108-CommandersReport

Commander Report

01/08/2014

Paula Crock

When I was reading through their backgrounds as we were pooling information for our application I

saw a crew able to handle the challenges that as a veteran I knew awaited us at MDRS should we be

selected. Today my fellow UND students and our late-addition M.D. from Lille 2 University truly

proved themselves. Jessup lead an EVA team with Komorowski, Howell and Gartrelle on what was

expected to be a short, easy task of setting up the radio telescope just outside the Hab followed by

collection of data at three locations for a GIS study. This was only their second EVA so they

hadn’t yet had much time to acclimate to working in EVA gear nor much time to orient to the area.

The radio telescope setup proved to be more difficult than expected, complicated by frozen ground,

thick gloves, fogging helmets, make-shift tools and small parts but I could hear them over the radio

working together to solve their problems effectively and with good humor. It took a tiring two

hours but they succeeded in getting the telescope set up.

That wasn’t enough for this crew, though! After a brief break back in the Hab for water and snacks

they returned through the airlock to navigate through rugged Martian terrain north, east and south

of the Hab to collect data for the GIS study Jessup is working on while at MDRS. Again through

radio chatter I could hear them working together to find better routes through the muddy areas and

rougher terrain. All total, a strenuous 4 hour 40 minute EVA with two successful projects completed

and, as Gartrelle stated on his return, a better appreciation for how grueling the 7 or 8 hour EVAs

on ISS are. Diaz-Rubin and I, who remained at the Hab today, have been promised a terrific photo

show of their EVA work after comms tonight, which is some consolation for having missed out on

getting to help out.

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CommanderCheckIn Report

01/08/2014

Paula Crock

Crew Physical Health:

Crewmember with sore back is able to perform duties but is still sore.

The rest of the crew are well.

Eva Depart Time:

09:43

Eva Return Time:

14:01