bit.

EVA #003
Author: BHARTI SHARMA
Purpose of EVA: To collect samples for biology experiments and conduct field research for geology.
Start time: 14:00
End time: 16:30
Narrative: Desert weather dances to its whims, where unpredictability is woven into the shifting sands of the sky. We were all set for the EVA but unfortunately, the strong winds of the desert made it postponed as communicating via radio would have been difficult in this weather. But we haven’t lost any hope, we are looking forward to conducting the EVA tomorrow.
Destination: Cowboy Corner – 518547, 4253056
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518547, 4253056
Participants: Bharti, Daniel, Aditya and Rajvi
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: NA – EVA postponed
Mode of travel: NA – EVA was postponed

EVA #: 19
Author: Scott Dorrington & Steven Hobbs
Start time: 1000
End time: 1230
Narrative:
This EVA was conducted at Candor Chasma. The rovers possessed sufficient charge to allow sufficient time for the crew to penetrate deeply into the Chasma. Total traverse into Candor Chasma was 500 m, with the crew identifying layers of chicken wire gypsum approximately 4 m below the overlying caprock. Brecciated jaspers were also identified, along with layers of purple, pink and green siltstone. Similar siltstones had previously been collected on earlier EVAs and sampled using the VIS/NIR spectrometer instrument, both solid and powdered form.
No fossils were identified from the overlying strata during the latter part of the traverse. Fossilised ripples were identified from an overhanging boulder, suggesting fluid movement too rapid for fossil formation.
Destination: Candor Chasma.
Purpose of EVA: Attempt to identify fossils by exploring deeper into Candor Chasma, in addition to performing a visual characterisation of the exposed strata for future exploration.
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): Entrance to Candor Chasma 520779E, 4251127N. Parking at 519868, 4251428. Maximum penetration 520351E, 4251179N
EVA Participants: Steven Hobbs, Scott Dorrington, Alex Tobal
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit Hab via main airlock. Take rovers down the driveway to Cow Dung Rd 0110. Take Cow Dung Rd 0110 North to Galileo Rd 1104, turn south past Compass Rock until rover track stops and then walk along the unnamed track towards Candor Chasma, and into Candor Chasma.
Mode of travel: Rover/foot.
Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): Spirit, Opportunity

EVA #: 13
Author: Scott Dorrington & Steven Hobbs
Start time: 1000
End time: 1200
Narrative:
This EVA was conducted in the vicinity of the Hab, and had a dual-purpose. Scott walked 200 m away from the Hab to the mound at the intersection of Cow Dung road. This gave a good vantage point to a number of peaks in the area for wayfinding experiments, including Phobos Peak and the Beehive (described in EVA 5), North Ridge, Kissing Camel Ridge, and the Henry Mountains. Bearings were taken to each peak using a theodolite app to visually display azimuths. Sightings were also taken of the sun at various times through the EVA to be used as a reference point for calibrating these readings. Compass bearings were also taken for validation. Angle measurements were also taken between pairs of peaks using a handheld protractor. A different method was used, where the protractor was placed on the ground and arms aligned one at a time. These readings are expected to be more accurate than previous methods. Vertical angles were also taken from the base to peak of Phobos peak – this will be used to estimate distance from Phobos peak via trigonometric calculations. During these activities, a car was observed driving past along Cow Dung road.
Rover spectral sample EVA trials were conducted to characterise the utility of a Sojourner-sized rover in negotiating Martian terrain and capturing VIS/NIR spectra. Six samples collected from previous EVAs were set up within 40 m of the HAB. The Johan Rover was timed for its traversal to each site, while guided by a second astronaut. This simulated a remote operator being guided by an on-site remote sensor. A second run was conducted where the operator was placed in an elevated position to self-guide the robot, simulating control from an overwatch mission. A third run timed traverse and positioning the rover for spectral sampling while the final run was conducted by timing an astronaut traversing the distance. Six spectra were captured and compared with results gathered in a controlled environment.
Destination: Outside the Hab. 518150, 4250950 for rover tasks. Walking within 200m of the Hab to 518332 4250785 for wayfinding points.
Purpose of EVA: Continue collecting spectral data of regolith and minerals around the Hab. Additionally, collect bearings, angles, and theodolite data to various peaks for wayfinding research.
Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 518150, 4250950 for rover and 518332 4250785 for wayfinding
EVA Participants: Steven Hobbs, Scott Dorrington
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit via Hab airlock and walk to the hill SSE to SE of the Hab, then walk to turn off to Cow Dung Rd 0110 for wayfinding points. Within 200m of the Hab walking distance.
Mode of travel: Walking only.
Vehicles you will be using (If applicable): n/a

EVA # 15
Author: Clare Fletcher
Purpose of EVA: Attempt to find a photograph a site previously known as “White Mushroom Field” by Henrik Hargitai to note charge over time in the environment. Gain field spectral measurements of the mushrooms.
Start time: 1000
End time: 1200
Narrative: The site of these yardangs or “mushrooms” was very easy to find. There was a nice flat plain to drive the robot across and continue testing its mobility across the plain and some of the slopes. The site described as “White Mushroom Field” by Hargitai was also easy to find, and looked to be in reasonable condition compared to the 2006 photo taken by Jon Clarke. The "mushrooms" turned out not to be anhydrite, but just a white/grey mudstone. They also had concretions in them which was interesting. We attained a spectral signature for the "mushrooms" as well as other features in the landscape.
Destination: Field of yardangs near to Pooh’s Corner (to the West). Parking rovers at 518716, 4251064. Walking to 518598, 4251110. Co-ordinates to the site provided by Henrik Hargitai in a previous paper.
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Parking rovers at 518716, 4251064. Walking to 518598, 4251110.
Participants: Steve Hobbs, Clare Fletcher, Alex Tobal
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit Hab via main airlock. Drive down driveway to Cow Dung Rd 0110. Drive North on Cow Dung Rd 0110 until straight between Marble Ritual and Pooh’s Corner. Walking within 200m of rovers.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking.

EVA # 18
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Redeploy of solar logger outside the science dome following recharge of battery.
Start time: 0755
End time: 0815
Narrative: Having been retrieved from it’s position outside the science dome, the solar logger was redeployed to the same location following full recharge of it’s battery. A visual inspection of the elements of the MDRS and the connecting tunnels for the engineering officer was also carried out at this time before returning to the hab.
Destination: Outside the science dome panoramic windows.
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518228E 4250718N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler and Steve Hobbs.
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS campus environs
Mode of travel: Walking.

EVA # 10
Author: Clare Fletcher
Purpose of EVA: Going to Kissing Camel Ridge West to attempt to reach Hab Ridge from Kissing Camel Ridge West, to identify concretions and possible fossils, as signs of life on Mars. We could not do this in the timeframe on EVA #7, so are going to make another attempt.
Start time: 1000
End time: 1238 (meant to return at 1230)
Narrative: We had two possible routes to get from Kissing Camel Ridge up to Hab Ridge – one on the South side and one on the North side. Mission support suggested we take the North route, and we thought it looked less steep, so decided that was the optimal route to take. We made it up on to Hab Ridge and managed to find a bed of Oyster Shell fossils! We also took bearings to various peaks from our location. According to previous research we should also have found petrified wood at this site, and after some searching of our noted GPS points and of the ground, we found some petrified wood too. We ventured further afield to take bearings from a different location to the peaks we have been looking at. As we began our return, Scott took a few more bearings and I found some odd-looking formations in the rocks of the Dakota Formation. This was our downfall – we were running out of time and needed to get back to the rovers. However, as we began our downclimb I noticed I’d left my notebook somewhere and went back to get it and my valuable field notes. Once found we re-started our downclimb but had some navigational issues with our path down as we took a different side of the gully to our way up. Once safely down we took a quick walk to the rovers and got home as quickly as we could, collecting a solar logger that was out of charge on the way back. We got into the airlock at 1233 (just after our EVA end time), and after our 5 minutes in the airlock, we were 8 minutes late back. This was a valuable learning experience for us in how to manage time and equipment in the field and we are aiming for no repeats of our lateness.
Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge West. Walking within 700m of the rover. Parking rover at 518271, 4249560, walking to 517664, 4249650.
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Parking rover at 518271, 4249560, walking to 517664, 4249650.
Participants: Clare Fletcher, Scott Dorrington
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit Hab via main airlock. Drive down driveway to Cow Dung Rd 0110. Drive South on Cow Dung Rd 0110 to Kissing Camel Ridge. Walk up and along Kissing Camel Ridge to Hab Ridge.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking.

EVA # 12
Author: Clare Fletcher
Purpose of EVA: Deploy solar logger before sun gets too high. Solar logger had stopped working on 27-01-24 and was retrieved on EVA #10.
Start time: 0800
End time: 0815
Narrative: Prior to the beginning of EVA #12, Alex reported having a migraine and was unable to join this EVA. Given I (Clare) was awake, I volunteered to help on this EVA to deploy the solar logger. Andrew and I made good time getting ready and left on time. We deployed the solar logger outside the Science Dome and turned it on. After this, we inspected the tunnels quickly as we intend to hold a practice emergency depressurization EVA during the week (EVA request yet to come for that one).
Destination: Outside Science Dome. 518150, 4250950
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518150, 4250950
Participants: Andrew Wheeler, Clare Fletcher (replacing Alex Tobal)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit Hab via main airlock and walk to outside the Science Dome. Within 50m of the Hab walking distance.
Mode of travel: Walking only.

EVA # 3
Author: Andrew Wheeler
Purpose of EVA: Deployment of environmental sensors
Start time: 10:15am
End time: 11:00am
Narrative: Environment monitoring sensors have been brought to MDRS to measure temperature, humidity, air pressure, altitude, dust, organic gases, CO2, magnetic field strength, light intensity, UV and IR intensity and battery/solar panel performance. Before deployment, the sensor suite (encapsulated within a Stevenson Screen (digital equivalent)) needed to be linked into the local area network to allow for calibration. Unfortunately, the device could not access the WiFi and was unable to be deployed at this time. Deployment is to be outside the science dome so that visual monitoring can be undertaken and short range remote access maintained. Instead, the EVA involved a practice run in setting out the equipment and confirming that all were operating (though not recording). This was then dismantled and returned to the hab for troubleshooting. Additionally, a preliminary examination of the ground conditions for EVA #4’s robot deployment was carried out before returning to the hab.
Destination: Outside science dome panoramic windows
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): 518228E 4250718N
Participants: Andrew Wheeler (9), Steve Hobbs (8)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS campus environs.
Mode of travel: Walking