FMARS Mission Support Journalist Report August 8, 2001

Today continued our experimental minimal staffing in Mission Support. It has been noted that mission support does not generally require five people to run. Today we are again staffed by two, with Tony Muscatello as Mission Support Director and Jim Oliver as everything else (CapCom, Journalist, Engineering Officer and Liaison).

Although not exactly an ideal situation, this does prove when the FMARS crew is on EVA and cannot communicate with Mission Support anyway. One person can do all of the routine activities that need to be done.

Tony provided occasional supervision but no decisions were needed for the last few hours of the support shift.

Today the KSC Mars Society exhibit used the reports from Devon, and the crowd was very appriciative.

-Jim Oliver