The Everest was used yesterday in the second half of Graham Mann's comparative study between the Everest and ARES. The Everest performed quite well, although lots of lessons were learned which can help in future rover designs. A few of the things learned were:

• The airlock can fit three people, although for the first person to exit or the third person to enter, someone has to stand behind the outer airlock door.
  
  
• There is insufficient room for EVA suit/backpack/helmet stowage (this was the same for ARES)
  
  
• As there was no generator, no lights or running water was available. An auxilliary 12V battery would help with this situation, allowing lights and water pump to be used even if there is a generator failure
  
  
• The rear water tank was a problem for clearance. At a modest gully (approx 12 degrees incline measured using an inclinometer), the chase vehicle observed that the rear water tank contacted the ground and one of the rivets on the rear support panel popped out, although the panel held. We were not able to hear or feel this from the cab, and so only would have noticed it during a visual inspection after going out on EVA.

Note: more lessons learned will be available from Graham following further analysis of the study data.

Just to clarify Graham's description of the rear ladder accident, I have to take responsibility for that. We had parked the rover following the completion of Graham's rover study and gone inside and desuited, leaving the rear ladder in the down position.

Approx. 20 minutes later, Matt informed me that the Everest was a few feet too far from the power outlet and the power cord would not reach the outlet. I went outside with Matt to move the Everest, however I neglected to perform an exterior check and backed up and moved the Everest closer to the power outlet with the ladder in the down position. During this move of the Everest, I did not hear or feel anything which would cause me to suspect a problem.

After we left the Everest, we discovered the bottom portion of the ladder broken off the hinge and bent. There was some paint scratches on the Everest in the area of the hinge, but no other visible damage to the vehicle. I will perform another inspection this morning in the daylight (yesterday's incident happened just after dark) just to verify that there is no other damage.

As indicated in the Everest waiver forms that I signed, I am prepared to pay for the repairs to the ladder, as it happened due to my negligence in following the Everest procedures.