I am PR Director of Mars Society Australia and was lucky enough to have been selected as a member of Phases Two and Three of Expedition One. Experience of life and work on the Mars Desert Research Station will hopefully help us set up the Australian equivalent - MARS-OZ - in the Australian Outback. I'm approaching the increment with some trepidation I must confess, although I am also excited about finally meeting some of the people I have only written to and phoned during the last 6 months.

I flew into Salt Lake City yesterday after a long flight from Melbourne via L.A. - jet-lagged and experiencing the odd sensation of having a birthday twice, due to the time zones. I met up with Chad, one of my fellow crew-mates who is an engineering student from Michigan at the airport, and recognised him immediately from his photo in the press kit I prepared.

We then met Matt, an engineering student from Canada and Nancy, a biologist from Chicago, at the Comfort Inn, and enjoyed a meal together at a local restaurant. Over dinner, we talked about our expectations of the week ahead and enjoyed a few laughs, which augers well for the compatibility of the crew.

The trip down to the Hab from Salt Lake City took longer than we expected, due to the time it took us to get extra provisions for the crew and some snow flurries on the way. Spectacular scenery, with huge canyons and boulders upon rocks either side of the road reminding me of hill-top medieval castles in France and, of course, Mars ... Finally reached the Hab in later afternoon, after a few false starts trying to find the path leading off from the highway. My first view of it as we turned the bend of the road was a gleaming white, two-story ‘tuna can' like structure nestled into a hill with an observatory above and small greenhouse - very familiar from the pictures but bigger than I expected.

To get inside, you step through a small alcove which represents ‘the airlock' to the Lab, where researchers at work benches were analysing samples, training co-crew-mates on procedures and systems, and using the one inside toilet (not in the one area I hasten to add). Most of us would end up using the ‘PortaLoo' outside, apart from at night, when the thought of braving the elements and perhaps meeting a cougar made us more willing to put up with an interior Mars-like plumbing system. This necessitates putting toilet paper in one basket, producing faeces in one pan and urine in the other. Apologies to those who find toilet requirements in space rather tedious, but the need to pre-determine one's toilet habits means that one cannot always enjoy changing one's mind at the (ahem) last minute. Another thing to get used to ... Like changing into slippers when upstairs (to avoid dust getting in things) and a weekly rather than a daily shower!! Upstairs, is dominated by a long table where crews have meals and carry out some of their written work. There are port-holes to see out, rather like a ship, and the terrain outside and surrounding the Hab is very Martian-like, with its dust, absence of vegetation, and isolation. Hanksville, the nearest town, is about 10 minutes drive away but might as well be 100 miles for the feeling you get of being in (or is that on?) another world.

There are 6 staterooms (this term has clearly been applied loosely to what is essentially a wooden bunk and storage cupboards for luggage) for sleeping, as well as a loft for storage and extra sleeping area. We share rooms, which makes them cosy to say the least. Great for encouraging team spirit, although Chad probably didn't think so when my bottle of conditioner dropped on his head when I struggled in late one night. We met the Phase One crew, some of whom will stay on for the next Phase, which I am now joining. We have a cake (which I brought from Salt Lake City) to celebrate my birthday, belated but enjoyable just the same, and a debrief from the Phase One crew about their experiences on EVAs (astronaut-speak for time spent in the field or extra-vehicular activities).

Jonathan and Guy from Australia are the cooks tonight and manage 3 courses with aplomb, bearing in mind the size of the kitchen. Not much storage room, a tiny sink and limited number of utensils and ingredients make cooking a challenge. Luckily we also have Fathi, a French biologist, who apparently has made a number of wonderful dishes for the group over the week, living up to the French reputation for haute cuisine. Rocky, the Commander, tells us about the next week ahead, but Sunday luckily is a quiet day (although officially a media day), with time for getting to know new crewmates and winding down after a busy week. Late to bed (what's new) but have so much to catch up on from the other Australians, plus sending emails to people back home.

Sleep on the floor next to Julie, an American biologist on Phase One, for the first evening – who says life in space is glamorous??