Scott Parazynski Update From Everest Camp II: Resting, Astrobiology, and Photography

Keith Cowing: I just spoke with Scott at Camp II by radio (precise location sent via SPOT). He sounds cheerful, rested — and excited. Scott is currently on a rest day before tomorrow’s push to Camp III – but he is not just “resting”.

Today Scott completed a panoramic scan of the view from Camp II using my Gigapan camera rig – a panorama that we think may be among the highest (if not THE highest) ever taken on Earth (6,500 m – 21,300 ft).

Gigapan Unit in operation at Camp II

Scott also took UV level readings with the Jaz spectrophotometer loaned to us by Ocean Optics via NASA Ames Research Center. Simultaneously, Scott exposed a set of DNA samples to the full force of the high altitude sun as part of a collaborative Astrobiology project with Dr. Lynn Rothschild at NASA Ames.

Scott then began a systematic survey of the region for potential habitats for endoliths and deployed a series of iButton data loggers as part of a collaborative effort with Dr. Chris McKay, also at NASA Ames Research Center.

Tomorrow: Camp III.

IMG Camp II

Namaste

Keith

Astrobiology