Log Book for January 4, 2011
Commander's Report
Judah Epstein Reporting
Today the crew awoke to life on Mars. The crew is becoming accustomed to our routine of 7:30am breakfast followed by morning exercise. A crew member then performs engineering checks on the HAB. Afterwards, the crew prepared for and began the first EVA of Crew 97. Three crew members ventured outside in the spacesuits to collect pebble rock samples for use in creating a slow sand filter.
After lunch, the crew was busy with various tasks such as engineering repairs on the ATVs and successfully repairing the greywater flush line to the toilet. Additional preparation was conducted towards scientific experiments such as physiological preparation and setup of the rover. Two crew members further explored Mars through EVA #2 of Crew 97. The team trekked up to Skyline Rim to collect sandstone rocks. The rocks were carried back to the HAB and will be broken into sand particles for use as the filter media of Judah's slow sand filter experiment. This slow sand filter is currently being created and will be compared with the results of two other already created slow sand filters with an established schmutzdecke biological layer (Martian simulant sand sediment and commercially available sand sediment); with grey water influent.
A crew member has received the Food Study Questionnaire and is coordinating the crew's adherence to the protocols of the Food Study.
Overall the crew is in good spirits and is exciting about the Simulation and scientific projects.