EVA #9 Report

January 28, 2010

Kiri L. Wagstaff

Time:
11:34-12:35

Crew Members:
Brian Shiro and Kiri Wagstaff

Site Location:
Hab parking lot

Transit Mode:
Walking

Objectives:
1) Remove snow from satellite receiver.
2) Measure snow depth.
3) Clean mud off ATV tires and test ATV operation in snow.
4) Measure length of coax needed for radio telescope poles.
5) Test VOX operation.

Lessons Learned:
1) Rock hammer with wedge end is a great mud-removal tool.
2) ATV tire inflation in-sim works great!
3) ATVs work fine in snow if you take it slow and follow existing
tracks. Seeing what you're going to drive over is VERY difficult when
snow covers the ground; even judging slope angles is very challenging.
We think it may be possible to ride them on Lowell Highway but probably
not on any of the single-lane tracks.
4) The snow accumulation was 3 inches!
5) VOX was okay... but occasionally produced a lot of radio noise, and
seems difficult to set the sensitivity levels right. We will continue
experimenting.
6) Dishsoap on the helmets did a great job of preventing condensation.
However, Brian's sunglasses fogged up instead.