Martians like dehydrated sweet potato!
We awoke this morning to find our trap had worked spectacularly and we had captured the strawberry bandit. I expected to find something resembling the R.O.U.S.s (Rodents of Unusual Size) from the Princess Bride, but the creature was more closely reminiscent of an Earth field mouse. We attempted to communicate, but the language barrier was too high to surmount. Alas, maybe we will have more luck in the future with a better understanding of these creatures (or more sweet potatoes).
Our EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) today were a hybrid of training and tradition. We split into a team of three for the first expedition (myself, Cesare and Shefali) and then Pat and LuzMa paired up for the second. Our task: take the rovers about half a mile out to Marble Ritual for each crew member to place a pebble in the customary pebble baskets, as 200 crews have done before us.
5 minutes feels like an eternity in the airlock. Given our lack of internet connectivity, we can’t really discuss current events. And rock-paper-scissors only gets you so far. Once we had fully depressurized, we emerged from the Hab and retrieved our rovers. Shefali and Cesare led the way in Curiosity, and I brought up the rear with Spirit.
After completing the ceremonial goal of our EVA, we began exploring the surrounding terrain to build familiarity with the EVA suits. We climbed 60 feet up a nearby hill, and the view upon cresting it was breathtaking. I only mean that figuratively, thank goodness. The suits may be a bulky, back-breaking burden, but they do a great job of maintaining our life support (so I have no place to complain).
I led the charge back to the Hab, after which began the 5 minutes of fun. Once we had repressurized and shed our airtight skin, Pat and LuzMa suited up and set off to follow in our footsteps. I monitored their journey from the Hab via radio, and we all found consolation in listening to them struggle with the same things we struggled with.
The dynamic duo returned and we all remained confined to the Hab for the remainder of the day. After separating to do our individual tasks, some daylight still endured. While most of the crew relaxed and napped, Pat and I set up Super Smash Brothers for some future team bonding. Nothing provides more catharsis than digitally beating the stuffing out of each other.
There seems to be an inclement Martian front on the way that will prohibit us from EVA, so we are very glad we got to stretch our legs today. We may be exclusively breathing Hab air for the next few days…
