Today we began Phase 3. Phase three got off to a slow start this morning. Our EVAs were delayed a little due to our washing not being dry. Yesterday, we had washed some of the suits and all of the suit gloves, but they were not completely dry this morning. Subsequently, our EVAs had to be pushed back a little but we were able to go ahead with some other gloves that we had found.

This morning we had a visit from our local mission support, Don Foutz, who came by to take a look at both generators that we had been having trouble with. After he departed, we set off on our EVAs for the day. Today there were three EVAs:

EVA-1: Susmita and Heather drove out to White Creek reservoir and took some water samples. These samples will later be tested for salinity, pH levels and trace elements.

EVA-2: Jamon and I took the ATVs and marked a number of waypoints into the GPS for future reference. We also went on an exploratory search of some areas supposedly possessing dinosaur fossils. While we were unable to find the area, Jamon and I were able to find some interesting geological features such as waterfall rock formations.

EVA-3: The final EVA of the day involved Richard and Edwin taking the ATVs up to the communications repeater station. They found the area littered with oyster shell fossils, of which they collected a number to bring back with them and study in the hab. They had to return prematurely because as there was a large dust storm sweeping across the plain in front of the hab.

We were to try to use the observatory here this evening to take a look at the alignment of the planets but due to the cloud cover, were unable to do so.

Tomorrow will be day two of the simulation and we will be undertaking three more EVAs. We will be continuing the water sampling from another location, hoping to deploy Edwin's rover and I hope to be able to get my solar powered power source operational to test it out in the field.

We continue to enjoy our stay here at MDRS and realize that there is so much more we want to do but that our rotation is quickly coming to an end.