Coprates Triangle (Aka Hanksville, Utah) - It has been almost a week now for crew 13's occupation of MDRS and although problems have plagued the crew of six, both mechanical and natural, success is right around the corner. The problem of the water cirrculation to the fluid toilet as well as the frozen pipes that refill the water tank outside were quickly resolved to restore the Living Machine to it full working status.

As work was being conducted on the Living Machine, Klaus Totzek began work building the sensor basket consisting of a digital and temperature monitor with a radio link to the ground station and a standard walkitalki. This instrament package will be attached to a low flying atmospheric pillow (ballon) The purpose of the basket is to gather basic data on atmospheric conditions surrounding the Hab. This first run for the pillow was to gather basic data on the atmospheric conditions surrounding the Hab. Further more it was thought to be used as a relay station for EVA team to Hab and back radio connection, enlarging the radios radius around the Hab. After the basket was completed, an EVA consisting of Heike, Tom, and Klaus went out to test how the pillow would perform under simulation conditions. After a landing zone had been approved and setup, the pillow to raise the device was filled with helium and released to an heigth of approximatly 30 to 50 meters. But due to high winds, the connection between the pillow and basket were severded and the basket of instraments fell while the pillow took flight into the skies. Even though no data was recorded, crew 13 took this lesson of flight into consideration and determined that even though the idea was sound, a different method of handling must be used.

During an EVA Patrick and Sigi performed, GPS markers were setup and programmed in the GPS mapping devices. This accomplished goal of the EVA team will hopefully help future crews on different trails and "roads" that can be used for travel. Also during the EVA, Partick and Sigi operated with two suits fitted with films that will determine when the team is caught in middle of a ultra violet radiation coverage.