0408-CommandersReport

Commander Report Crew 167A:

April Andreas

Sol 6

Earth date: 04/08/16

Today was a truly phenomenal final day of sim. The morning EVA took off for Candor Chasm to do the second Chemistry EVA. Clark, Beechner, and I spent most of the day in the canyon trying to find water, but to no avail. We had to mend our broken hearts with pockets full of gypsum and beautiful sandstone.

The second EVA of the day was to finalize Jesse’s sample collection for his research, accompanied by Dakota and Amanda. Along the way, they collected Devil’s Toenails (ew…) and a few pieces of petrified wood (though nowhere near the official 25 lb-per-day/250 lb-per-annum limit).

We are very sad to leave tomorrow, but excited to welcome Crew 167B to the hab! We will continue to hold to sim tonight, but will officially wake up “on earth” tomorrow morning.

The saddest part about today was when Clark almost put nuts in the cookies. Crisis was averted, however, and half the batch was spared such a terrible fate. Which means I get half the cookies.

We are always grateful to the Mars Society and to McLennan Community College for their support of the Mars 101 program at MDRS.

From Crew 167A; MDRS Martian Outpost

Crew Commander

April

Ad Astra Cum Amare Et Crustula