Generator/Electricity: The new crew was given an excellent briefing by Graham Mann (Chief Engineer Crew 14) on the current status of the Habitats (Habs) Systems, in particular the Generac electrical generator, which is now completely inoperable due to fire damage. Therefore full Hab power is currently being supplied by the back up gasoline generator (7kW). The gasoline generator was filled and switched on at 7AM, and had a partial tank left at 1PM when it was shutdown for 30 min to let it cool down in order to change the oil and refill the tank. At present it is providing power to the Hab for approximately 7hrs with a full tank.

The power strategy for the next 24hrs is to continue using the gasoline generator to support daylight power to the Hab. Meanwhile the Everest Rover diesel generator is continuously running (at the request of the University of Michigan team), therefore we are currently using its spare capacity at night time to keep the fridge / freezer working continuously (from a health and safety point of view in order to avoid food spoilage).

In tandem with this "emergency" power scheme employed, email (with digital photos of damaged generator) correspondence with Mission Support has established that we will transport the main Generac generator to Grand Junction tomorrow where the local service representative will either fix it on the spot or provide us with a temporary bigger capacity generator (such as a 10 kW). Transport of the Generac tomorrow will depend on the weather situation (as forecasted rain could turn local terrain too muddy to move the trailer).

Water: Transferred 30 gallons at 8AM this morning.

GreenHab: Nothing done with it at present -- we will investigate it during our tour of duty.

Musk Observatory: Nothing done with it at present -- we will investigate it during our tour of duty.

Everest Rover: After arrival last night, the University of Michigan Rover team gave us a thorough briefing on the Everest Rover. Today the rover was driven to Hanksville where the grey and black water tanks were emptied and flushed out; the two water tanks were refilled and the fuel tanks were topped off.

Additional Activities: Due to the current power limitations at the Mars Desert Research Station, the Incinolet disposal system is still currently off line. An attempt was made today to shut down all non-essential electrical feeds from the backup generator to try and power the Incinolet. However after five minutes of operation it tripped a circuit breaker on the actual generator -- which we assume is because the system was only able to marginally operate the Incinolet system and something else must have switched on automatically (like air conditioning fan) and pushed the gasoline generator over the operating load limit. Therefore the crew is still using the portacabins instead of the preferred Incinolet -- however it is hoped that with the restoration of full power that the Incinolet system will be back in operation again.