Haughton-Mars Project (HMP-2001 REPORT: 010708)

FMARS Crew supports EVA

I am now in the FMARS hab, with six other crew mates, living a rather
unique experience. We’ve just begun, with obvious limitations but also
a sense of promise, a field simulation of a human exploration mission
on Mars. We are here to learn to the extent possible with the relatively
modest means we have at this time, what it might take for human explorers
to live and work on Mars.

We expect successes and failures, new insights
and dead ends. We hope to learn from all of these. Our focus will be on
field science and the conduct of Mars surface exploration operations. We
plan to help develop some of the strategies and technologies that will
enable humans to be effective explorers on Mars, and to study some of the
related factors that may be key to this enterprise.

We had a first simulated EVA today. It was performed by Frank Schubert and
Sam Burbank who worked on setting up some infrastructural elements just
outside the habitat. A waste water sump hose and an external emergency
escape ladder were deployed. The EVA lasted 1.5 hours. It went very well.
Just like during a shuttle EVA, the sortie today mobilized the
attention and time of just about everyone on board. Each of us had to monitor
various aspects of the event.

Unlike during a shuttle EVA, however, it was
not possible to benefit from live input from Mission Support on Earth
located several light minutes away.On Mars, humans will be far from home.
A high degree of self reliance will be necessary. This in itself is not a
new finding, but how this self reliance will be enabled is where much
research still needs to be done.

The NASA Haughton-Mars Project is now in its fifth field season on Devon
Island. Managed by the SETI Institute and driven by science goals in
astrobiology and comparative geology between the Earth and Mars, the HMP
also supports an ambitious field program in Mars exploration research in
which technologies, strategies and human factors relevant to the future
exploration of Mars are being studied.
Among the HMP’s partners, private and government, the Mars Society is
providing a new and unique element: a simulated Mars habitat intended to
support studies in human exploration field operations research at a higher
level of fidelity than has been possible before. The several crews slated
to occupy the FMARS this summer will be supporting both a program in
science and exploration research and in education and public outreach. The
outcome
will be, we hope, a greater understanding of Mars, of life, of its
possibilities elsewhere, of how exactly we will one day soon explore Mars
with humans, and of how the excitement of such a venture may be shared by,
and will be of benefit to, all humankind.

Our modest efforts on Devon Island will by no means be sufficient to make
a human mission to Mars happen. But if they may contribute to the journey,
they are steps worth taking. We are tonight almost sleepless from the
excitement of a great day. Today we simulated an martian EVA, more
specifically a suited walk following procedures that might apply on Mars.
In the weeks to come we will be examining how such procedures may impact or
enhance field science. Step by step we will learn how to go to Mars.