The Situation at MDRS: Here at the Mars Desert Research Station, many of the Site Management policies and rules are set for us by our landlords, the BLM (United States Bureau of Land Management) and the State of Utah. Such may not be the case on Mars or on the Moon. If we are to avoid the chaos of haphazard and unplanned expansion and wish our outpost/settlement-to-be to grow in a way that respects the landscape and environment, we need to define clear principles as guides for decisions that will impact Site Management.

Our Needs Looking Ahead: As to the host environment, here the Mars Analog terrain northwest of Hanksville, Utah, later on the Moon itself and Mars itself, we will want to map out areas for expansion, corridors for road transport, for rover trails and walking trails, and most importantly, identification of areas to be left as pristine wilderness or as visitable nature preserves.

Roads for Vehicles and Trails for ATVs/Rovers: In general, we have tried to do that at MDRS, using the dirt roads that were here before us, with the most minimal of improvements. We also have in place a policy for EVAs with ATVs to make no new tracks.

Foot Trail Maintenance: On this crew, trail maintenance was done by William on the trail up the hill to the Observatory. There was ample evidence that multiple trails were in use. The logical route is now marked by solar trail markers highly visible both day and night. We need to expand trail maintenance to other frequented trails: up radio ridge to the repeater; up Earth Ridge to the Mars Society flag (our lunar tricolor flies there now, to come down Sunday morning. Just a stone at every turning point on the trail may be enough to mark it quite clearly.

Nature Preserves: This is certainly a matter for discussion but as a discussion starter, we offer this trial balloon: all uneven terrain, exempting establish roads and trails, should be left as pristine as possible.

Outside Storage and Utility Areas: Last year, we identified a proper location for the Hab utility systems and moved those systems there. Adjacent to that is our storage area, "Antarctica" which had been organized last year by Hugh and Anne Gregory, but since fallen into helter-skelter mode, and now reorganized on our Moon Society crew by William Fung-Schwarz. What is needed is a physical visible barrier of some kind between different types of sorted materials, clear marking -- open ended bins. We need to design this outdoor warehouse so that it can expand in a rational and adjustable manner as the quantities of different stored materials grows or decreases through reuse at different rates. This warehousing system needs periodic review. We may need to add new bins for additional types of materials. Organized storage makes several things easier: computerized inventory; finding things for reuse or reapplication thus encouraging recycling both for practical purposes and for art and craft use; preventing buildup of controlled items where stored amounts are regulated. If we wanted to go the extra mile, we could establish incentives for disassembly of assembled unlike materials for separate storage and much easier reuse or reapplication.

Unpressurized Shelters: On Mars and on the Moon exterior warehouses for regularly accessed supplies and materials, as well as any external utility systems, should be in sheltered spaces where crew can access them wearing simpler, lighter weight, less cumbersome, more user-friendly pressure suits. On the Moon this would mean under a canopy or within a hanger type structure covered with a shielding layer of regolith, but otherwise open to the vacuum. On Mars, this could be under a canopy or hanger sheltered from the wind and wind- borne dust. Here at MDRS, we are now simulating that by allowing crew to access the utilities and the observatory in SiM Lite wear The design of such wear is now in a the initial fluid brainstorming stage. Crew 45 wore Tyvek zip-up coveralls with an integral hood along with a full face shield. The advantages of going one step further and erecting an actual canopy over these areas and possibly the access routes to them would be to keep these areas dry and mud-free.

Infrequently Accessed Storage: Such areas do not have as much need for shelter. They can be in the open but bermed from view from established roads. The MDRS Antarctic storage area meets this standard.

Areas for Outpost Footprint Expansion: The MDRS Complex has consisted of the Hab, the GreenHab, the Engineering Utilities area, and the Observatory. As of March 8th, it also includes a simulated pressurized tunnel between the Hab and the GreenHab. This expansion, however, did not expand the MDRS complex footprint. We may want to expand the "pressurized facilities" beyond the Hab and GreenHab. For example, it might be worth our while to establish a good machine shop and parts crib and possibly a fabrication facilities. Such a complex would help us to upgrade our isolation simulation. On Mars, if we need a critical part, resupply might be delayed for as much as two years because of launch window opportunities. There will be no Hanksville, no Price, no Grand Junction, no Provo, no Salt Lake City, and above all, no Don Foutz. Breaking Sim for emergency needs is now the most critical weakness in the Analog program. The logical place for expansion would seem to be up against the Observatory Hill opposite the rear, or Engineering, air lock.

If we found a way to shield the habitat areas, using bags of mulch for example, the thermal equilibrium benefits may allow significant expansion of the present 4-5 month field season at MDRS. And that may allow us to establish a real Greenhouse along with upgraded recycling systems. This could be adjacent to the GreenHab.

Another useful addition would be a crew exercise area.

The point is that we need to establish a blueprint for expansion, just in case we do expand this analog facility. The plain unvarnished truth is that without a plan and resolution to follow it, expansion not just here, but more importantly on the Moon and Mars will happen haphazardly, without rhyme or reason, and to the point, without respect to our adopted new homeworlds.

We need a comprehensive site management plan for MDRS if we intend to be active here indefinitely.