These reports can never do justice to the incredible comraderie among this crew. Having been in a crew of 6 on FMARS, and a crew of 5 at MDRS (Christmas 2001, before the official season started) with both experiences feeling a bit crowded, it is strange to be among so many more people packed shoulder to shoulder around the dinner table or the work table and actually not feel crowded at all (so far). Everyone on the crew feels the same way. The difference is probably that after spending six months planning our research program and logistics over email, and spending several hours twice a week working online, we came to this place strong friends and shared history. That is what it will be like for the first humans on Mars who have trained together for years before launching on that grand adventure. So in that respect the way this crew came together is a better analog for a real mission.

The research we are doing consists of a lot of firsts. The first use of a MarsSkin mechanical-counter pressure analog suit provided by James Waldie and the Mars Society of Australia. The first use of the Mars Society of Canada's dataloggers. The first use of the ARES and Everest rovers (when they both eventually get here). The first use of an analog rover to tow of a pair of ATVs, making us fully mobile for EVAs. The first long term biology and geology plans for MDRS with specific goals. The first operational experiments focusing on exploration strategies, work load analysis, tool use analysis, and work relationships. The suite of data derived from our video recordings, datalogger files, and PDA work will advance the ability to plan field operations on Mars in order to maximize the science and make the technology more efficient.

This morning we sent Fathi Karouia and Jon Clarke off on ATVs for EVA22, scouting for groundwater and seeps, as well as measuring the richness of microhabitats they could find. Amaury and Guy followed in the rental truck to record the EVA with video and take time measurements of the field scientists for the work load study.

In the afternoon two teams were sent to Coal Mine Wash to scout for igneous dikes and collect soil samples. Melissa Battler, Vuong Nguyen, and James Waldier were on the team (EVA8) who were suppose to truck out to the GPS location of an igneous dike reported from last season and proceed from there on ATVs to various outcrops they could find to search for additional igneous dikes. The team of Rocky Persaud and Julie Edwards (EVA7) intended a more systematic exploration strategy, spiralling out on foot from the last known coordinate for an igneous dike to search for more and sample the soil in locations along the way. The intent over the course of ExOne is to map out dikes in the area and determine if they are radial or tangential dikes.

The EVA8 team loaded the ATVs on the trailer and proceeded slowly towing the trailer with the rental truck for an hour before they arrived at Coal Mine Wash. However, having forgotten to bring the ATV keys, they were forced to change their exploration strategy to a pedestrian traverse. They wore the MDRS suits and found it difficult to use the suit gloves for most tasks. Guy and Kathy followed along to time the frequency of handling the tools they carried with respect to how the spacesuits interfaced or affected their use.

The EVA7 team wore the MarsSkins and quickly entered Coal Mine Canyon. The topography of the area tended to prevent using the spiralling search strategy once in the canyon. Steve Jordan and Amaury Solignac followed along to time the frequency of use of the instruments they carried to log field data -- an audio recorder, a GPS unit, a compass-clinometer, and a digital camera. Afterwards Steve interviewed Rocky for a SpaceNews segment on Space: The Imagination Station in Canada. Julie and Rocky worked well together as a team, frequently making use of the other's skills and discussing observations in the field.

As with all our EVAs, number 7 and 8 were recorded on digital video. Along with the work analysis records, the GPS data and the images, the video will be burned to DVD tonight by Brian Orlotti (working the late shift), one of our Phase One Communication Engineers. The logged data from EVA7 will likely be sent to Geology Support for their assessment as part of our Mission Support research program to determine how well remote scientists can have situational awareness of the work done by the field crew.

For the remainder of Phase One the EVAs will only be described in how the differed from original plans, rather than be described in full details. The EVA plans for all 48 EVAs planned for Phase One and Two will be uploaded to the MDRS website soon after alterations are completed to adjust for the lack of the ARES and Everest rovers this week.

Everyone on the crew talks about not ever wanting to leave this incredibly dynamic group, especially those who know they are leaving after Phase One. Laughter fills the hab constantly from waking to bedtime. Clearly the easy company makes for dedicated individuals who want to see our ambitious agenda fulfilled.