The first week of Expedition One emphasized mainly EVA tools (spacesuits, rover, datalogger, etc.). However, the biology group, keeping in mind the focus of phase one, was able to collect several set of samples for water mapping, diversity and richness.

This week, I had four EVAs, i.e. EVA12 (water mapping), EVA 22 (scouting for richness), EVA 9 (scouting for water mapping), and EVA18 (scouting for diversity). EVA23 had been canceled due to time constraints. Unfortunately, EVA 23 was totally devoted to biology as I was planning to team up with Vuong. I was looking forward to teaming up with him and getting as many possible samples from one site as we could.

During EVA 12, I was wearing the MDRS suit to compare the mobility and dexterity to the MarsSkin. My partner, Dr. Clarke, was wearing the MarSkin suit. The overall EVA, which was totally pedestrian, was slight hard physically and not that optimal for sampling as I had to spend half of EVA time looking at geological features. However, I was able to take 7 samples from a small area which supposedly had a large surface microbial community. Later during the week, I was able to evaluate the amount of water within each samples. The overall process was not very efficient as, with the number of replicates, the heat exposure surface could not fit all of them. Therefore, I decided to split the study in to two parts. First, I was able to process 5 samples (x3 with replicates) which covered the all surface of the hot plate and after 3 hours almost all of the samples decreased in mass. However, 3 hours later, almost 60% of the samples had an increase in mass which was still lighter than the original samples. My guess is maybe the heat temperature was too high (level 5/8) and could affect the physical integrity of the sample. Then, I reused the same protocol for the two remaining samples at a lower temperature. During that time, I prepared the control for the CO2 which required 3 consecutive days and then prepared the samples for the experiment which I started on Friday night.

The rest of the EVAs were more scouting rather than taking as many possible samples from sites. I went to Tank Wash where I collected 11 samples, at that time I did not know that morning EVAs was just focusing on sites exploration rather than sampling. Tank Wash is an interesting area with a tiny pool of water at its origin which at the upper surface forms a icy, crystal layer. On the next EVA, I spent all morning scouting at Lithe Canyon. This is a great area with a lot of biological diversity. The area contains 3 major water pools where I was able to collect 2 samples (water and soil surrounding the pool) at each of them. Also, I collected samples from one site which had a feature of rocky and sandy slot for further characterization. Finally, my last scouting EVA was supposedly to be located in a canyon east of the hab in vicinity of Pinto Hill. However, we were not able to find the right road and decided to target a different location which is located north east of the hab around the small reservoir on the way to Tank Wash. The canyon seemed to be connected to the canyon where we were planning to go. Anyway, the canyon is very interesting and will require the planning of a full EVA to get samples from different sites.

My overall conclusion about this first week and biology goals is that the association between a biologist and a geologist could be relevant uniquely for scouting. The afternoon EVAs used for sampling with another biologist are a more efficient and productive way to complete the biology goals.

For next week, which is Phase 2, we will focus on research methodology but Vuong and I are planning to collect as many possible samples for the CO2 experiment as we can, knowing the limiting space and materials available.