Today was one of these crazy days where a lot happens to keep you busy but then at the end of the day it all seems to have evaporated: Talking to the television crew on and off camera, fixing meals and cleaning up afterwards, running the generator, responding to e-mail, processing data, updating the waypoint spreadsheet, etc. etc. By the time dinner was over, I was looking forward to just sitting back and relaxing. Fortunately, we were prepared for that contingency: another Firefly fix was already loaded and ready to be put on the screen. We are getting used to the sometimes rough but always likable characters that make up Serenity's motley crew.

I wonder when there will be a series about mankind's first outpost on Mars. Based on our experience at MDRS, there would have to be a good bit of fun, fellowship and laughter, some emergencies, and lots of hard work in the script. But TV being TV, I am sure they would also add invading aliens and at least one love interest to the mix, plus lots of intrigue and tension - all of which we have been able to avoid so far!

Participating in the TV production today, with its multiple takes, long set-up times, and carefully-arranged backdrops, gave us a first idea of how we would do as actors in our own movie. I guess we'll see the results in June, when the CMT documentary on Hanksville and its secret Martian base is scheduled for broadcast.

Signing off for today,

Jan Osburg
Commander, MDRS Crew 47