Log Book for January 7, 2011
Commander's Report
Judah Epstein Reporting
Despite power outages, today was a very busy and productive days on Mars with multiple EVAs, scientific experiments, and engineering repairs.
After breakfast and exercise, the morning began with the first full day of psychophysiological analysis followed by an EVA to collect satellite data comparison. The early afternoon EVA consisted of studying a water gully.
Two additional late afternoon EVAs were added to the schedule because of the successful in-Hab operation of the rover! Therefore an EVA was created to test the rover in outside Martian conditions. A follow-up EVA took place without the rover, but for Marsonauts to follow the tracks which the rover took. Upon return to the Hab, the crew was delayed in the airlock due to a power outage, and thus remained in the airlock for a short time while the Crew Engineer reinstated power to the Hab and the repressurization sequence.
Engineering was busy throughout the day to return the water heater to operation. The system was extensively analyzed and it was determined that the water heater was receiving power, but the gas does not seem to be functioning to the system. Additionally the outside potable water tank cover area was painted black in order to retain additional heat to reduce potential for freezing of the water. Furthermore, in the late afternoon the Hab encountered several power failures. Fortunately all that was required was to reset the outside breaker at the generator. Current drawing systems in the Hab were reduced in order to maintain power to essential equipment.
Tomorrow will consist of extended psycho-physiological analysis, extended water filtration testing including bacteria results, as well as EVAs to study Rock Varnish, Water Gullies, and possibly another Martian Rover EVA.