• Mars Date/Time:  Year 1, Sur One, Sol 15 (1.1.15)  10:00 PM NST
• Earth Date/Time:  18 January 2016  2:00 PM PST

MEDIA RELEASE – 18 January 2016
Contact:  Paul Kiser (775.224.2228 or pkiser.mars2016@gmail.com)
                 Public Information Officer
                 Earth Space Exploration Program (ESEP)

Pre-deorbit Schedule of Significant Events (All Dates/Times on Earth PST)

23 January – Crew Emplacement Day. All remaining crew members will take residence on ESS Queen Elizabeth II.

25 January – Finals Week:  QE II. Static tests of ESS Queen Elizabeth II system from January 25-29.

30 January – Mars Time Conversion. All mission clocks convert to Mars Noctis Standard Time and to the Mars Calendar (at 12:00 noon PST.)

1 February – Commissioning Day. Commissioning of ESS Carl Sagan at 10:05 AM PST (29 Sur One at 9:00 AM NST) followed by Commissioning of ESS Queen Elizabeth II at 12:05 PM PST (29 Sur One at 11:00 AM NST.) Commissioning of Commander Jenna Wade, Captain Ken Hart, and the Officers and Crew of the ESS QE II. This places them in command of the ship.

14 February – Countdown Begins ESS QE II.

16 February – Countdown Begins ESS Sagan.

20 February – Close Out of ESS QE II. Except for power and life support, all operations of the ESS Queen Elizabeth II become independent and only crew are allowed on ship unless Commander approves.

22 February – Close Out of ESS Sagan. All personnel vacate ship and except for power and life support, all operations are independent and ship is under remote command.

22 February – Orbit Positioning ESS QE II. ESS Queen Elizabeth II moves into a higher orbit.

23 February – Orbit Positioning ESS Sagan. ESS Carl Sagan moves into a higher orbit.

24 February – Orbital Transfer Firing (OTF) QE II. ESS Queen Elizabeth II leaves Earth orbit for Mars at 12:34:44 PST (51 Sur One at 20:54:32 NST)

26 February – Orbital Transfer Firing (OTF) ESS Sagan. ESS Sagan leaves Earth orbit for Mars at 12:34:09 AM PST (53 Sur One at 07:42:58  NST)