As the world turns, life on Mars seems to be totally out of the bubble, the ven diagram, the loop…only the internet keeps us abreast of scores and results on American Idol. I love the solitude of the MDRS, where the sound of the generator is the only noise for miles. No traffic on the way to work, no random tall buildings, and no stores with smiley faces and golden arches not to be specific, though I am in withdrawal from Starbucks. I guess the Hab is serving as a Re-Hab for my coffee addiction.

The Hab is wonderful because it is the easiest commute to work, unlike the man in California who commutes 7 hours round trip to work each day for the last decade or more. In one adequate sized area upstairs, the breakfast table also serves as a desk, the board room, lunch buffet table, afternoon reading, dinner table, and eventually late night study hall desk and movie theater.

Life on Mars can go by quickly even though each Sol technically has 39 more minutes than an Earth day. One can get sucked into the time warp of the Hab and forget that fresh air and “magnificent desolation” are steps away.

But wait, after watching Sean Connery in the movie Outland last night, I can see how people caught up in communes and towns on other planetary bodies (the movie is set on Jupiter's moon Io) will wonder what the fresh air of Earth is really like and that their children may never know this privilege. But at the same time, after breathing Earth air for 30 years, I'd be willing to breathe recycled air for 3 years or so in the name of exploration.

Since we are not in full sim on this rotation, I was able to for a run/walk/crawl (I'm out of shape) today. Factory Butte and the San Rafael Swell are two sights I'll never get tired of. What will be on the horizon of the first landing on Mars? What view will the astronauts wake up to each Sol? The crew of Apollo 15 had the majestic Apennine Mountains in their field area. The Columbia Hills beckoned one of the MER Rovers. Only time will tell as to what human eyes will have the chance to gaze upon during our return to the Moon and eventually on to Mars.