• EVA Date: 4/05/02
• EVA Cmdr: Jennifer Knowles
• EVA 2: Judith Lapierre
• EVA 3: Shannon Rupert
• EVA HabCom: Andrew Hoppin

Summary:

This was an ATV EVA to Lithe Canyon to perform a survey of the area, including collecting waypoints on-route.

Commander’s narrative (Jennifer Knowles):

This EVA was long anticipated by Judith, Shannon, and myself. Ever since beginning our mission at the Hab, we had planned to do an all-female ATV EVA. Due to circumstance, today was the first chance we got to do that. At first we were disappointed that a television crew would be following, but as it turned out, they were very unobtrusive. The "girls" were even sent on a rescue mission halfway through our EVA to get their vehicle out of the sand where it had gotten stuck at Lithe Canyon. However, they freed themselves shortly before we could get to them.

The furthest I had ever gone on an ATV EVA was Tank Wash, which is about halfway between the Hab and Lithe Canyon. Not only was the ATV drive fun, but the walk at Lithe Canyon was fantastic. Albeit hot, the geology of the canyon, especially the numerous ravines and dry waterfalls, made one hardly notice how uncomfortable we were with the heat. Before heading back towards the Hab, we paused to rest and take in the view of "Mars".

During our drive back to the Hab, and after a near-rescue mission, we collected several waypoints for Andrew's research project. The mission was productive for Andrew as well as future crews. And for a final EVA, this could not have been topped.

Secondary Narrative (Shannon Rupert):

Judith and Jennifer are faster drivers that I am, but my defense is that I am taking in the scenery. With each EVA I have been on, I have been amazed by the diversity of the landscape. Today's EVA was a splendid example of that. The landscape between the Hab and Lithe Canyon changes in a dazzling display of color and texture. If I hadn't noticed that and appreciated it for its beauty, stopping to get waypoints and descriptions for Andrew with every change in the land cover would have drove it home. After a spectacular, but too short, exploration of Lithe Canyon (followed by a media crew), we headed back to the Hab but collected Andrew's data along the way. My last EVA of this rotation was with the two women who were my first EVA and it seemed a fitting end to two incredible.

Third Narrative (Judith Lapierre):

Our last EVA. We had planned this forever since we were on Mars and finally it came on that Friday- for the three of us. Although we had space tourists following us that somewhat altered our experience of that exploration of Lithe Canyon, it was my favorite one. We felt confident as Mars explorers by now, we know each other very well and enjoy working together, therefore, it all the key ingredients to make it a success. We had not multiple tasks to achieve on this EVA, it was devoted mainly to Andrew's work for MDRS. It gave us more time to experience that last EVA, in a more relaxed way. Plus the ATV's all worked perfectly. It was even us who were called to rescue the media crew in their van, as Jennifer just explained! As we were entering the airlock, we talked about the fact that it was our last EVA on this mission and it made it even more significant.

Technical Log

Objective(s): This was an ATV EVA to Lithe Canyon to perform a survey of the area, including collecting waypoints on-route.

Personnel:

• Jennifer Knowles (Commander)
• Judith Lapierre
• Shannon Rupert
• Andrew Hoppin (HabCom)

Airlock timeline:

• Hab airlock departure ingress: 11:10
• Hab airlock departure egress: 11:16
• Hab airlock return ingress: 14:30
• Hab airlock return egress: 14:35

Waypoints:
New: 229, 230, 231 , 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238
Revisited: 3

Communication Checks:

Check Time: 11:53

• EVA team location: Lithe Canyon.
• Status: HabCom could not hear EVA Team due to static, EVA Team could hear each other throughout the mission.
• Additional notes: None.

• EVA team location: On route.
• Status: HabCom could not hear EVA Team due to static.
• Additional notes: None.

• EVA team location: On route.
• Status: Television crew communicated to HabCom and EVA Team that their vehicle was stuck in the sand by Lithe Canyon.
• Additional notes:
• EVA team decided to return to Lithe Canyon to try to free the vehicle.

• EVA team location: On route.
• Status: EVA Team returning to Hab.
• Additional notes: None.

Special circumstances:

Television crew's vehicle got stuck in sand at Lithe canyon. Jennifer, Judith, and Shannon returned to the canyon from Tank Wash, however vehicle was free by then.

Conclusions/lessons learned:

Mission went smoothly.