In our morning meeting we discussed our EVA and lab work options for the day. We decided on a 4-person EVA of the following: Dr. Zubrin, Steve McDaniel, Jen Heldmann and Heather Chluda. Troy Wegman worked in the lab defining the samples from EVA I on February 8, 2002. We verified that all 4 ATVs were suitable to drive while in space suits, then we suited up.

Our first objective of the February 9, 2002 EVA team was to deploy the Hab weather station and it is functioning nominally. This will allow the biology team to associate actual on-site weather data with the samples. The weather station reporting unit was placed inside the Hab at the secondary airlock, and the remote devices were placed on an aluminum mast within approximately 20 feet of the Hab exterior, under the direction of Jen. (A subsequent EVA will position the weather station farther from the Hab when a longer electric cable can be fastened to it) Heather oriented the anemometer at 160( SE, using GPS, and Steve hammered the supporting stake into the ground at approximately 8 feet from the surface of the ground. The temperature probe was shielded from thermal radiation with an insulated cup placed about 4 feet from the ground on the mast. A Hobo datalogger to record temperature and relative humidity at 10-minute intervals (we are not able to monitor this remotely) was placed at about 3 feet from the surface on the mast. This combination of instruments will allow us to monitor temperature on a constant basis (and to obtain high and low temperatures remotely), wind speed and direction (and to obtain high and low wind speeds remotely), as well as the relative humidity. The weather station deployment took approximately 30 minutes.

Next we headed North on our ATVs to survey the area for promising geological and biological sites. During the course of our survey EVA, we took a total of 5 waypoints with UTM coordinates and elevation measurements at each. Three (3) waypoints were at sampling sites and two (2) waypoints were taken at sites of interest for future EVAs. Summary descriptions of the waypoints are stated below. More descriptive passages of each location from a geological prospective and then a biological perspective are then given. Finally the lab analysis of the samples from EVA I will be described.

The following three sites were observed at length and 13 containers of samples were obtained:

• Waypoint 11: 4253.267 km N, 518.579 km E: Sedimentary Outcrop - Location of ancient water flow and endolith growth samples. Elevation: 4479 feet.
• Waypoint 12: 4255.681 km N, 517.998 km E: Small Vista Butte – Good vista point for surveying the nearby terrain. Conglomerate and sedimentary rock along top of butte with highly friable, unconsolidated material below. Elevation: 4565 feet. Light meter reading: 58.
• Waypoint 13: 4256.043 km N, 518.178 km E: Canyon - Location of past water flow both stagnant pools and waterfalls, fossils found and large hypolithic growth samples taken. Maximum Elevation: 4508 feet. Minimum Elevation: 4172 feet.

The following additional waypoints and their description of interest are described below. These sites will be of great interest for future EVA exploration.

• Waypoint 14: 4256.159 km N, 519.570 km E: Top of Large Basin – surveyed and not sampled. Our first site at the top of a large basin looked incredible. It was labeled as an exemplary gateway to large canyon in the distance. No acceptable ATV paths could be seen. An extended pedestrian EVA to reach the desired cliffs could be accomplished. At least an hour long trek to the destination would be needed. Abundant vegetation was noted at this exact point. Elevation: 4577 feet.
• Waypoint 15: 4256.894 km N, 520.671 km E: Top of Large Canyon –surveyed and not sampled. At the distant edge of the canyon from us stood large cliffs of sedimentary rock with abundant horizontal and distinctive red and white sandstone layering. The canyon dropped approximately 500 feet to a creek. The edge of the side canyon where we stood showed excessive erosion patterns originating from below and continued underneath us for about 30 feet. The side canyon consisted of unclassified, easily eroded and fragmented rock formations. Elevation: 4544 feet.

These last two sites need additional and separate EVAs for proper explanation and discoveries. Pictures at all of the waypoints are in the process of being downloaded, named, and filed.

Geological Findings

Our first extensive exploration was of a large sedimentary outcrop at Waypoint 11. Around the periphery of the outcrop was a conglomerate rock composed of mixed size, well-rounded pebbles. The conglomerate was not extremely strong, and breaking the rock revealed potential endolithic bacteria several millimeters below the rock surface. At the top of the outcrop was a much more well-consolidated red sandstone presumably rich in iron oxide (indicative of a shallow marine environment). This caprock was much more resistant to erosion and often formed cliffs and overhangs over the less consolidated material below. Layering was still evident in this red sandstone and fractures in the rock were not uncommon. The sandstone was fairly uniform over the extent of the outcrop, and the grain size did not substantially change (in contrast with the layered deposits described below). Samples of the conglomerate rock (containing endoliths?) and the red sandstone were collected.

Below the red sandstone cap, the outcrop was composed of layers of sandstone with obvious distinctions among the layers with respect to grain size. Medium grained layers were composed of clasts on the millimeter to submillimeter scale. The layering abruptly changed in several locations where larger clasts were embedded within the sandy matrix. These larger clasts reached diameters of ~ 1 inch. All clasts were well rounded both on the surface of the outcrop as well as deeper within the rock itself (confirmed to depths of ~1 foot). Grains within the layers were well sorted (with the exception of the large clasts interspersed in some layers) and the large and small grained layers were both very friable. The thickness of the individual layers varied but was on the order of 6-12 inches. In several areas, cross-bedding was very prominent. Several layers were inclined with respect to the horizontal bedding of the majority of the rock. Such dramatic cross bedding is indicative of turbulent flow and/or a change in flow direction during deposition. Samples of the largest clasts within the large-clast layer were obtained and numerous digital images of the layers were taken.

Below this layer were (sometimes slumping) deposits of white sand with flecks of iron-rich particles interspersed within it (comprising approximately 10% of the particles). This quartz-rich sand covered the upper ~3-6 inches of the outcrop. Below this depth was a mint-green sandy deposit (pending affirmative identification). Both the whitish and green soils were sampled and imaged.

Below this phenomenal sedimentary outcrop was an outwash plain with a collection of the red sandstone rock fragments strewn across a bed of the white sand. These rocks were generally oriented in the same direction (roughly aligned with the large sedimentary outcrop previously discussed) and matched the sandstone caprocks of the large sedimentary outcrop (previously discussed) with respect to color, grain size, composition, and bedding characteristics. Samples of these rocks were taken which nicely exhibit layering within the sandstone, and the rock field was digitally imaged.

The next site of exploration was a canyon discovered at Waypoint 13. This canyon was incised by fluvial activity through rocks very similar to those seen at Waypoint 11. The walls of the head of the canyon were the same conglomerate rock seen in abundance at Waypoint 11. Along the walls of the canyon, the outer ~3 inches of sediment were the same green material seen at Waypoint 11, and below this layer was the same whitish sand material also observed at Waypoint 11. The same type of rock as seen at Waypoint 11 was also observed in the canyon along the walls (horizontal and cross-bedded sedimentary layers of medium grains and interspersed layers of larger clasts). However, at this location there was evidence of metamorphic rock-one large clast within the sedimentary rock resembled a slate given its fine grain size, definite slaty cleavage, and flecks of reflective mica. Samples and digital images of this clast were collected. Additionally, folded bands were seen in a rock near the rim of the canyon.

Throughout the canyon were numerous interesting geomorphic features due to both water and wind erosion. There was evidence for past pools of water as indicated by remnant shorelines and ripple marks left by the water. More resistant rock at the top of the canyon walls often was less eroded than the weaker underlying rock. These sites must be revisited for further analysis. A large area of scattered petrified wood was discovered near the location where a potential dinosaur bone was uncovered. Also at this site a fossil shell was discovered near the surface of the white sand material littered with small rounded pebbles of various colors and compositions (same materials comprising the large grain beds of Waypoints 11 and 13).

Biological Findings

The biology mission at MDRS took several steps forward today in conjunction with beginning the second phase lab analysis and with the 09FEB02 motorized EVA.

Primary Mission - Lithic Organism Sample Collection

The EVA team visited several sites. First impressions of the sampling from a biological standpoint are as follows:

The area is replete with geological deposits containing green sediment and strata (possibly copper-containing). This was seen in canyon walls, surface deposits in open ground, as well as in individual rock samples. Thus, we cannot simply associate green soil, strata, or rock (both exterior and interior) with a likely situs for photosynthetic lithic microorganisms.

As might be expected, the area has many forms of lichen. The first EVA (08FEB02) appears to have collected primarily lichen. The second EVA attempted to avoid collection of lichen. Within these parameters, the biology sampling was limited to endoliths found growing immediately beneath the surface of the sample rocks. It was also limited to samples obtained under (sub-, hypo-) rocks. One particularly encouraging site (Way Point13) had numerous deep (approximately 5-15 inches subsurface) colonies of a powdery light green hypolithic growth. The growth was not lichen (as far as we can tell prior to microscopy), and was easily detached from the rock surface. These rocks were of a size and mass that made them difficult but not impossible for one man to overturn. They were embedded in fine grained sand on the downslope of an embankment leading down into the small canyon at this way point.

At another site Way Point 12), a rock was broken and found to have a layer of light green rock just under the rock's sunside surface. Once microscopy is accomplished confirming that the samples collected in the second EVA are in fact lithic cynobacteria, it is the intention of the biology team to focus its collection activities to such bacteria.
Secondary Mission - Laboratory Analysis of Specimens:

• The gross specimen (dissection) scope and Olympus microscope were both used to image samples taken by the 08FEB02 EVA team. The samples included Waypoint 7 orange, Waypoint 7 black, Waypoint 7 gray/blue, Waypoint 5 gray/blue, Waypoint 9 gray/blue, and Waypoint 6 (geological sample). All samples except Waypoint 6 contained visible biological epilithic growth upon collection. (The gross color is mentioned after the Waypoint number). Upon visualization of the samples under the dissection scope, the rock surfaces containing the biological growth were porous, sandy, and generally rose-colored. Wet mounts were then made, and the respective samples were visualized using a bright field setting on the Olympus microscope with 200X-1000X magnification. In waypoint samples 5, 7, and 9, there were objects consistent with lichens (alga cells attached to fungal hyphae).
• The fluorescent capability of the Olympus microscope was tested using fluorescent beads as a positive control. The waypoint samples were visualized using this setting, and some parts of the samples were found to fluoresce. This was likely to be artificial background fluorescence as the intensity was weak compared to the positive control beads.
• The 35-mm camera on the Olympus microscope is functional. However, we do not have film development capability and cannot tell if the pictures are adequate. We are currently trying to crudely adapt various digital cameras to obtain images that can be sent to mission control or other scientific support personnel.