HMP Research Station | Haughton-Mars Project: HMP Research Station Status Report

Regardless of some wind, today (August 2) was warm with incredible clear blue skies over the HMP Research Station. It was a great day for a total solar eclipse! Hmm. Bad timing.

Marcelo Vazquez (NSBRI, Space Radiation Liason) did walk back scouting with Sarah Huffman (NASA Ames) and Brian Glass (NASA Ames), doing a dry run in the gully. They are gathering data on different types of terrain in order to calibrate their instruments to analyze data from last season's walk back. Measurements taken were related to cadence, number of steps, heart rate and respiration.

A twin otter came in this morning and brought seven new participants: Andrew Abercromby (Project Engineer, EVA Physiology Systems and Performance Project), Scott Thackrey (planetary geologist, University of Aberdeen), Pam Baskins (JSC / NSBRI), Pauline Akeeagok (Senior Field Guide from Grise Fiord) and three Air National Guardsmen: Warren Ruedy, Jake Williams and Stefano Guadagnuolo. Leaving on the plane was the old incinerator and the large honeybee robotics crate with the DAME equipment.

Sarah Huffman (NASA Ames) is reopholstering a headrest of the Mars1 Humvee Rover, and has also sewed on an ESA patch to Dr. Pascal Lee's dog, Ping Pong's, fleece. Sarah Thompson (NASA Ames) helped to clean up the DAME and got it packed up for the twin otter flight.

Mary Roach (Author of best sellers: Bonk, Stiff and Spook) had a great day. She went on a traverse with Nick Wilkinson (HMP Project Manager) and Dr. Jean-Marc Comtois (Head, Operational Space Medicine, CSA) to Gemini Hills.

Prof. Charlie Mason (Morehead State University) and his students Megan Ennis and Bill Atwood, along with Dr. Pascal Lee (Director, HMP / NASA Ames, Mars Institute, SETI Institute), his dog Ping Pong, and [yours truly] Elaine Walker (EPO, HMP, Mars Institute) to fossil city. Prof. Charlie Mason and his students are developing a map of local geologic areas of interest.

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