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7 |  | |
Members
of the NEEMO 7 team.
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NEEMO
7 Journals NEEMO
7, Mike Barratt
Day 5, Friday, October 15, 2004 Mission
Day 5, and I think we've finally got the routine down. We're getting out the door
a bit quicker for dive operations, have the breakfast routine nailed, and I think
are finally becoming more of a help than a hindrance to our hab techs in running
the place. First on the agenda this morning was a group session of Waterlab construction,
and in the three hours of the four of us working, we are nearly complete. Thanks
to our topside crew for verifying the structure and re-drilling holes where needed.
Our work was occasionally interrupted by the flashes of lightning from a storm
overhead, a perspective I had certainly never seen before.
More visitors today in support of a test of a surface rover controlled from the
habitat. This is very much akin to a device we might use to explore a planetary
surface along with EVA astronauts. Following a crash course on the needed telemetry
and video links, as well as some pointers on how to drive, we were able to successfully
motor this guy around the sea floor, the habitat supports and near our Waterlab
worksite. The barracuda were not sure what to make of it, but they were clearly
curious as evidenced by our camera view.
We have had some network issues and communications failures which have prompted
some timeline re-planning, as well as some minor gear failures necessitating some
repair. Feeling more like a space mission daily. We have added a bit of complexity
beyond the normal habitat operations with medical experiments and telerobotics;
what free spaces there might have been are awash in laptops, cameras, and medical
simulators. I cannot say enough what champs our 'flight crew,' and hab techs,
James and Billy, have been to us and our projects. At day's end, when all are
exhausted and the mood lightens, the campfire stories that begin to flow (sans
campfire) and are pretty priceless. I believe if this habitat were transported
to the Moon overnight and we awoke to a lunar sunrise, we would deal with it just
fine. |
