Commander's Check-In Report

March 8, 2008

Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto


Crew Physical Status:
The F.L.A.M.E. Crew is in good spirits. No cabin fever has set in yet.


Time Departed/Returned from EVA:
EVA 06: 12:35 hrs Departed, 14:50 hrs Returned
EVA 07: 15:15 hrs Departed, 17:00 hrs Returned


Brief Narrative of Field Mission Results:
The F.L.A.M.E. Crew was able to conduct only one EVA today. The CDR,
Chief HSO, Executive Officer in Training, EVA Spacesuit Specialist and
Security Officer traverses Brahe Highway which then connects to
Copernicus Highway. We did not see Ptolemy Trail so we could not get
through to the Barsoom Hills. We took Copernicus Highway south and
went off road towards hills that displayed beautiful aprons (to the left
of Copernicus Highway). Then we saw that the weather was changing
abruptly and so then I made the decision to end the EVA and head back to
the Mars Desert Research Station. Since the weather was stable by the
time we reached the Hab, the Chief HSO, Executive Officer in Training,
EVA Spacesuit Specialist and Security wanted to have "PEV Fun Time" to
hone in on their PEV skills at the MDRS draining Ground. After that,
they brought water to the GreenHab for the vegetation and came back.
Our Executive Officer was to conduct her own EVA to Hab Ridge to
conduct her sink hole and exopaleotology studies but her EVA got
scrubbed due to high aeolian processes that started to pick up momentum
just before her EVA.


EVA Data/Interpretations:
Even though today's EVA was cut short, the F.L.A.M.E. Crew explored
regions that they previously never seen before. Beautiful hills
covered with aprons, gypsum hills sparkled when the sun peeked through
the menacing clouds, colors of purple, red and white caught the eye
after each bend in the trail. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be
nice and we can go exploring again. Unfortunately, no samples were
collected during this EVA. Only images of the local geology was
acquired.


Hab Maintenance:
Today our Chief Engineer covered our dormant generators to protect them
from the Martian dust and elements. We filled our potable water tank
early this afternoon due to the weather. Basic housekeeping was
conducted within the Hab.


Report Transmission Schedule:
Reports by 21:00
Commander (Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto)
Executive Officer in Training (Angelina Zabala)
Engineering (Eric Harkleroad)
EVA Reports (Veronica Ann Zabala, Jared Szymanoski)
Crew Narrative (Stacy Sklar)
Security Report (Gino Zabala)
EVA Spacesuit Report (Madeline Zabala)


Plans for Tomorrow:
Our current plans for tomorrow will be to relax and save our energy for
the coming days. Our Executive Officer is planning to take a
pedestrian EVA up to Hab Ridge since she was unable to do so today due
to the weather. The CDR and the Primary Crew of F.L.A.M.E. may take an
EVA, depending on the weather, to Lith Canyon.


Inventory:
Thanks to our Executive Officer who acted as resupply, our supplies are
plentiful.


Support Requested:
None at this time.