Commander's Report

February 27, 2008

Randall Shelaga



Day 10 of Boot Camp started with another beautiful day with clear
skies. We were go for EVA!

The crew is starting to tire of the Granola and Blueberries. One more
full day of sim and we will look at our options for the much wanted
first meal out of sim...Granola and Blueberries or Scrambled Eggs and
Bacon...I forgot that we did not allocate fresh provisions for this
rotation.

Today would be a busy day for EVAs! Four in total! A quick pedestrian
EVA in the Station local area to verify the waypoints for the GPS
Precision Study, and the Engineers Day Out to Lith Canyon in the
morning. Following in the afternoon was a pedestrian EVA in the
Olympus Mons area for the GPS Precision Study and an ATV EVA to points
north of the Station along Brahe Highway and Copernicus Highway for the
Microbial Viability Study. All crew members safely returned with giant
grins on their faces and stories to tell.

While the EVA crews were out, we had a quiet day at the Station,
working with the newly recommissioned Autoclave, cleaning the galley
and preparing a food inventory for the next crew. The routine is
really settling in here, as we are preparing for the upcoming crew
handover.

The Station is in sound working condition, with no unexpected surprises
anticipated for the crew taking over this Sunday. The Engineering team
of "LOX", "Googly" and "Kim" have done well and should be proud of
their efforts.

The Scientists are busily trying to gather their data in these last
days on analogue Mars, ensuring that all is in order for their return
to Earth.

Tomorrow is our last day of full sim, with two additional EVAs planned
for the GPS Precision Study tomorrow and one additional EVA for the
Biological Viability Study. The crew is sorry to see our rotation
winding down, but they are quite please with their experiences.

Tonight "Fam" gives her presentation about the geology of the Mistastin
Lake impact crater, or to quote her "craters rock".

Freeze dried Lasagna and fresh bread are being put on the table, so
time to say goodnight.

Until tomorrow!

Ut Mars per erudio!