We just enjoyed our first movie night at the hab - a well-deserved break after an otherwise (again) very busy day. Tonight's show: "Mars Attacks!", which to my surprise most of the crew had not previously seen. We sure had a blast. Ack-ack!

The activities that dominated the day were related both to our research program and our engineering objectives. We had two extensive pedestrian EVAs to gather additional PID readings and to create a detailed altitude profile around the hab. John commanded the first EVA, leading the team south along waypoints that he had generated with a creatively-programmed Excel spreadsheet. Rebecca was in charge of the second EVA, taking on the more difficult terrain north of the hab. Both efforts managed to take measurements, both with a handheld GPS and with the Tricorder-like PID, at all of the predetermined waypoints, which means that we'll have a good chance of completing our measurement campaign tomorrow, one day ahead of schedule. With help from our mission support crew in Atlanta, we will likely be able to provide a preliminary report to the Mars Society Remote Science Team for peer review while we are still at the hab.

The other major focus of the day was an impromptu rescue mission to the observatory. Strong winds had blown both shutter panels off their tracks on the domed roof, and we arrived just in time to tie them down again. This turned into a major adventure, given the gale-strength winds. Our engineering and observatory reports have more details, but suffice it to say that Georgia Tech ingenuity, combined with duct tape and tie-downs, again saved the day (and the telescope) ;-)

In addition to those outside activities, Heidi and Kyle did a great job organizing the engineering area on the lower floor, and Doug applied his home-improvement skills to fixing the locks on the bathroom doors (they now actually hold the doors closed) and to caulking and sealing the West window on the upper floor. John reorganized the loft and found several useful items there (smoke detectors, fans, etc.). The most challenging task was accomplished by Rebecca: watering the plants and checking tanks in the GreenHab while in full sim (and wishing that the PLSS backpack actually had an air purification system in it). As always, jobs well done by a great crew.

In between, we had a lunch of sandwiches, carrot salad, and radishes, with Nutella tortillas for dessert. Dinner consisted of baked potatoes with garlic butter sauce, sauteed broccoli and garlic beans. As a special dessert, we enjoyed our first fresh-baked bread with Doug's homemade garlic dip. Thanks to Crew 36 and CDR Rupert for leaving us a new bread machine!

Tomorrow we will try to do our first long-range EVA, to complete our soil sampling project. Again, commander and crew are looking forward to another exciting and productive day at MDRS.

Signing off for today,

Jan Osburg
Commander, MDRS Crew 37