Time: started 19:10, completed 21:14

Weather: high of 21.2c (70.2F), clear and dry with light mid-afternoon breezes

Crew Physical Status: Warm, a bit tired, ready for dinner.

Brief Narrative of Field Mission Results: We are the first crew to return to MDRS, including 12 support personnel, with only one change since 2003. I think this is remarkable, that 17 people so easily agreed to return to this spot for a period spanning three weekends.

After a hearty breakfast in Hanksville, we headed for the hab, passing the last departing members of the previous crew halfway down the BLM road about 10 AM. The day has been long and productive. Because everyone's been here before (except for the one person from the Brahms/Mobile Agents team, whom we enjoy showing the ropes), the expedition seems to work itself, with just the basic coordination for use of space (such as where to locate the NREN/GRC satellite trailer and where to put the various tables in the lower deck). (Please see the mission general information report for acronyms.)

Our accomplishments include: 1) Crew moving into the hab, 2) Brahms, MEX, and NREN/GRC setting up computers, network, internet telephones, printer, etc. in the hab, 3) ERA/JSC team setting up "InfoPack" and ERA (robot).

With 18 people busy all day, it's difficult to provide much detail about all the actual work involved. But the basics are:

1. Rick Alena (MEX/Ames) set up a well-anchored antenna on the hill to southeast of the hab for this coming week's EVAs (differential GPS + computer network repeater). Rick is a crew member and has two people supporting him (Charles Lee and John Ossenfort) ;
   
   
2. Jeff Graham (ERA/JSC) and Maarten Sierhuis (Ames) walked through the planned EVA area (2-330 PM) to get precise GPS waypoints (using the "InfoPack" computer backpack) that will be used by the ERA to find its way (to be represented in the Mobile Agents system as part of the computer representation of the plan for the EVA). Jeff's JSC colleague, Kim Tyree drove a MEX ATV a bit behind, logging the waypoints on a computer on the ATV. Jeff's InfoPack indicated his position; he used a walkie-talkie to tell Kim when to log a position. Meanwhile, Rob Hirsh (JSC) carried a laptop around with Jeff & Maarten to monitor the network & power status of the computer on the ATV. Rick Alena followed along to consider how the repeater and ATV will need to be placed to keep the ERA on the network (and the ERA will in turn keep the astronauts connected). Maarten will provide a more complete discussion in the Mobile Agents System Report.
   
   
3. Meanwhile, Ron van Hoof (Brahms/Ames) and Mike Scott (Brahms/Ames, our only new expedition member) prepared the Mobile Agents system in the hab (working on the upper deck), which involved installing and compiling the latest version. Ron and Mike can be viewed as supporting all the crew members, but most directly they are Maarten's and my colleagues on the Brahms team.
   
   
4. Most of the work organizing the kitchen and workstation area was done by crew members John Dowding (RIALIST/Ames), Abby Semple and Brent Garry (our geology astronauts from SUNY/Buffalo). John prepared dinner, cumin chicken with rice and hab-made salsa.

At the end of the afternoon (5-630 PM), Jeff, Nathan, and I drove to Lith Canyon and walked through where we want the ERA to go. The trail is too narrow in some sections to drive by waypoints (requires 2 m), so we are considering options for how to get it down into the canyon for our EVAs in the second week.

A few points about our setup outside: We have two large moving-style vans, providing work areas for the ERA and MEX (wireless LAN0 teams, with a nifty canopy in between and anchored by the trucks providing shade for working on the robot. The NREN/GRC satellite system (TES) runs on its own generator. It has been placed to the east of the hab, with the van providing a sound barrier. We also have two Praire Dog portable toilets for day use by support crew that stays in Hanksville.

The support crew left about 7 PM. Dinner was served at 8 PM. Afterwards we filled out the safety waiver and completed our medical histories.

Plans for Tomorrow: We will begin connectivity tests of the Mobile Agents system tomorrow to prepare for Tuesday's EVA.

Report Transmission Schedule: Reporting will begin officially tomorrow.

Maintenance: All systems are functional. Frank Schubert has been here most of the day, reviewing the Generac (LPG power generator) and toilet/GreenHab systems. His most interesting task was using a shovel to dig away the Bentonite ("volcanic ash that's turned to clay," says Brent) around the northwest hab strut. The hab has dipped about 3 inches at that spot; Frank is planning to use a jack to raise it up. The problem was first noticed when the shower was not draining properly.

We were told by the previous crew that they used the water pressure pump (switch near ladder on upper deck) only when needed (which was not the case in previous years). We may have found out why as we ate dinner: The pump keeps cycling on, even though no faucets are on. We'll talk to Frank about this.

EVA Narrative/Data/Interpretations: N/A

Inventory: Food supplies adequate.

Miscellaneous: None.