MARS DESERT RESEARCH STATION

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EVA Report – April 11th

Crew 178 EVA#1 Report 11 APR 2017

Weather: sunny, come clouds, wind
Temperature: around 25°C
Location: 12S0519254 UTM 4250772, elevation: 1365 m
Duration: 90 min
Team: Elke Mergny (crew geologist), Mathieu Vander Donckt (crew scientist)
Purpose:
–       Geophysical survey of the area with a ground penetrating radar.
–       Collections of ground samples for an analysis with a diffractometer
Outputs:
–       Ground penetrating radar: The survey wheel was calibrated and two profiles were collected.
–       Collections of ground samples: Three samples collected around the base.

EVA Report – March 30th

EVA Report:
EVA # 7
Crew members:  Caleb Li, Esteban Ramirez, Pitchayapa Jingjit, Becky Parker
Location:
12 N 519235 4251489
Time: departure at 10:00 am. Estimated return at 12:00 am
Duration: 2 hours approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover
Purposes:
Geology EVA.  Teach students about sedimentary rocks, deposition, lithification, and examination of the regolith.  This is the second half of EVA #4 that was shortened due to the NPR reporter visit.
Goal: Complete the Geology EVA.
Summary:
The location for this EVA was chosen in order to study different kinds of geologic structures and the methods by which they were created. The pattern of lithification in the sedimentary rock field was unique and interesting to the crew. Former evidence of a vigorous fluvial environment was observed at the second location. Determination of width and height were performed during the EVA.
Otsmar Villarroel
Crew 177 Commander

EVA Report – March 29th

EVA Report:  EVA #6
Crew members: Elijah Espinoza, Caleb Li, Esteban Espinoza, Becky Parker
Location: 12 N 520446 4251115 (Candor Chasma)
Time: departure at 9:00 am. Estimated return at 11:30 am
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover
Purposes:
Chemistry EVA.  Students will be visiting the location known as Candor Chasma with the goal of collecting samples as well collect water sample.  All samples will be analyzed in the Science Lab paying close attention to the chemical composition and Teach students about using the Geiger counter to identify background radiation.  Also have students collect a water sample for analysis back at the hab.
Goal: Complete the Chemistry EVA.
Summary:
Unable to use the Geiger counter due undetermined technical issues. No water was found. For fauna, we observed birds, and found what appeared to be several nests, probably by a small mammal. Flora observed were flowers, grass, trees, cacti and brush. There were also many varieties of gypsum.  Some rock samples were brought back to the Hab for future chemical composition analysis.
Otsmar Villarroel
Crew 177 Commander

Chemistry EVA – March 29th

Crew 177 Chemistry EVA 29Mar2017
Hello,
Today, we analyzed the samples taken from Candor Canyon. After taking two 2 gram samples from each main rock sample, we used Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) to test for the presence of carbonate in the rock samples.
Separately, we used Nitric Acid (HNO3) and Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) in order to test for the presence of halides in the rock samples. The results showed positive results by showing that both carbonates and halides were present in the rock samples.
The positive carbonate (CO3-2) results are significant because it shows the presence of a potential atmosphere-building gas in Martian rock. In addition, the halide tests were significant because halides can be refined and used for a thermal-based fuel. The presence of halides in Martian rock shows that there is a potential energy source on Mars should solar and nuclear power methods fail.
Thank you,
Joseph Quaas (crew chief, crew chemist)

EVA Report – March 28th

EVA # 5

Filled by Otsmar Villarroel, Commander

Crew members:  Otsmar Villarroel, Caleb Li, Victoria LaBarre, Joseph Quass

Location:

12 N 518524 4249129
12 N 519235 4251489

Time: departure at 2:30 pm. Estimated return at 4:30 pm

Duration: 2 hours  approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover

Purposes:

Geology EVA.  Teach students about sedimentary rocks, deposition, lithification, and examination of the regolith.  Perform Monsell Soil Color analysis, use Brunton Compass to determine strike and dip.

Goal: Complete the Geology EVA.

EVA departure was slightly delayed due to the presence of the NPR reporter, Rae Bichell. During the EVA, we examined pieces of sandstone and used a Brunton compass to obtain the strike and dip of the cap rock on a hoodoo located at the site. Everyone was able to learn and demonstrate how to use the compass. The whole EVA was successfully completed.

EVA Report – March 28th

EVA # 4

Filled by Otsmar Villarroel, Commander

Crew members:  Elijah Espinoza, Esteban Ramirez, Pitchayapa Jingjit, Becky Parker

Location:
12 N 518524 4249129
12 N 519235 4251489

Time: departure at 10:25 am. Estimated return at 12:00 am

Duration: 1 hours and 35 minutes approximately
Vehicles: 2 Rovers, 1 ATV

Purposes:
Geology EVA.  Teach students about sedimentary rocks, deposition, lithification, and examination of the regolith.  Perform Monsell Soil Color analysis, use Brunton Compass to determine strike and dip.

Goal: Complete the Geology EVA.


Summary:
EVA departure was slightly delayed due to the arrival of the NPR reporter, Rae Bichell. During the EVA, we examined pieces of sandstone and used a Brunton compass to obtain the strike and dip of the cap rock on a hoodoo located at the site. Everyone was able to learn and demonstrate how to use the compass. Rea accompanied the crew during the EVA, so we decided to made just one stop (12 N 518524 4249129).  Second part of the EVA will be rescheduled to be completed later this week.

EVA Report – March 28th

Crew 177 Microbiology EVA

Dear Mars Society,

My name is Pitchayapa Jingjit (Pitch-cha-ya-pa Jing-jit). I am part of the crew 177 from McLennan Community College, Waco, Texas. I am a biologist and a photographer for this mission.

Aside from performing my microbiology EVA, I will also be collecting soil samples and bring those samples back to McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. I will be performing soil dilution processes in order to extract bacteria, grow them in Petri dishes, and find their zone of inhibition. This will indicate the presence of bacteria producing antibiotics. The goal of my research is to find bacteria that produce unique and effective antibiotics.

Today, I began my microbiology EVA inside the HAB. I swabbed the HAB for the presence of Gram negative enteric bacteria and Gram positive staph bacteria. Enteric bacteria are related to diarrheal diseases. Staph bacteria are related to skin infections and pneumonia. Both bacteria cause diseases and illnesses.

I will be expecting to find both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria growing on the tryptic soil agar (TSA) after incubating the samples. I will wait at least 24 to 48 hours for bacteria to grow in order to identify types of bacteria.

After I see that bacteria grow adequately on Petri dishes, I will start the gram staining process to identify the presence of both enteric and staph bacteria.

Please feel free to ask any questions, I will be happy to answer them for you.

 

Thank you for the facility.

Sincerely,
Pitchayapa Jingjit

EVA Report – March 27th

EVA SUMMARY REPORT
EVA #3

Crew members: Elijah Espinoza, Joseph Quass, Pitchayapa Jingjit, Otsmar Villarroel

Location:
12 N 518277 4249548
12 N 520446 4251115 (Candor Chasma)

Time: departure at 9:00 am. Estimated return at 11:30 am

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover

Purposes:

Chemistry EVA.  Teach students about using the Geiger counter to identify background radiation.  Also have students collect a water sample for analysis back at the hab.

Goal: Complete the Chemistry EVA.

Summary:
Unfortunately, due to technical difficulty with the Geiger counter the identification backgroupd radiation part of the mission was not completed successfully.  A second group will be send later this week to complete the task. Next we went to the Candor Chasma to collect water samples. Water was not located in this area although several moist areas were identified under rocks. Gypsum was evaluated and the students discussed that you can make water from gypsum if needed.  Some samples were brought back for future composition evaluation.  An important amount of green vegetation and colorful were observed down in the canyon.  We observed birds, and found evidence of nesting by some unknown creatures.

EVA Report – March 26th

Crew 177 EVA#1 Report 26Mar2017

Filled by: Otsmar Villarroel, Commander.

Crew members:  Commander  Otsmar Villarroel,  Astronomer and Green Hab Keeper Esteban Ramirez, Biologist and Photographer Pitchayapa Jingjit, Geologist and HSO Caleb Li
Location:
12 N 518172 4250624
12 N 518832 4251144
12 N 518911 4251602
12 N 518535 4253343
12 N 518158 4253775
12 N 517738 4254864
Time: departure at 11:15 pm. Estimated return at 1:45 pm

Duration: 2 hours and 30 Approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover

Purposes:
Orientation EVA:  Teach students about sample collecting, navigation, and communication.  Also identify major landmarks to get bearings and provide some geological background about the area.

Goal: Complete the Orientation EVA.

Summary:

We started the EVA a little late than planned due some delays while getting ready and the presence of Crew 176. Not a big deal however.  We went to locations to specifically look at ancient sand dunes, mass wasting, desert pavement, a hoodoo, an active creek bed, and gypsum fields.  We were able to see some fossilized bivalves in the creek bed, and were delighted at the numerous amounts of gypsum at the gypsum fields.

 

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Report filled by Otsmar Villarroel

Crew 177 EVA#2 Report March 26, 2017

Crew members: Co-Commander and Astronomer Becky Parker, Geologist and Engineer Elijah Espinoza, Chemist and XO Victoria LaBarre, Chemist Joseph Quaas.

 

Locations:
12 N 518172 4250624 (sand dunes)
12 N 518832 4251144 (mass wasting)
12 N 518911 4251602 (desert pavement)
12 N 518535 4253343 (hoodoo)
12 N 518158 4253775 (creek bed)
12 N 517738 4254864 (gypsum fields)

 

Duration: 2 hours and 30 Approximately
Vehicles: 2 ATV’s and 1 Rover
Purpose: Orientation EVA.  Teach students about sample collecting, navigation, and communication.  Also identify major landmarks to get bearings and provide some geological background about the area.

Summary:

We started the EVA a little late than planned due group 1 EVA delay.  We went to locations to specifically look at ancient sand dunes, mass wasting, desert pavement, a hoodoo, an active creek bed, and gypsum fields.  We were able to see some fossilized bivalves in the creek bed, and were delighted at the numerous amounts of gypsum at the gypsum fields.

EVA Report – March 23rd

EVA #8

Crew members:  Michal Kazaniecki (EVA leader), Natalia Zalewska, Karolina Zawieska (EVA buddies)

Location: Around the MDRS Hub

Vehicles : NA
Time : Departure at 10:00  and back at 13:00 hrs

Duration : 3 hours

Purposes:
•  Testing Ares Rover

•  Recording promotion materials

Summary:
Due to rainy and windy weather our testing scenario for Ares Rover was limited. However our test were successful and gather materials are on satisfactory level. Set of selected pictures (our favourites) are attached to this report.