EVA-6 Report
Amy Blank

Duration: 12:50 -- 3:28 (3 hours, 38 minutes)

Participants: Kevin Sloan, Ryan Kobrick, Amy Blank

Equipment: digital camera, soil core sampler, digital thermometer and thermistor, wire brush

Route: Waypoints

1. 12S 0518165E 4250931N [Hab (Start)]
2. 12S 0517976E 0425403N [Tank Wash (Destination)]
3. 12S 0517967E 4254071N [Sampling Location]
4. 12S 0518165E 4250931N [Hab (End)]

Objectives/Work Done: The mission for EVA 6 was to collect soil core samples at Tank Wash, a location just off Lowell Highway. The distance traveled to the wash was 5.5 km. The objectives were based on those given by RST in their description of Biology EVA #2. A photo of the opening of the wash was taken from the road. Another was taken from the highest point nearby. A third was taken inside the wash, facing the road. These photos will be available in the biology report for March 4, 2004. Inside the wash, 18 samples were taken, 10 dry and 8 wet. The samples were then taken back to the Hab for analysis. In the Hab, they will be tested for microbial richness, as described in the biology report. On the 18th sample, the thermistor broke, the metal part remaining stuck in the ground. This prematurely ended the EVA, but enough samples were collected to get some results.

Weather: Partly cloudy for the first half of the EVA. Around 1:30, large gray clouds were coming towards the sampling location, and the wind began to pick up. Luckily, there was no rain, and the clouds simply passed by. By the end of the EVA the weather was mostly sunny again, though still windy.

Maximum distance from Hab: 3.16 km, note that this is straight line distance, not the actual path followed to get to the target waypoint.

Lessons Learned:

1. Taking samples from wet ground can be almost as difficult as sampling from rocky ground. In this case, getting the core sampler into the ground is no problem, but getting the sample out of the sampler and into the container is very difficult. Having one person hold the sample container and the other hold the sampler and a scoopula is often the best method.
2. Residue from wet samples is extremely difficult to clean out of the sampler, especially with nothing but a scoopula and a wire brush. Bring more than one scoopula, because mud will stick to that, too. Also, find something other than a wire brush to clean with, because the wire brush will get muddy.
3. When taking samples in wet areas, watch out for mud.
4. Thermistors are fragile. In hard ground, they bend easily, so care should be taken not to push too hard. In soft ground (or hard ground), thermistors can get stuck. Do not try to twist or wiggle the thermistor to loosen it, or it may break. Instead, always have something on hand to dig, if necessary.
5. Don't drink two cups of coffee before going on an EVA. Bathrooms are scarce on Mars.

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EVA-7 Report
Daniel Hegeman

Duration: 15:34-17:11 (1 hour, 27 minutes)

Participants: Jason Schwier, Dennis Creamer, Daniel Hegeman

Equipment: Cameras, GPS device, ruler, compass, ATVs, direction marker

Route:

1. 12S 0518165E 4250931N to 12S 0517828E 4249449N [Conglomerate 1]
2. to 12S 0517863E 4249443N [Sandstone 1]
3. to 12S 0517826E 4249441N [Conglomerate 2]
4. to 12S 0517825E 4249440N [Sandstone 2]
5. to 12S 0517824E 4249440N [Sandstone 3]
6. to 12S 0517836E 4249437N [Conglomerate 3]

Objectives/Work Done: EVA 7 was the second Geological Specimen EVA. We followed the directions as outlined by RST and headed out as soon as the EVA 6 crew got back. Daniel suggested riding in the Pressurized Exploration Vehicle (PEV, aka Old Blue Truck) but he couldn't fit with enough room to steer, so the crew decided to ATV instead. There was also place to store the direction marker, a 50 inch metal ruler, so we placed it horizontally between Jason and his pack, which worked out rather well. We traveled about 1.5 kilometers south of the Hab to a small rift leading eastward off of the Lower Blue Hills ridge. The crew drove most of the way along a well-worn road and walked the remaining half kilometer. We acquired a total of 6 samples: 3 sandstone and 3 conglomerate at various locations around the site. We also took a panoramic photograph of the general site, showing the cardinal directions, and some general photos of the layering in the area, suggested by Dennis. For each sample we noted the GPS coordinates and type of sample and snapped a photograph showing the untouched sample, its orientation (via compass), and size (next to a ruler.) The crew bagged the samples for further analysis by RST and also collected some interesting quartz rocks for themselves. During the whole excursion the wind was very intense so we decided not to stay and get more samples. More details will be found in the EVA and Geology Reports.

Weather: Cloudy and very windy

Maximum distance from Hab: 1.53 km (curved path much longer)

Lessons Learned:

1. There is a surprising variety of different rocks in even a small area. This suggests an extremely tumultuous history of the Morrison Formation.
2. Difficult conditions such as high winds are debilitating but can be overcome. For example, we tried to take samples from a wind-blocked side of the mountain to avoid it.

Comments: The crew is becoming increasingly comfortable and confident in their abilities. Just a few short days ago we could not even put the suit on but now we're identifying age-old rocks through a camera through a microscope lens through a glass visor through sunglasses. It's also amazing that Dennis, a septuagenarian, is able to clime steep rock faces with college students, illustrating the enduring human spirit and zeal for exploration. This is definitely a good sign. We must have the support of every generation to accomplish a goal for all mankind.