1104-JournalistsReport

Journalist Report

11/04/2014

Dario Parastesh

The 2013-2014 Season First EVA:

It's a new day for the crew 142!! We woke up at 7.30 a.m. and we had a good

breakfast all together. Today milk and granola, but a little bit of Orange juice

and coffee were present on the table. We had a quick briefing about what we were

going to do during the morning and the day too, and we decided to follow the

subsequent program:

- EVA's radios final check.

- Eva's GPS final check.

- ATV's check.

- EVA's suits check.

Well, we really decided to check all the things in a real EVA test before really

going into simulation to ensure that all was fixed. And what can I say, my first

EVA has been the most sensational thing I have ever done in my life. And

probably the rest of the team was feeling the same. And we do it. We spent few

hours walking around the MDRS HAB and taking some nice pictures, exploring the

most part of the environment located just outside the station. It was also a

great time for checking all the equipment everybody had and doing some practice

with the radio communication. All the radios were working perfectly and the GPS

too. So, it was pretty cool to go outside in the desert and return to the HAB

using its GPS location. Two EVA crews were created to train for a real EVA and

check that all the procedures used were correctly done. The two crews engaged a

tough ramble and signed a final waypoint on the GPS locator. When returned to

the HAB, these two crews swapped the commander and went back again to the

waypoint signed before. It was a severe training for everyone, but at the same

time a funny time. The crew will probably resume an EVA in the next few days

since some experiments need to be done outside, but we will decide about that

tomorrow. EVAs are probably the most interesting thing to do if you go on a

different planet because you can collect pictures, but also materials and most

of all, you collect records and thoughts. It's why we had a great time spent

together and so far we strengthened our relationship, we starting to be a family

here. We eat together, we go out together, we work together and we go sleep

together, and nobody is complaining or regretting about the work we do, that is,

we help each other and we try to go on as fast as we can. We are progressing

very well. After the EVA Vincent started preparing the lunch, he made a great

soup with spaghetti and vegetables. I mean, some hot time during the EVA and

after too!! Good work Vincent. The afternoon has seen part of the crew, in the

specific case, Vincent and Carmel, going to Grand Junction to collect part of

the things required for real EVAs, and the remaining part continuing to clean

and organize the HAB for the season coming. Dario and Cyprien continued to clean

the biology lab floor, and most of the work has been done. Christiane has kept

on building the solar cooker and Digby always busy with the computer. Everyone

is clearly apt to consider this place like home and we really trying to

transforming it as our habitat. What can we say more? Before we went upstairs to

the staterooms floor to write our reports, Dario and Digby fixed part of the

EVA's backpacks, in order to complete some tasks before getting into the

simulation. It has been a great day until now, and it's going to be even better

for our dinner, before the sleeping time comes again for all of us. Go for it

Crew 142!!! We are on our way!!!