Nobody's going to make it to Mars alone -- or survive alone on arrival. Nor will a crew here at the MDRS get along unless they can figure out how to work together.

For example, even such a trivial thing as putting on a spacesuit works better when crew members work together. Although you can eventually get to where you put on your spacesuit all by yourself, why should you do that when you have crewmates to help you? It took us more than 45 minutes to get our spacesuits on for our first EVA. We're faster now because we know what we're doing -- and because we know how to help each other.

How to put on a Spacesuit:
	Step 1: You step into it one leg at a time, then one arm at a time, like a big canvas jumpsuit. Then, because it zips up the back, if you want to speed up the process, you let your crewmate zip it up for you. One thing you can do yourself is put on the boots and gaiters. But first remember long, thick socks.
	Step 2: Now you take the backpack off the shelf where it has been charging. It's heavy and cumbersome, harder to put on than a regular backpack because part of it is the neckpiece for the helmet, a stiff ring of plastic. Again, you can do this yourself, but why would you want to when you can help a crewmate who then turns around and helps you? Turn it on now.
	Step 3: This is a good time to get your radio and transmitter and microphone all together and attached: radio clipped to one of the backpack straps, push-to-talk piece clipped to your chest pocket or taped to your arm, microphone and earpiece taped in place, the cord from the mike threading UNDER the helmet neckpiece. Here we use a lot of duct tape, an item we think may be in great demand on Mars. Tape everything securely so after 3 hours on EVA you'll still be able to hear through the earpiece and talk into the mike.
	Step 4: You'll need to clean the helmet on the outside and apply some kind of anti-fogging material to the inside, or you'll be walking in your own private fog 20 minutes after you start out. Some of us use soap, some use special anti-fog sprays. Either way, be sure to wipe off the excess anti-fog.
	Step 5: Now for the hardest part (if you're doing it alone): putting the helmet on and attaching the air hoses from the backpack to the helmet. With help, though, it's easy. Make sure your crewmate tilts the helmet back a bit and secures it in place to the backpack frame so your head will sit properly in the middle of the helmet.
	Step 6: Finally you put on your gloves and grab your equipment and enter the airlock for the mandatory 20-minute decompression period. Welcome to Mars!