Crew Status: Crew is tired and sore but in general good spirits, after yet another generator failure.

Daily Recap: Today started out with a planned extended EVA via Pressurized Rover to the base of Factory Butte, as well as lab prep work to start some GreenHab recycled water culturing. After our regular morning duties, I made an initial assessment of lab materials to start the cultures from the document sent by RST Members. I found most of the materials, except distilled water for the autoclave, and sent several questions to RST members working with me on the process.

Prior to departing on EVA, the Engineering Team decided to change the oil and air filter on the China Special generator. After this, the generator failed to restart. All systems were in place. Attempted jumping from one of my GreenHab batteries did not work, so Steve and I drove to town in search of Don Foutz. He was not there, so we left a message, and returned to the Hab via Johnson's Market for ice to keep the food fresh, and some distilled water for the autoclave.

Back at the Hab, the full-sim EVA was put off until tomorrow, but four members of the crew, including myself decided to drive up the route to scout our location via the GPS route Steve had created. Halfway to the main road, we encountered Don driving in. We turned around and returned to the Hab, and were informed that we had to prepare a 3' by 16' leveled space for the LP Gas tank, expected to be delivered on Thursday for Crew 29. After several plans, a course of action was decided upon and the crew was issued shovels and picks to prepare the spot. This was NOT an high-point of our rotation.

In the meantime Don, working with Alyssa and Gregorio, determined that the generator's solenoid was shot, and it had to be started manually. We soon shut it down however, since the wind was blowing diesel fumes towards the digging workers. After the space was leveled, the generator was once again started, and power was restored. I documented the location of the area for the Engineering Team.

After Don left, Steve, Gregorio and I drove up to Factory Bench in "Autonomous Photo Droid" mode and to scout the area, and to take pictures of the sun setting on Factory Butte. As a serendipitous side note, Gregorio discovered that we were in a field littered with what appeared to be small iron oxide coated concretions of various shapes and configurations. We photo-documented as many as we could before the sun set. We marked the site on GPS for forwarding to the RST.

Tomorrow's Plan: Is today's plan. Hopefully without unplanned events such unscheduled construction duties. The Extended Full Sim EVA will head out via the pressurerized rover in the morning to the Factory Bench area, scouted at sunset by the autonomous photo droids. I alone will remain as Hab Com and will continue on the culturing project.

Daily Reports: The following reports should be in soon.

1. Commander's Check In (this report) -- Gus Frederick
2. Journalist Report -- Steve Featherstone
3. GreenHab Report -- Kathleen Johnson
4. Engineering Report -- G. Drayer & A. Rzeszutko
5. Health and Safety -- Greg Michael