[Note: Click "Read More" below for my personal journal that I am keeping as Mars Projects Manager for the Space Frontier Foundation. See MarsOnEarth.org for the daily status reports for the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) that I post as EPO for the Mars Institute.]

I flew from Ottawa to Iqaluit this morning! When I arrived in Iqaluit I knew to look for Pascal Lee (Principal Investigator of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project). Pascal is traveling in the other direction, and will be back to Devon Island later this month. We were hoping we would catch each other so that he could brief me further on EPO for the Mars Institute. I saw him as soon as I walked in, with his dog, Ping Pong!

On the flight from Iqaluit to Resolute, I sat with Nadeem Ghafoor (MDA Space Missions), whom Pascal had introduced me to in Iqualuit, and we chit chatted on our flight to Resolute. (see map in previous post to view where Iqaluit and Resolute are located)

Two kind folks, Debbie and Chris, met us at the Resolute airport. Nadeem, who is with the Canadian Space Agency, was told he is going with Chris to Polar Shelf. I was going with Debbie and her husband to Inns North. Apparently, since we are from different organizations we will have different accomodations. Mars Institute representatives stay at Inns North which is nice, with a cafeteria that is always trying to feed everyone, and since the rooms were full, I was told I would stay in the conference room. I had seen it before. It's big with a TV, wireless, a fluffy couch, and a balcony next to it that overlooks the the bay.

Nadeem was told, "You have two choices. You can stay in a tent that we have set up for you.. and.. you'll be the only one in the tent! Or, you can stay with me (Chris). However, there are no windows". It was a scene from "Judgement Day" when Merryl Streep got the fancy accommodations and whatshisname had to stay in the run down hotel, and they didn't know why. This would become an ongoing joke between Nadeem and me.

Gerald Traufetter rode with us to Inns North. Gerald is on a separate expedition, unrelated to the HMP. Debbie's husband was driving, and I enjoyed listening to their local accent. The way Debbie says "Oh, super!" reminds me of Marge from Fargo, and her husband could very well play the part of Norm. We got all set up in our rooms, then had a nice meal - seafood soup and fish & chips. A few of us stood out on the balcony and chatted, then I did a little work on my laptop and went to sleep. I tried my best to appreciate my last warm night!

over and out.
-Elaine

_____________
Elaine Walker

Mars Projects Manager
Space Frontier Foundation
marsfrontier.org