Crew 21 has an ambitious set of projects that we will be working on during our two weeks at MDRS. In addition to these projects, our goal is to achieve as rigorous a sim as possible. The entire crew will undertake these projects, listed here in no particular order, although a single crewmember will take the lead on each project. More information about each project will be given in our daily reports.

1.	Extraction of Lipids from Soil Samples: Direct counts of bacteria in soil samples may represent only 0.1 - 10 % of the extant community. In signature lipid biomarker assay (SLB), the extractions of lipid biomarkers in the cells of a soil sample provide both a means of purifying and concentrating biomass. SLB allows for quantitatively measuring viable microbial biomass using the amount of cellular membrane present and gives an outline of community structure by identifying biomarkers indicative of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa. We will perform the extractions here at MDRS and analyze them using gas chromatography back on Earth.
2.	Soil Moisture Content: Continuing a project now in its third year at MDRS, we will look at how water availability and retention affect the density of microorganisms in the varying soil types around MDRS. One of the earliest experimental assumptions we made was that the amount of water contained in a soil sample was directly related to its physical location. For example, a sample taken in a wash or runoff channel was thought to have more available water, and to retain that water for a longer time, than a sample taken, for example, on an angled plain. This assumption was changed after we discovered that soil type plays a role as well. For this rotation, we will collect and characterize different soil types, carefully noting their location, and determine the water moisture content of these samples.
3.	Remote Science Team Study: The Remote Science Team (RST), created this year, is tasked with assisting crews in their scientific endeavors, and also with advancing the science being done at the station by designing and directing biological, geological, and human factor experiments. Another aspect of research that the RST is looking at is how best to have collaboration between different crews and between the crews and the RST. The first project to really look at this issue will be done during our rotation. Using a dataset created last season by Tiffany Vora, we will be testing to see how closely our crew can relocate her samples sites, and replicate her data. More information about the RST can be found at the RST Website.
4.	Musk Observatory: One of the mission objectives of this rotation is to bring the Musk Observatory up to fully functional status. We intend to set up and test all aspects of the Observatory, including dome control from the observatory computer at the Hab, telescope control from the computer at the Hab, viewing monitoring cameras in the observatory from the Hab, searching for and identifying specific stellar bodies using the telescope, and photographing stellar bodies/phenomena using the CCD camera. The challenges we will have to overcome include the steep learning curve for mastering the software packages used by the observatory, the decision by the crew to maintain a single daily schedule, so the astronomer will not be able to work "the night shift", and problems with the observatory computer at the Hab, making it unclear when/if it will be available for observatory work. More information about the Musk Observatory can be found at the Musk Desert Observatory Website.
5.	Erosion Processes Scouting: Crew 22 will begin a Surface Erosion Processes Experiment designed by the Remote Science Team. We are aware of the experiment's goals and will scout for potential sites during our rotation, then pass those recommendations on to Crew 22.
6.	Human Factors: We will complete two human factors experiments that were first done by the crew of Expedition One. Dr. Steve Dawson will direct us in participation of a personality study and production of profiles of crew neurocognitive function using CogStat, a computerized battery sensitive to subtle changes in cognitive function. We have also decided upon a mandatory sleep schedule (11 pm-6 am) during our rotation.
7.	Ionospheric Propagation Study: This study uses a computer program to control a receiver that rapidly samples signal strengths of selected overseas medium frequency radio stations. The PC then automatically records the signal strength of each of these beacons. Signals from such stations can propagate thousands of kilometers by bouncing between the earth and one or more of the layers of Earth's ionosphere, or by being ducted between ionospheric layers. However, such signals are attenuated by these processes, and are normally well below the local noise floor by the time they arrive at the receiver. Yet there are times when the received signals become quite strong, indicating a change in the normal propagation mechanism at that time. As the changes in signal strength are time stamped and archived, an attempt can be made later to use ionospheric models to explain why such changes occurred at those particular times and dates. Mars also has an ionosphere, though apparently not as complex as Earth's. Something similar to this system could be used to determine if inexpensive communications paths would be available using Mars' ionosphere at certain frequencies and at certain times of the Mars day.
8.	Radio Amateur Station: This will be made up of an HF (high frequency) transceiver and VHF (very high frequency) transceiver, with associated antennas, primarily to be used as a way of acquainting others with the Mars Desert Research Station and the Mars Society. Radio amateurs in other parts of the continent (and indeed the world, under the right HF conditions, or if we can use IRLP (Internet Radio Link Project) with VHF), will be able to communicate with MDRS, as there are two licensed "hams" in our crew. We have obtained a distinctive callsign for the duration of Crew 21's stay, W7M, in order to be more easily recognized on the air.
9.	Radio Free Mars: We hope to broadcast a variety of programs for Radio Free Mars. More information about Radio Free Mars can be found at www.radio-free-mars.org. Be sure to check our daily reports to see what we will be broadcasting and when.
10.	In Situ Construction Materials: We will experiment with hands-on approaches to ISRU regarding the manufacture of simple construction materials. There are two types of construction components that can be manufactured from regolith: Regolith in Bags and Baked Adobe Bricks. Currently, there are a number of unknowns regarding the typical characteristics of Martian regolith and therefore more detailed testing and experimentation at this point would not be warranted. In addition, MDRS is not equipped to test the durability and strength of test specimens, so this type of work is not feasible with the regolith found at MDRS. What is most appropriate for MDRS is to actually carry out exercises of putting together "manufactured" construction specimens. This would entail finding suitable material and putting it in bags - transporting the bags and moving them to their desired place. For adobe brick making, the exercise would include finding suitable material, putting together a "mix" which will include shredded materials brought with the crew, placing this material in a form and baking in the lab oven.
11.	Stereo Pairs Photography: We will determine the feasibility of taking stereo pair pictures from a measured baseline during EVA. The base line will be laid out perpendicular to the line of sight to the subject. A pair of pictures is then taken from either end of the baseline. The resulting pair can be viewed revealing features in three dimensions. Using these pairs, we will also determine the feasibility of using color correction panels in photos to allow accurate color analysis of images. Color panels will be located near subjects or in best approximations of subject lighting to allow accurate gamma adjustment. Short baselines for nearby subjects may be laid out using a steel tape. Longer baselines may be established using GPS. Color correction panels will be lightweight and easily portable. Stereo pairs can be used to study geomorphology (aries morphology). By studying three-dimensional images, land forming processes are more likely to be understood. Horizontal stereo pairs are especially useful as they capture views that cannot be seen in satellite imagery; they are images that can only be obtained by observers on the surface. Additionally, stereo pairs can be used to construct detailed maps and digital models.
12.	Security Analysis: We will be undertaking a security analysis of the Hab and supporting systems. Missions to Mars will face many hazards, and planning for as many possibilities as possible in advance is invaluable. We will therefore focus on two potential dangers: infections of life-support systems or individual crewmembers by microorganisms and sabotage operations by individuals. The goal of this project will be to analyze the systems susceptible to infection and/or sabotage, and generate a set of recommendations on how to improve their security.