EVA: one EVA in the morning set up the balloon launching area (we actually had to launch the balloon out-of-sim in order to keep it from being punctured by all the screws etc. on the suits). In the afternoon, another EVA took Lowell Highway to Family Crest in order to test the balloon-borne repeater for voice comms, and a ground-based mobile repeater for APRS packet data.

Crew Physical Status: great but tired

Brief Narrative of Today's Results: apart from the EVAs, not much to report - we are so glad that we finally got to launch the balloon, and that the repeater system seems to be working as planned. We took the balloon back down around 1500h since the wind was picking up and pushing the balloon too close to the ground. There will be a launch party tonight I think :-)

Plans for Tomorrow: get up VERY early and test the robotic climber on the balloon (if the wind situation permits; if not, go on a long-range EVA to survey and map the dirt roads in the Lower Blue Hills area)

Report Transmission Schedule: hopefully early tonight so we can get enough sleep

Maintenance: everything up and running

Inventory: the updated inventory/supplies list, directions to the hab and waypoint database were sent to Crew 38. We measured the 2-gage wire in the antarctic pile as per Don's/Paul's request: we have about 36ft.

Miscellaneous: Steve from WXIA is with us again today - he captured the balloon launch on video.

Support Requested: please send less wind

More to follow.

Jan Osburg
Commander, MDRS Crew 37