Difference between revisions of "Extra-Vehicular Activity"
(New page: '''Extra-Vehicular Activity''' (or '''EVA''') is the term for any activity that involves astronauts venturing outside the Habitat, for any reason, during the mission. EVAs typi...) |
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| + | ''Not to be confused with [[Intra-Vehicular Activity|IVA]]'' | ||
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'''Extra-Vehicular Activity''' (or '''EVA''') is the term for any activity that involves [[astronauts]] venturing outside the [[Habitat]], for any reason, during the [[mission]]. EVAs typically involve two astronauts, and last for no more than fifteen minutes. | '''Extra-Vehicular Activity''' (or '''EVA''') is the term for any activity that involves [[astronauts]] venturing outside the [[Habitat]], for any reason, during the [[mission]]. EVAs typically involve two astronauts, and last for no more than fifteen minutes. | ||
==Reasons for EVAs== | ==Reasons for EVAs== | ||
===Damage to Habitat=== | ===Damage to Habitat=== | ||
| + | If the Habitat is damaged in such a way that requires outside access (i.e., holes from [[Simulator#Emergency|meteoroid impacts]], [[Simulator#Emergency|engine malfunctions]], etc.), astronauts may embark on EVA to repair said damage. | ||
| + | ===Exploration=== | ||
| + | Once the Habitat has landed, it is customary to embark on an Exploratory EVA. This involves two astronauts going outside of the Habitat to perform a preliminary survey of the [[planetary surface]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==EVA Protocol== | ||
| + | Prior to deciding to embark on any EVA, the Habitat crew must inform [[Mission Control]] of their intentions, their choice of astronauts for the EVA, and obtain Mission Control's approval. After said approval is obtained, two astronauts not going on the EVA assist the two EVA astronauts in getting into their [[EVA suits]]. Once the EVA astronauts are prepared to embark, they enter the [[airlock]]. The other astronauts obtain permission from MC to depressurize the airlock, and then depressurize it. Once it has been completely depressurized, the EVA astronauts are given permission by the [[Mission Commander]] (or [[Subcommander]], if the Mission Commander is incapacitated) to embark. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once the EVA objectives have been completed, the EVA astronauts return to the [[airlock]] door and request permission to enter. The astronauts aboard the [[Habitat]] ensure that the airlock is still at equal pressure to the outside environment, and then grant the requested permission. The EVA astronauts then enter the airlock, and inform the other astronauts when they have sealed the outer door behind them. The other astronauts acknowledge that the EVA astronauts are inside, and repressurize the airlock. When it is repressurized, the astronauts activate the [[Airlock|Decontamination Cycle]] and inform the EVA astronauts that said cycle is in progress. When the cycle is complete and all EVA astronauts are detected as clean of any contaminants, the astronauts aboard the [[Habitat]] inform the EVA astronauts that it is safe to open the inner door. | ||
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| + | Once successfully returned to the [[Habitat]], the two astronauts who helped suit-up the EVA astronauts help remove the suits. The suits are folded and stored properly on the racks in the [[airlock]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | *[[IVA]] | ||
| + | *[[Airlock]] | ||
| + | *[[EVA Suit]] | ||
| + | *[[Decontamination Cycle]] | ||
Revision as of 10:35, 29 November 2009
Not to be confused with IVA
Extra-Vehicular Activity (or EVA) is the term for any activity that involves astronauts venturing outside the Habitat, for any reason, during the mission. EVAs typically involve two astronauts, and last for no more than fifteen minutes.
Reasons for EVAs
Damage to Habitat
If the Habitat is damaged in such a way that requires outside access (i.e., holes from meteoroid impacts, engine malfunctions, etc.), astronauts may embark on EVA to repair said damage.
Exploration
Once the Habitat has landed, it is customary to embark on an Exploratory EVA. This involves two astronauts going outside of the Habitat to perform a preliminary survey of the planetary surface.
EVA Protocol
Prior to deciding to embark on any EVA, the Habitat crew must inform Mission Control of their intentions, their choice of astronauts for the EVA, and obtain Mission Control's approval. After said approval is obtained, two astronauts not going on the EVA assist the two EVA astronauts in getting into their EVA suits. Once the EVA astronauts are prepared to embark, they enter the airlock. The other astronauts obtain permission from MC to depressurize the airlock, and then depressurize it. Once it has been completely depressurized, the EVA astronauts are given permission by the Mission Commander (or Subcommander, if the Mission Commander is incapacitated) to embark.
Once the EVA objectives have been completed, the EVA astronauts return to the airlock door and request permission to enter. The astronauts aboard the Habitat ensure that the airlock is still at equal pressure to the outside environment, and then grant the requested permission. The EVA astronauts then enter the airlock, and inform the other astronauts when they have sealed the outer door behind them. The other astronauts acknowledge that the EVA astronauts are inside, and repressurize the airlock. When it is repressurized, the astronauts activate the Decontamination Cycle and inform the EVA astronauts that said cycle is in progress. When the cycle is complete and all EVA astronauts are detected as clean of any contaminants, the astronauts aboard the Habitat inform the EVA astronauts that it is safe to open the inner door.
Once successfully returned to the Habitat, the two astronauts who helped suit-up the EVA astronauts help remove the suits. The suits are folded and stored properly on the racks in the airlock.
