Time: started 18:42, completed 19:08

Weather: low 3.4c (38.1) high of 15.7c (60.3F), mostly cloudy and cool

Crew Physical Status: Some stiff and sore shoulders and backs, glad for a quieter day.

Brief Narrative of Field Mission Results: I was awakened by a loud heavy thump. Having lived over six weeks in the FMARS and MDRS habitats, I realized immediately that a hatch had violently swung open. I groped for the flashlight, the clock on my stateroom desk reflected back 2:44 AM. I groaned at having to rise, but knew the implications well and understood the commander's duty. After hesitating a long moment, to be sure no one was already about, I quickly donned pants and a shirt, and headed down the ladder for the lower deck. To my surprise, both hatches below were well locked. Indeed, someone had done a great job fastening the inner doors. Nothing else appeared amiss.

Back on the upper deck, the problem was readily apparent--my flashlight revealed huge drops of rain falling from the dome's hatch and a spray of water on the "wardroom" center table. I rushed up the ladder, put on the hard hat, and crawled over various pipes and uneven surfaces to the short ladder leading up to the dome. There I noticed instructions marked onto the short, protruding plywood section that held our night light--a broad line was marked "don't step beyond here." Thankful for the warning, I reached up to replace the transparent dome lid, and then jury-rigged a rope to hold it firmly shut.

Aside from that, we had a quiet day. The morning revealed a world of red puddles and dark magenta-brown landscape. Surely this was not a place for the 160 school children to play today. I contacted Don Foutz; the event was indeed canceled, and his mind was much more on our colleagues driving in from town, did they realize the difficulty of the mud?

Ultimately, only the Ames camera crew and Glenn team arrived, their SUVs leaving the kinds of large marks you'd expect in six inches of snow. Dave Pleva and Mike Cauley were here to refill the satellite dish generator; the video crew spent several hours filming and interviewing Maarten and the geologists.

So oddly, we were a normal crew of six today, with a few visitors. Our colleagues remained in Hanksville, while we caught up on hours of computer work. (For me, nine hours non-stop so far.)

The quiet day was welcome. By late afternoon the sun broke through and the landscape began to dry.

Maarten stood by the sink peeling shrimp for almost two hours, reminding us periodically of the chore. Dinner will be shrimp fettuccine with olive oil, with spinach on the side.

Plans for Tomorrow: Roads permitting, we will be rejoined by the support team and pick up the local testing planned for today. Reconnaissance of Lith Canyon for third time to plan antenna placement.

Report Transmission Schedule: An RST report is expected.

Maintenance: Don Foutz will arrive in the morning to handle the required generator oil change.

EVA Narrative/Data/Interpretations: NA

Inventory: No problems.

Miscellaneous: Fasten the hatches!