Here is a proposal for an overall Data Logger research goal for Expedition One along with an idea for an experiment setup for Week 1 (scouting).

Goal: Gather evidence for/against the following hypothesis:

An integrated data logging system will benefit the EVA aspect of a human Mars exploration mission by:

1. Reducing astronaut time required to write reports detailing EVA activities (because of the audio/GPS records available from the data logger)
   
   
2. Providing a single interface for recording multiple data streams
   
   
3. Easing management of data gathered during an EVA (because it's all in one place)
   
   
4. Increasing astronaut time available during EVA for scouting/science by automatically recording certain data types (e.g. GPS)
   
   
5. Allowing better decisions to be made regarding priorities for revisiting scouted sites (due to more, integrated information about each site).
   
   
6. Keeps EVA records in a standard format (benefiting both mission controllers who will receive this data as well as others who may scan through this information at a later date).

Note that the one overall goal can provide the basis for multiple experiments, each designed to measure some aspect of the benefit (or lack thereof) of the data logger to EVA activities and post-EVA reporting/data processing/analysis.

Experiment Proposal:

Summary: Determine benefit of data logger to site scouting by having different EVA teams visit the same site with 0, 1, or 2 data loggers.

Details: During a 3-day period during week 1, scout 4 sites 3 times each, so that each site is scouted using 0, 1, and 2 data loggers. A possible matrix for such an experiment is as follows:

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Site 1 0 A, D 1 C, F 2 B,E Site 2 2 B, C 1 D, E 0 A, F Site 3 2 A, C 1 D, F 0 A, E Site 4 2 B, D 1 C, E 0 A, F

Notes:

1. In each cell, the number (0,1,2) refers to the # of dataloggers used to scout the site, A-F are crew member designations.
   
   
2. Crew member pairings follow Rocky's plan of having teams of 2 for each EVA, with each person having 2 EVA days and 1 Hab day for each 3-day cycle. Sites 1 and 2 would be explored during the morning EVA, sites 3 and 4 during the afternoon EVA.
   
   
3. Each crew member scouts each site only once to avoid duplication.
   
   
4. Over the course of the 3 days, each crew member gets to do EVAs with 0, 1, and 2 data loggers, so questionnaires can be designed to allow crew members to rate relative beneift of different numbers of data loggers.