Crew 315 EVA Report 24-04-2025
EVA # 8
Author: Michael Andrews
Purpose of EVA:
Start time: 1415
End time: 1630
(Note: My previous EVA request provided an incorrect end time. I meant to request 6 PM or 1800 but instead put 1600. This had us arrive 30 minutes after the officially approved EVA time, but once the error was realized at 1610, we were already on the way back via Rover and were in communications with the station throughout the entire mission.)
Narrative: Crew Engineer Andrews and Crew Journalist Saavedra-Buckley departed from the station via Opportunity Rover at 1415 and headed north along Cow Dung Road. After passing previously seen landmarks, we ventured into new territory… and immediately missed our turn. Although Cow Dung Road proceeds all the way to our destination of Green Mars View, the offshoot road to the Special Region actually appears to be the more developed road. We stopped briefly at the Special Region (known on Earth as the Burpee Dinosaur Quarry) before resuming our trip.
The terrain became more remote as we approached Green Mars View. Wary of our rover battery life, we stopped a few hundred feet short of our parking spot at 56% to give us a factor of safety for the return trip. Andrews found the highest local point and set up Starlink at 1451 while Saavedra-Buckley searched for desiccated soil samples.
The area was rather green and as a result, had no cracked and dried soil. Starlink connected after 2 minutes and began consuming power. After a quick speed test, the pair walked to the nearby overlook to take photos for the 100cameras project and attempt to locate the Monolith for Comander Laude’s project. Throughout the walk, Saavedra-Buckley interviewed Andrews for her article.
After an hour of power consumption, the Starlink terminal had consumed 35% of the battery pack and the crew packed up and powered up opportunity at 1400. On the way back, the error of the incorrect EVA request end time was realized when communicating with CapComm, and the crew ensured no stops or delays were made in order to return to the hab as soon as possible. The team returned and entered the airlock at 1425, ending the EVA at 1430.
Destination: Green Mars View
Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Easting 527500, Northing 4256750
Participants: Michael Andrews (Crew Engineer and EVA Lead) and Elena Saavedra-Buckley (Crew Journalist)
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exited MDRS onto Cow Dung Road, then took a left to head North. We proceeded and missed a turn, accidentally arriving at the Special Region. We returned to Cow Dung road and continued north until the end of the road to reach Green Mars View. The return trip was performed in the same steps, but in reverse.
Mode of travel: Opportunity Rover