Who would be an XO? My main duties as an Executive Officer is to help the crew complete their projects/experiments. I had noticed stress building up in crew members as they were not having enough time to complete their projects. So I have rearranged my time to try and complete these projects. Susmita had several engineering duties due to the ongoing disaster that are our generators. So I assisted her last night to try and work out some instructions given by Mission Support. From that she assisted Edwin with his articles for space agencies in Europe. This morning I then helped Edwin with his making of a documentary film in Dutch for the Space Camp in Belgium. We had planned to continue this project this afternoon and construct a boom to launch his robot over a cliff tomorrow, however the weather has turned against us.

I spent about an hour last night and then some time this morning building a Lego toy which Heather wants to motorize. On completing it I was quietly pleased with myself thinking I had helped another crew member, now giving her enough time to motorize it before we leave (when I assume it will be dismantled for transport!). However I have apparently missed one piece. After that I occupied myself with other duties.

This morning Reece and Jamon went on an EVA to try and connect up the solar panel power system to the repeater. While they were out we saw a storm begin in the distance. With thunder and lightning and the black wall moving across the ground I ordered an early fuel refill of the generator before the storm hit us. As Edwin and Susmita got ready to go out I tried calling the EVA team to check they were safe. I could not reach them but trusted their judgment to return on seeing the storm. I went out to the generator with Edwin where we refuelled Little Genny, which was not an easy task with the wind trying to blow fuel across us before it could enter the tank. On trying to start the generator the electrical ignition still would not work and so I went to the crank cord which we had been using for the last few days. However on taking hold of it I found that there was no tension in the line at all, as before. Worried about the oncoming storm and knowing there were two of the crew out of contact I did not want to start messing about trying to execute another temporary repair, so Susmita and I drove the remaining ATV to the generator and exposing the battery we connected the two together, and jump started the generator. As we were doing this Edwin secured the fuel cans, and we realized that we were low on fuel, possibly not enough for our next refuel at 23:00 hours.

On returning to the Hab the EVA returned, reuniting the crew. I updated Reece as to the situation and Susmita sent the necessary requests to Mission Control. I then ensured that all the computers were protected by surge protection devices and we turned off all but the essential power systems, trying to conserve power in case of worst case scenario.

Due to the storm my afternoon EVA was postponed, the second time weather has affected my excursions in two days. Whilst everyone is safe and for now we have power I am disappointed in not being able to complete my own plans for the mission. I am at least now satisfied that the projects/experiments that I am aware of within the crew will all be completed by the end of our rotation.

And just as a smug side note, the wind has whipped open the door of airlock 1, with no damage caused, pulled open the telescope dome, (see engineering report) but the shelter that Jamon and I built is still standing strong.

Request for Mission Support. We have life on Mars and it has entered the Hab. I found mouse droppings beneath the GreenHab floor last week, which was not considered a problem. This morning Susmita watched a mouse walk around the bathroom on the ground floor of the Hab before disappearing under the wall. We therefore require a trap as six rodents in the Hab is enough. Some of the crew are requesting that the trap be a humane one, to catch the creature alive. I shall leave that choice to you and will deal with the trap when it arrives, having no personal objections to either type.