Category: EVA Report

Crew 314 EVA Report 04-13-2025

EVA # 9

Author : Odile Hilgers

Purpose of EVA : Driving to the Sea of Shells to get some soils for Berengère’s experiment, and on the way back, stopping at the intersection of Galileo Road and Cow Dung Road to check Antoine’s equipment.

Start time : 9:32am

End time : 11:50am

Narrative :

Four crew members participated in today’s EVA. Among them was our GreenHab Officer, Bérengère Bastogne, who is currently conducting an experiment involving fungi and requires soil samples from various Martian locations. Today, she collected a sample from the Sea of Shells, a place where an ancient ocean once lay—now long gone. Yet, if one lets their imagination wander, it is still possible to envision waves dancing gently in the wind. Joining her was Antoine, our Crew Engineer, who needed to verify whether his installation had withstood the violent winds from the previous day.

After donning their suits and completing the standard five-minute decompression, the crew exited the MDRS at 09:37. They split into two teams: Béatrice drove Opportunity with Antoine as her passenger, while Bérengère drove Curiosity with Arnaud—today’s EVA leader—riding as her passenger. Shortly after departure, Mission Support informed us that the crew was driving a bit too fast and reminded them to reduce their speed in order to conserve the rovers’ battery life.

At 09:42, the crew made contact to report that they had reached the intersection of Galileo Road and Cow Dung Road. At 09:53, they turned left onto Brahe Highway, and at 09:57, they checked in again to determine their distance from the intersection with Copernicus Highway—they were approximately 250 meters away (about 0.15 miles).

No further radio contact was made after that point; however, the crew’s position was continuously tracked via GPS. They arrived near their intended destination at 10:20 and began exploring the surrounding area, collecting two soil samples for Bérengère’s experiment. Concerned about Opportunity’s battery level—down to 57%—they decided to park the rover slightly earlier than initially planned. They also deployed the drone to capture aerial photographs of the canyon.

The crew left the Sea of Shells at 11:20. They attempted to contact CapCom at 11:26, but the signal was very weak, and no communication was possible until 11:40.

At 11:40, they reached the intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road, where they checked Antoine’s equipment. They briefly reported their activities : Antoine drove Opportunity until they reached Galileo Road, after which Béatrice resumed driving. Arnaud remained the driver of Curiosity for the entire return trip.

Destination : Sea of Shells (4256500N, 517000W)

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84):

First stop : Sea of Shells (4256500N, 517000W)

Second stop : Intersection Galileo Road and Cow Dung Road (4252250N, 519000W)

Participants : Antoine Dubois (Engineer), Béatrice Hollander (Commander), Bérengère Baltus (Greenhab), Arnaud de Wergifosse (Executive Officer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : Moonwalk Road, then Cow Dung Road 0110. Turning at Brahe Highway to Overlook, and then Copernicus 1575 Highway to reach Sea of Shells.

Mode of travel : Driving and walking.

Crew 314 EVA Report 14-04-2025

EVA #10

Author: Béatrice Hollander (Commander)

Purpose of EVA: The crew will support Louis’s research, which began on Sol 4 inside the MDRS and will continue in the field on Sol 8, focusing on the interaction between humans and technology. For this, he requires an area with minimal wind so the crew can repeat a series of movements captured by a wrist-mounted portable device. The chosen location is the intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road.

Start time: 9:32 am

End time: 10:55 am

Narrative :

The EVA team began the decompression procedures in the airlock at 9:32 AM. The actual exit from the station occurred at 9:37 AM. Two rovers were used for this mission: Spirit, driven by Batoul with Arnaud as passenger, and Curiosity, driven by Odile with Louis as passenger.

The journey to the mission site went smoothly, and the team arrived at their destination at 9:47 AM. After spending time completing the mission objectives, which involved collecting movement data for Louis’s experiment for each crew member, the crew informed CapCom at 10:40 AM that they would be leaving the area within the next two minutes. The actual departure took place at 10:42 a.m.

The return to the station was also carried out without issue. Arrival at the station was recorded at 10:48 AM, immediately followed by entry into the airlock and the start of the recompression at 10:50 AM. Recompression ended at 10:55 AM, officially marking the end of the EVA.

The entire mission was conducted under good conditions, with good adherence to procedures.

Destination: intersection of Cow Dung Road and Galileo Road.

Coordinates : 4252000N, 519000W

Participants: Louis Baltus (Astronomer), Batoul Tani (Journalist), Arnaud de Wergifosse (Executive Officer), Odile Hilgers (HSO)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Leaving the MDRS by Moonwalk Road, then taking Cow Dung Road 0110 until the intersection with Galileo Road

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Crew 314 EVA Report 15-04-2025

EVA #12

Author: Antoine Dubois (Crew Engineer)

Purpose of EVA: The aim of this EVA was to identify and evaluate a new measurement site for Antoine’s science experiment. After leaving the station, the crew headed north on foot around the science dome to explore a potential site. The purpose of this site evaluation was to determine whether the area presented the conditions required for collecting data on movements or environmental variables essential to Antoine’s research. The EVA also included a traverse of the rover to Green Mars View, which enabled the team to recover soil samples for Bérengère’s experiment.

Start time: 9:34 a.m.

End time: 12:15 p.m.

Narrative:

The EVA team began decompression procedures at 9:34 AM, with the process completed by 9:39 AM. At 9:40 AM, the crew started walking, contouring the Science Dome to head north in search of a new measurement site for Antoine’s experiment.

At 9:53 AM, the team stopped and began setting up equipment at coordinates 425100, 518000 (Utah region). The setup phase concluded at 10:20 AM, after which the crew returned to the rovers.

At 10:27 AM, Curiosity rover was driven by Antoine, with Odile as passenger, while Perseverance was driven by Béa, with Bérengère as passenger.

At 10:46 AM, the team made a short stop in a special region to establish communications before continuing on the road toward Green View.

At 11:48 AM, the crew left Green View to return to the station. This time, Odile drove Curiosity with Antoine as passenger, and Bérengère drove Perseverance, with Béa as passenger.

The crew arrived safely at the station at 12:12 PM, concluding a successful EVA. A 5-minute depressurization process began at 12:15 PM.

Destination: Green Mars View

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84):

MDRS – collection site: 4251000N, 518000W

Green Mars View : 520500N, 4257000W

Participants: Odile Hilgers (HSO), Bérengère Bastogne (Greenhab), Antoine Dubois (Engineer), Béatrice Hollander (Commander)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: We will leave the MDRS via Moonwalk Road, then follow Cow Dung Road 0110 until we reach Green Mars View

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 314 EVA Report 16-04-2025
EVA #13
Author: Béatrice Hollander (Commander)
Purpose of EVA: The crew will be collecting soil for Bérengère at Candor Chasma, as she hasn’t been able to obtain samples from that location yet. These efforts support ongoing research on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and their potential to enhance Martian soil bioactivity in future life-support systems.
Start time: 9:34am
End time : 11:49am
Narrative : At 9:34 AM, the EVA team entered the SAS for the 5-minute decompression procedure. The team was split into two rovers: Spirit, driven by Bérengère with Odile as passenger, and Opportunity, driven by Batoul with Louis as passenger.
The rovers left the MDRS at 9:43 AM. By 9:49 AM, the team reported their position at the intersection of Galileo Road. However, at 10:00 AM, they realized they had driven approximately 500 meters past the intended location and turned around to return to the correct site.
They arrived at the planned location at 10:08 AM and parked the rovers. At 10:11 AM, the crew continued on foot toward the canyon. By 10:23 AM, they had entered the canyon. At 10:54 AM, attempts to reach the team via radio were unsuccessful, and there was no communication.
At 11:02 AM, the team began heading back through the canyon. They reached the rovers at 11:28 AM and departed from Compass Rock. At 11:36 AM, they passed the Galileo Road intersection and arrived back at the MDRS at 11:42 AM.
The crew entered the SAS for decompression at 11:44 AM, and the EVA officially ended at 11:49 AM.
Destination: Candor Chasma
Coordinates : 4252000N, 520000W
Participants : Louis Baltus (Astronomer), Bérengère Bastogne (Greenhab), Batoul Tani (Journalist) et Odile Hilgers (HSO).
Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map : The crew will depart the MDRS via Moonwalk Road, then follow Cow Dung Road 0110 before turning onto Galileo Road 1104 toward Compass Rock.
Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 314 EVA Report 04-17-2025

EVA # 15

Author: Odile Hilgers

Purpose of EVA: We will head to Green Mars View to collect soil samples for Bérengère’s experiment, as she wasn’t able to go today and still has a significant amount of work to complete tomorrow in the Science Dome. Once we return to the station, we will proceed to remove Antoine’s experiment equipment.

Start time: 09:02 am

End time: 11:06 am

Narrative:

The EVA team began their mission at 9:11 AM, departing from the MDRS with two rovers. Béatrice piloted Curiosity with Antoine as her passenger, while Louis drove Perseverance accompanied by Arnaud. Driving to their primary destination, the team passed through the Special Region at 9:25 AM without stopping.

By 9:48 AM, the team reached Green Mars View. There, they successfully collected soil samples for Bérengère’s experiment, which aims to study microbial content and soil characteristics relevant to greenhouse sustainability on Mars. The team worked efficiently, completing the sampling process and preparing for their return journey by 10:20 AM. On the return leg, rover drivers were rotated: Arnaud took over Perseverance with Louis as passenger, and Antoine drove Curiosity with Béatrice.

The team arrived back at the MDRS at 10:45 AM. Upon arrival, they promptly contacted CapCom to provide a full update, including mission timing and rover battery usage data. At 10:49 AM, the crew proceeded on foot to Antoine’s experimental site to dismantle the equipment and, at 10:58 AM, transport it back to the station, marking the conclusion of this phase of his research. They entered the MDRS at 11:01, and completed their 5 minutes decompression.

The EVA concluded successfully, with all objectives met and the team safely returned to the habitat.

Destination: Green Mars View : 520500N, 4257000W

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): Green Mars View : 520500N, 4257000W

Participants: Antoine Dubois (Engineer), Arnaud de Wergifosse (Executive Officer), Béatrice Hollander (Commander), Louis Baltus (Astronomer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS via Moonwalk Road, then follow Cow Dung Road 0110 until reaching Green Mars View

Mode of travel: Driving and Walking

Crew 315 EVA Report 21-04-2025

EVA : #2

Author: David Laude

Purpose of EVA: Required practice/trial EVA to Marble Ritual by rover and then walk the area to check backpack fitting.

Start time for EVA : 3:03 pm

End time for EVA: 3:59 pm

Narrative: We got suited up and I tried a two piece suit and found it to have a heaviness on my lower back area so went with my usual #7 one piece. All seemed well then except for difficulty finding the radio transmit key when needed even though in a convenient location. We’ll have to find a better way to find it, maybe by placing it at the base of an easily found antenna. We walked to Marble Ritual placing stones in it and brief walk in area before returning to base.

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84): 4250800N, 518750W

EVA Participants : David Laude (Commander), Tim Gagnon (Artist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: The EVA will begin on Moonwalk Road, then proceed along Cow Dung Road 0110 to Marble Ritual.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Crew 315 EVA Report 21-04-2025

EVA # 1

Author: Michael Andrews, Crew Engineer

Purpose of EVA: To familiarize the crew with EVA operations and perform the Marble Ritual: collecting a rock in the surrounding area and depositing it into one of the three baskets at the site.

Start time: 1300

End time: 1345

Narrative:

The EVA crew put on their space suits for the first time, quickly learning the difference in weight and comfort between the single-piece and two-piece suits. During our depressurization window, the Commander played us the main song from 2001: A Space Odyssey to get excited. We opened up the hatch and Crew Journalist Saavedra-Buckley set foot on the red planet first for our mission.

The team traveled via rovers (Saavedra-Buckley leading in Perseverance, Andrews and Koi in Curiosity) to Cow Dung Road and headed north approximately one kilometer. We attempted to communicate with CapCom via Channel 1, but we were too close to the station and opted for Channel 2 instead. The crew each found their own rocks and deposited them in the red, green, and blue baskets to complete the Marble Ritual.

The crew still had about 30 minutes left in the EVA window, so we continued east to get used to the terrain and take photos of the environment and crew. We returned to our rovers at 1335 and headed back to the Hab via Cow Dung Road. After a quick photo at the entrance to the Hab, the crew returned to repressurize. The EVA ended at 1345 with no issues or unaccomplished objectives.

Destination: Marble Ritual

Coordinates: Easting 518750, Northing 4251000

Participants: Michael Andrews (EVA Lead and Crew Engineer), Urban Koi (Health and Safety Officer), Elena Saavedra-Buckley (Crew Artist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Traveled east to Cow Dung Road via rover, then north via Cow Dung Road via rover. The crew parked on the east half of the road and traveled to Marble Ritual on foot. After performing the ritual, the crew took a counterclockwise loop east of Marble Ritual to further explore the area and take photos.

Mode of travel: Rovers from Hab to Marble Ritual (Perseverance and Curiosity), followed by traveling on foot.

Crew 315 EVA Report 22-04-2025

EVA : #4

Author: David Laude

Purpose of EVA: Travel to Candor Chasma area to look for desiccated soil for Elena’s project, look for easy entrance into the Chasma without entering and survey for Koi’s 100cameras potential project location. Then travel up Cow Dong Rd about 2 KM further where the Commander has seen desiccated soil in two, within 1KM, walking distance locations from where rovers will park next to Cow Dung Rd.

Start time for EVA : 1:33 pm

End time for EVA: 4:16 pm

Narrative: We got suited up paying particular attention to radio transmit switch location for easier access. That paid off. We were all in one piece suits. Traveled to Compass rock and spent 20 minutes scouting a route to Somerville Overlook as I know from previous experience it can be difficult to know where to turn off of Galileo. Both Koi and Elena from this EVA will travel there tomorrow. We did find a reasonable turn off and further route. While there Elena took a desiccated soil sample. Next, we drove to the west end of Candor Chasma to look for easy entrance. On first try too steep and then success further up along it to the west where it begins. One would take Galileo road to its end just pack Compass Rock and there is a nice open parking area to the left. On foot, one heads SE staying on the flat, following an erosional path while staying close to the elevated area to the right. Follow that to where one can easily walk down some rocks to the sandy bottom. The descent is only a few meters. Then, we went to the Cowboy Corner area where we found plenty of desiccated soil where Dave said it would be. Next, we viewed an area for later investigation on the west side of Galileo with perhaps the best collection of such soil for KMs around. Finally headed back to hab, arriving several minutes before the deadline.

Coordinates (use UTM WSG 84):

• Candor Chasma: 4252000N, 520000W.
• Galileo Road (probably Cowboy Corner): 4253500N, 518500W.

EVA Participants : David Laude (Commander), Elena Saavedra Buckley (Journalist/Greenhab), Urban Koi (HSO)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: The EVA will begin on Moonwalk Road, then proceed along Cow Dung Road 0110 to Galileo Road, parking the rovers near the west end of Candor Chasma as close as permitted. Then drive back to Cow Dung and north ~2KM. Return to MDRS via Cow Dung and Moonwalk.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking.

Crew 315 EVA Report 22-04-2025

EVA # 3

Author: Michael Andrews

Purpose of EVA: To collect 3-5 rock samples for the 3D Scanning project. We are to collect rocks no larger than 250 mm in any dimension in a variety of shapes, textures, and colors to return to the Hab. The Crew Artist will also be taking photos of the environment and EVA activities to convert into artwork or other mediums post-EVA.

Start time: 1005

End time: 1110

Narrative:

Crew Artist Gagnon and Engineer Andrews spent about 30 minutes of the EVA window trying out the two-piece spacesuits before entering the airlock. We found these to be preferable, but it was discovered at the end of the donning procedure that Suit 1’s neck ring was installed upside down – future work for the engineer. The pair began their EVA at 1005.

The EVA crew took Curiosity and Perseverance east to Cow Dung Road, and then proceeded south along it. Without a map, the crew tried to estimate where Robert’s Rock Garden was located, but stopped half a kilometer short of the destination after observing some notable collection of rocks on both sides of Cow Dung Road.

5 specimen canisters of various sizes were taken to the new EVA site, and 4 rocks of various sizes were collected. All specimens had to have no dimensions greater than 250 mm to comply with the scanner’s capabilities for Andrews’s project. On the other side of the road, the last rock sample was collected, and the large rock marker for the Hypatia satellite was discovered. Crew Artist Gagnon collected photos of the environment and activities throughout.

Once all rock samples were collected, the EVA crew returned to the Hab, plugged in Perseverance, and entered the airlock. The EVA ended at 1110.

Destination: Robert’s Rock Garden but EVA team stopped approximately 0.5 kilometers

Coordinates: Easting 518200, Northing 425000

Participants: Michael Andrews (Crew Engineer and EVA Lead) and Tim Gagnon (Crew Artist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: MDRS road, then Cow Dung Road

Mode of travel: Used two rovers to travel along Cow Dung Road until reaching Robert’s Rock Garden and parking on the road berm. The EVA team then traveled on foot, traveling no further than one kilometer from the rovers.

Crew 315 EVA Report 23-04-2025

EVA # 5

Author: Elena Saavedra Buckley

Purpose of EVA: To collect soil samples for Journalist’s project and to take drone footage from the HSO’s drone.

Start time: 0935

End time: 1215

Narrative:

Crew HSO and Crew Journalist used Curiosity and Opportunity to get to Somerville Overlook, which they reached after finding the route around Compass Rock. Despite some radio issues, they made it easily enough and practiced with the drone and took soil samples. They went under 2 km north on Cow Dung road in order to walk around and perform some more drone flights, and then they returned to the Hab. They plugged in Curiosity.

Destination: Somerville Overlook

Coordinates: 4253000N, 522150W

Participants: Urban Koi (HSO), Elena Saavedra Buckley (Journalist/GreenHab Officer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Moonwalk Road, Cow Dung Road, Galileo Road

Mode of travel: Two rovers the whole way, with slight foot exploration at Somerville Overlook and north on Cow Dung before turning back.