Biology Report Summary for Phase One
Julie Edwards
The Phase One Biology Team of Vuong Nguyen (California), Fathi Karouia (France) and
Julie Edwards (Michigan) has had an interesting week at MDRS. We are all first time
crew here, so had to learn the biological methods needed for our EVAs, as well as the
general systems of the Hab.
The laboratory on the first floor of the Hab has been the favorite hangout for Vuong, a
young man of boundless energy. When not on EVA scaling cliffs, you can either find
him in the lab before a bench filled with various experiments, or if there is a meal in
progress, he will often be involved in its creation as well. The smell of a tasty spaghetti
sauce is wafting thru the upstairs at this very moment.
Culinary expertise is also a talent Fathi possesses, helping with the cooking most days.
Lunch today included vegetables in a bowl with corn covered with a smaller pile of peas
in the center, and asparagus spears radiating from the center – a delight for the eye as
well as the palate. Often quiet and reserved, he is gracious to all, and has a humorous
side. Fathi has been working on the richness experiments in the lab.
The operations of the GreenHab are of special interest to Julie. She has been following
its use since the beginning of this field season during her work in Mission Support as
Science Officer. Getting to do some hands-on work and close observation of the
greenhouse has helped to understand its workings better. On various EVAs, she has done
a little water testing of any natural pools found enroute, which data she hopes to relate to
the workings of the GreenHab.
Phase One of Expedition One is the initial testing phase, so there has been a real learning
curve involved. Some EVAs have been more productive than others. Finding routes in
unfamiliar terrain was easier with waypoints from previous crews, but still took longer
the first time. Learning GPS and the available mapping software was put to good use
immediately. This crew soon realized the benefits of the Australian MarsSkin suits, and
after an initial wearing of the current Hab suits, many opted for the MarsSkin when
possible. Ventilation was the major problem with these new suits, but should be much
improved in the next version, we are told.
Both Vuong and Fathi will remain at the Hab for Phase 2, but Julie's rotation will end on
Saturday.
------------EVA 2 to White Rock Canyon
This EVA returned to a location originally visited by Fred Janson who I believe was on
Crew 2 last season. We are unsure if we stopped at the same spot, but were able to find a
sample of a condition which had been described. Two or more areas of adjacent soils on
slopes coming from the cliff had differing physical traits, as well as biological. One solid
type was a red clay-looking soil, heavily compacted, with white salt evaporate on the
surface in some places. The adjoining soil was a greener color, and had small pebbles on
the surface. The most interesting thing, which had been mentioned by the earlier crew,
was that the greener soil was host to vegetation, but the redder soil was barren.
3 samples were taken from each soil type, and notes taken on the soil conditions. Jon
Clarke was along on this early EVA, and he and Melissa Battler (both geologists)
surveyed the source rock on the cliff nearby. Jon later ran these soils on the PIMA in the
lab, and their compositions were different as well.
EVA 7 to Factory Bench to look for an igneous dike
A bitter wind greeted us, but down in the nearby canyon, we were fairly well protected.
Rocky Persaud (geologist) found 2 possible igneous areas, but on return to the Hab, they
did not hold up to PIMA. As this smaller canyon was part of Coal Mine Wash, finding a
nice coal deposit was not surprising. Few good biology sample sites were located, tho
there was a small pool area that was still damp.
EVAs 5 and 20
The first of these 2 EVAs did not produce much new data, but on the second, we were
able to finally set out a thorough biology test area. A gently sloping area with both dry
and wet sample locations was found and staked out. 20 samples were collected with the
corer, and soil temperatures were taken with a thermistor. The samples were of sufficient
size that on return to the Hab, we were able to perform multiple tests on them. Soil color
charts were used, water testing was done, and tonight we expect to run the remaining of
each sample on the PIMA.
The first EVA was to Lith Canyon, and tho we took awhile to find it, our EVA into the
canyon was fairly short. We did, however, find small samples of both the dinosaur bones
and petrified wood reported there by earlier crews. With the small Geiger counter we had
with us, we were able to determine more easily what was bone. All bone samples we
found had a higher than background reading.
EVA 18
The location planned was not reachable, so we went to a canyon near the Hab, to the
northeast. Fathi Karouia climbed to the higher areas of 2 small bx canyons to the north of
the main small canyon. A cave was found during this scouting EVA, which should be a
possible collection site. Desert varnish was seen in the adjoining canyon, in a location
that might be accessible. After investigation of this canyon, we traveled to Tank Wash to
sample the small pool at the canyon head. On the way back to the Hab, a stop was also
made at a reservoir to take similar samples.
EVA 20 with 2 biologists produced the most data for this Phase, since we were able to
share the work – Vuong Nguyen took the cores, Julie Edwards recorded info, and
sampling went fairly quickly. Tests such as the soil color and such were reserved for
later in the lab, which helped increase the data collection time as well.