Project:
Soil Gas Analysis at MDRS as a Rapid Resource and Geologic Assessment
Tool


Personnel:
Kerry Cupit


Operations Data Collected:
A 3x6 sampling grid with 100m spacing has been calculated and set up
for the first survey site, resulting in a total of 18 holes needing to
be drilled. Grid is oriented perpendicular to strike of regional
faulting for this part of Utah, in order to maximize likelihood of
finding fault zones.

An EVA (EVA-11) this morning managed to drill and sample two out of
three holes planned for today, out of the eighteen in this survey site.
The soil consistency was a lot stronger than expected, however the
following results were obtained:

------HOLE 5------
Date: Feb 8, 2008
Time: 11:45AM
Depth: 69cm
Easting: 0515640
Northing: 4253745

[CH4]: 0.0%
[CO2]: 0.0%
[O2]: 20.3%
[H2]: low
[CO]: 0ppm
[H2S]: 0ppm

Downhole T: 14.2°C
Barometric P: 25.50 mmHg

------HOLE 6------
Date: Feb 8, 2008
Time: 12:37PM
Depth: 43cm
Easting: 0515736
Northing: 4253711

[CH4]: 0.0%
[CO2]: 0.0%
[O2]: 20.9%
[H2]: low
[CO]: 5ppm
[H2S]: 0ppm

Downhole T: 17.0°C
Barometric P: 25.45 mmHg

Grid was set up incorrectly in the Hab, which wasn't noticed until
on-site on EVA. Fortunately the grid was easily corrected in the field
and future holes are on the proper grid now.

Created spreadsheet to hold data, populated it with information from
field notes and set it to automatically perform unit conversions and
grid calculations as data is entered.


Technical/Equipment Issues:
Still struggling to obtain an ideal soil depth (3ft) in some soil
types, however there is nothing that can really be done besides getting
more elbow grease. Ideally, Mars astronauts would have a powered
auger. Lunar astronauts had much softer regolith to work with, Mars
scenarios would have a much wider range of soil types to go through due
to more abundant geologic processes.

Concerned that grid spacing may be too large, however time constraints
dictate a wider spacing may be optimal.


Discussion:
Next EVA will attempt 3-4 holes, more if time allows. With a total of
18 to drill in this survey, the more that can be accomplished in a
single EVA the better. With luck there may be time to perform an
additional survey at a different site. As the crew is briefed on soil
gas procedures while assisting and the equipment is incrementally
modified for ease of use in the field, sampling rates should increase.


Questions for RST:
None at this time. Please send more elbow grease.