Category: EVA Report

Crew 290 EVA Report 16-01-2024

EVA # 09

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: MADMEN and REMI data collection at site of interest, identified on the way to Kissing Camel Ridge (EVA 08) site.

Start time: 1230

End time: 1530

Narrative: Many MADMEN sites were explored, with holes dug (and filled in afterwards) at many sites to evaluate the gradient in rock type from sandy to green tuffaceous to red clay. Once a site was identified with the full gradient covered in our 6-inch depth, MADMEN sampling proceeded smoothly. REMI was also able to collect from several sites over a range of terrain. Of note, this EVA site had the most comms blackouts; the crew handled this well, and no problems arose.

Destination: Near Kissing Camel Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4249500, E518000

Participants: Rebecca McCallin (XO), Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Nicole Chan (Crew Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive south on Cow Dung Rd until reaching the site identified on EVA 08, then park and walk to investigate.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Curiosity and Opportunity

Crew 290 EVA Report 18-01-2024

EVA # 11

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: MADMEN sample collect along White Rock Canyon, to complete sampling among diverse geologic sites. REMI collect in Aonia Terra.

Start time: 0930

End time: 1330

Narrative: The crew reached 55% battery and parked just beyond Zubrin’s Head. After some scouting, they found exactly the terrain we needed! The MADMEN sample collection proceeded smoothly, while REMI managed 11 samples. This was our last and smoothest EVA!

Destination: Aonia Terra

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4247500, E520500

Participants: Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Anna Tretiakova (Crew Engineer), Ben Kazimer (GreenHab Officer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive south on Cow Dung Road until reaching White Rock Canyon (just before reaching the cattle guard) and then walk to sample collection site(s).

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Spirit and Curiosity

Crew 290 EVA Report 15-01-2024

EVA # 08

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: MADMEN data collection at the edge of Kissing Camel Ridge, with REMI collection in the Rock Garden.

Start time: 1230

End time: 1530

Narrative: The crew are now settling into the EVA routine in the field, with sample collection and field evaluation running smoothly for both MADMEN and REMI. This site was a bit more difficult for soil collection given the geomorphology at the area of interest. A rock outcrop extended partially over the intended collection site, necessitating some creative maneuvers to reach the site in the suits. The dispersed rocks provided a benefit too; a large one near the site acted as a lab bench with a flat, elevated surface for pH measurements. REMI successfully covered 12 sites in the 3-hour EVA, with time to spare. Overall, this confirms the scheduling needed for our EVAs: we can comfortably scout, select, and evaluate 1 MADMEN sample site with 2 crew members in 3 hours.

Destination: Kissing Camel Ridge

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4249500, E518000

Participants: Madelyn Hoying (Commander), Benjamin Kazimer (GreenHab Officer), Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive south on Cow Dung Rd until reaching Kissing Camel Ridge, then park and walk along the south side of the ridge and in the Rock Garden area to find ideal sample sites. Note: comms blackout area is expected behind the ridge; this will be accounted for in field procedures.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Spirit and Perseverance

Crew 290 EVA Report 13-01-2024

EVA # 07

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: MADMEN data collection at the edge of Candor Chasma, which has geomorphological features that indicate the possibility of microbial life but is expected to be too difficult of terrain to bring REMI.

Start time: Intended 1230, actual 1335

End time: 1630

Narrative: The discovery of a pH meter that we can bring in the field led to the crew bumping our EVA back by an hour. This gave time to adjust the protocol and prepare the new sample setup. Chopper (Rebecca), Funk, Roots (Anna), and PODO set off on their EVA to Chandor Chasma with Melon (Madelyn) on CAPCOM. Two promising sample sites were collected, which the crew will continue analyzing in the coming days. While in the field, the battery connection broke on the temperature probe; if possible, our wonderful Crew Engineer will find a way to fix this!

Destination: Chandor Chasma

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N4252141.8, E521204.1

Participants: Rebecca McCallin (XO), Benjamin Kazimer (GreenHab Officer), Anna Tretiakova (Crew Engineer), Nicole Chan (Crew Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive north on Cow Dung Rd until reaching Galileo Road 1104, then drive east past Compass Rock, which was as far east as possible with rover batteries. The surrounding area was then explored on foot.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Curiosity and Opportunity

Crew 290 EVA Report 10-01-2024

EVA # 04

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: Confirm all systems on REMI robot are nominal after shipping and reconstruction, and to begin collecting initial data from at least 2 different terrain types.

Start time: 1400

End time: 1600

Narrative: This was a repeat of the original plan for EVA 03 to confirm all systems on REMI robot are nominal and begin sampling for MADMEN. REMI sampled six different sites within 180 meters of the Hab. The focus of the sites was mostly on sandy and gravelly terrain near small streamways. All systems were nominal during the EVA, and the crew had little to no difficulty running commands and controlling the robot with suits on. A new setup procedure in the RAM airlock also helped alleviate some struggles from EVA 03. For MADMEN, the use of the salinity meter in the field was confirmed without obstruction by the suits or gloves. Regolith and rock samples were collected and easily identified as samples of interest by the field scientists and CAPCOM, with temperature and additional data collected at each sample depth. Overall, this was a resounding success!

Destination: within 200m of MDRS

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518169, E4250939

Participants: Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Ben Kazimer (GreenHab), and Nicole Chan (Crew Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit the RAM airlock with REMI and walk to sites of interest within a 200m radius

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): None

Crew 290 EVA Report 11-01-2024

EVA # 05

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: Engineering EVA to fix the rearview mirror on Spirit, build up a regolith ramp outside the RAM airlock to remove the drop off for robotic operations, and smectite collection (no more than 2lbs) for an attempt at making ISRU-derived clay items. Would like to test methods of loading/unloading REMI into the bed of the rover, and securing it with bungee cords.

Start time: 0900

End time: 1030

Narrative: All engineering tasks were successfully completed. The Hab’s front airlock door had blown partially open in the wind even after pre-emptively securing it with rope on Sol 3, so the EVA crew exited the RAM airlock and secured the front door. They then proceeded to secure all rover rear-view mirrors, noting that they were particularly loose and that Perseverance has a cracked mirror. Soil collection for RAM ramp began at the site specified by Mission Support but ran into too rocky of an area. Mission Support approved a proposed sandy site to collect from and the ramp was completed. Smectite was collected for ISRU clay, with all collection areas filled in afterwards. Additionally, methods for loading, unloading, and securing REMI in the bed of the rover were successfully demonstrated with two crewmembers and some ratchet straps. Pictures and additional details can be provided, with the crew noting no concerns about the ability to do this in the field.

Destination: within 100m of MDRS

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518169, E4250939

Participants: Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Anna Tretiakova (Crew Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit the RAM airlock and walk to sites of interest within a 100m radius

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): None

Crew 290 EVA Report 12-01-2024

EVA # 06

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA:

Start time: 1230

End time: 1630

Narrative: After a late start to finish piecing together the necessary science equipment, the EVA crew ventured out for the furthest expedition yet with an ambitious goal to reach Lith Canyon. Unfortunately, the rover batteries reached their limit at about halfway, necessitating a turn-around point near Tharsis Montes. Two diverse sample sites were investigated, with one in a valley between two Morrison Formation hills and another in a dried riverbed heading east into the Tharsis Montes region. Field tests gave clear indications of microbial life at the riverbed site, so the crew is excited to begin lab testing and compare those results to the smectite regions! We successfully used our new method of loading and transporting REMI in the rovers which reduces time spent prepping the robot at our field sites. REMI collected data at 10 different sites, focusing mostly on very aerated red soil and hard sandy riverbeds. REMI burned through both of her batteries during the 4-hour EVA.

Destination: Intended for the southern edge of Lith Canyon; the rover batteries reached 55% (the cutoff) when we were approximately halfway there, so we reached approximately the Tharsis Montes region.

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N517653, E4256169

Participants: Madelyn Hoying (Commander), Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Anna Tretiakova (Crew Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive north on Cow Dung Rd until reaching 55% battery on rovers, here at the dried riverbed of Tharsis Montes. Park rovers and walk east in the riverbed.

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Spirit and Opportunity

Crew 290 EVA Report 08-01-2024

EVA # 01

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: training EVA with half of crew

Start time: 14:15

End time: 15:35

Narrative: Training EVA to familiarize crew members with rover operation and navigation. At around 13:30, the crew officially entered sim and began prepping for EVA 01. Madelyn, Anna, and Anja completed suit and comms checks ahead of schedule. On entering the airlock for depressurization, some comms issues caused a delay leading to re-pressurization and suit adjustments. The EVA then proceeded successfully, with the crew noting important changes that need to be made for future EVA success in scientific expeditions (including glove selection and headset placement).

Destination: Marble Ritual

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518700, E4250800

Participants: Madelyn Hoying (Commander), Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Anna Tretiakova (Crew Engineer)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road and walk east until Marble Ritual

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Opportunity, Spirit

Crew 290 EVA Report 09-01-2024

EVA # 02

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: training EVA with second half of crew

Start time: 08:58

End time: 10:26

Narrative: Second training EVA to familiarize crew members with rover operation and navigation. At around 0815, the crew began prepping for EVA 02. Becka, Ben, and Nicole completed suit and comms checks right on schedule, with Becka trying on the one-piece suit and noting no airflow. All EVA members selected the two-piece suit option, with Anna (Crew Engineer) investigating the suit malfunction of the one-piece during EVA. The EVA then proceeded successfully, with the crew noting important changes that need to be made for future EVA success in scientific expeditions (including glove selection and headset placement). Of note, Becka’s headset fell completely off but stayed inside the helmet, with comms unaffected; CAPCOM (Madelyn) instructed the crew to proceed with EVA while monitoring for potential loss of comms, which would be an abort scenario. Crew found sites of interest for future science EVAs and loved the rocks. EVA successfully concluded on schedule at 1026.

Destination: Marble Ritual

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518700, E4250800

Participants: Rebecca McCallin (XO), Ben Kazimer (GreenHab), Nicole Chan (Crew Journalist)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Drive on Cow Dung Road and walk east until Marble Ritual

Mode of travel: Driving and walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): Opportunity, Spirit

Crew 290 EVA Report 09-01-2024

EVA # 03

Author: Madelyn Hoying

Purpose of EVA: Confirm all systems on REMI robot are nominal after shipping and reconstruction, and to begin collecting initial data from at least 2 different terrain types.

Start time: 1426

End time: 1600

Narrative: The EVA crew had some last-minute technical difficulties arise with REMI that delayed entry into the airlock. Unfortunately, technical difficulties continued into the EVA and made data collection infeasible. This error was resolved shortly after the EVA concluded, and REMI should be operational for a repeat EVA trial tomorrow. After trying to correct the error in the field for approximately the first hour, the crew decided to walk around the site and determine collection areas for future tests and subsequently concluded the EVA.

Destination: within 200m of MDRS

Coordinates (use UTM WGS 84): N518169, E4250939

Participants: Anja Sheppard (Crew Scientist), Madelyn Hoying (Commander)

Road(s) and routes per MDRS Map: Exit the RAM airlock with REMI and walk to sites of interest within a 200m radius

Mode of travel: Walking

Vehicles to be used (If applicable): None