Returning from the stark arctic wilderness of Devon Island, the intrepid twelfth crew of the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) has completed their one month rotation in this unique Mars analog environment. Having overcome hardships imposed by the harsh arctic weather, extreme isolation, limited supplies and equipment, and the self-imposed restrictions of the formal Mars simulation, the crew achieved all major mission objectives.

Today we prepared for our planned departure on Tuesday morning. The winds have been light with quick fogs in the morning and evening along with an occasional sprinkle.

We finished inventories of every portion of the hab and took pictures of everything. The hab looks neat, well organized and basically ready for the next crew. We transported piles of junk and broken equipment and trash to the air strip, along with empty barrels and barely functioning ATVs. Trash and human waste were also burned and the generators are ready for shutdown. The Mars Society flag was also taken down.

Class IV Laser Report
Kristine Ferrone

Today was the last day in Mars simulation – how sad in many aspects, because we all want to accomplish more than is possible. And there are so many reports to write and items to discuss.

Daily photos for July 26th, 2009.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 – Stacy Cusack

Time: 14:57 – 17:42

Distance: 19.63 km

Crew Members: Vernon [EVA Commander], Joe & Kristine [Scientists], Christy [Out-of-Sim]

Site Location: Trinity Lake and Foxy Lake

Transit Mode: ATV

EVA # 15 Report
Sunday, July 26, 2009 – Stacy Cusack

Time: 11:44 – 13:09

Distance: 8.16 km

Crew Members: Brian [EVA Commander], Christy [Scientist], Joe [Out-of-Sim]

Site Location: Marine Rock

Transit Mode: ATV

For a large part of the day, the FMARS site was covered with periods of dense, misty fog. An attempt to schedule an EVA was thwarted by another fog. With this in mind, new plans had to be made.

Geophysics Report
Brian Shiro

Brian downloaded the data from the Geonics PROTEM receiver this morning and took a brief look at it to make sure it was all there. It’ll take some time to quality check the data and interpret it, but from my cursory overview it looks okay. Satisfied that the data was safely in hand, Brian then boxed up the Geonics equipment and made shipping labels in preparation for sending it back.

The morning started out as chilly, sunny with some wind, by the afternoon the winds abated somewhat but the clouds began to drop and it remained with lower clouds for the remainder of the day – all of which coincided with two scheduled UAV EVAs.