Date Time:
20:00 01/31/2013
Written By:
David Willson, Crew Commander of MDRS123
Today was the first all blue sky day clear of clouds with temperatures reaching approx. 50 degrees F.
Our primary aim today was to investigation of rock coating, collect samples for Curiosity test bed analyses and organic extraction trials and operate the Raman spectrometer on the analog samples in the field.
The Crew undertook a 4 1/2 hour out of sim EVA to the region of N 38°27’ 30”, E 110° 45’ 45”, with the Raman spectrometer expediting our primary aim. The EVA exploration USNG waypoints were:
We gained a dozen spectrographs of Jurassic period rocks, soils, petrified wood and bivalves. Some samples were collected for Hab analysis that includes using the ocean Optics reflectance spectrometer.
Other activity by Melanie and Emma included some work in the Green Hab, another recipe developed from storable food for future Mars explorers, requests for light bulb replacement and the suggestion to add a chemical toilet to the Hab.
Finally Jen documented the samples and spectrographs collected during the day.