Introduction:
This initial crew at the Mars Desert Research Station has concentrated its efforts on adding the finishing touches to the hab. We have also conduced limited simulations and EVAs. Some of the things that we did were put the suits in order and set up the EVA room. The upper floor received paint and carpet. We got the local comm working and will have internet connection soon. (update: we are in) The lab areas got a coat of paint and more electrical outlets. The waste water system was finished and a leaching field completed. This leach field will be replaced with a closed loop life support water recycling system once the greenhouse becomes operational. The heating system was fine tuned and several of the old windows were replaced with better ones. The greenhouse was repaired. Another important activity of this crew was the completion of the design of the new European Mars Research Station. MDRS was host to four European members of the European Mars Research Station Design Group. We stayed up late and came up with a design that made everyone happy. Our fine European friends also put several hours of hard labor into making MDRS more comfortable and good looking. Thanks to these Mars Society members.

This rotation was not meant to be a holistic sim as such, although we did manage to get in some very useful EVAs. And just staying in the MDRS is a experience in itself. There was much talk of Mars and the future of the Mars Analog program.

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