Date and time: 3 May 2012
Written by: Haritina Mogosanu, Crew 118, Commander
When things get to an end there is a lot of work to do and especially to go through everything we planned and see if we covered it all/ need anything else. At the end of the day how many times do you get to go to Mars? Once, maybe twice, a few times for the lucky ones. So my crew and I today tried to catch-up with the rest of our work and see what is feasible to do in a day.
It's been an amazing journey once again for me (returning resident from last year) and I must say that all the planning we put into the expedition paid off. Team KiwiMars of Pacific rocks (and not only because we're now experts in rock-ology grace to the enthusiasm and the dedication of our wonderful Mission Specialist in Planetary Sciences)!
Since everyone mostly stuck around the Hab (apart of the MSP who is definitely an outdoor rockhound and would get sick I reckon if would be one day confined to MDRS quarters) I took my time today to picture of all of us inside doing the things we do most whilst inside. And weirdly enough I took the time today to say good bye to this place although there are almost two more days left. And that's because as my First Officer/Journalist said in his report today, this is now only the beginning of another journey where we will use all the knowledge gathered here to inspire and create new possibilities for anyone back in New Zealand who is interested in space sciences. Good news on the Giga pan Robotic aid for Ali's which got replaced and sent from orbit today. Will have a lot of work to do tomorrow to catch-up on the panoramas. We're back in business.
And last but not least, tomorrow is the day when we will perform the Maori ceremony of placing a mauri stone in the ground of the new solar garden, as a token of our respect and sense of indigenous connection with Aotearoa.
Ad Ares!
ENDS.