The Hab is sitting right in the middle of a desert, the landscape is spectacular, the spacesuits are convincing and the simulation protocol prevents us from going outside... I don't think you can't get any closer to a Mars-like experience. And it doesn't take a lot of imagination to feel like being on Mars when riding those ATVs while on EVA, seeing a astronaut in front of you going through a red canyon. So, that's true, for two weeks, I am living on Mars.

And living on Mars is really fun... and boring at the same time.

The fun part is of course the exploration you get to do, scouting the desert on foot, using ATVs or driving the Pressurised Rover. The spacesuits are complete with boots, backpacks and ventilation, gloves, helmet, GPS and radio communication. It takes half an hour to get prepared, then half an hour in the airlock for depressurisation, and then you can go explore the Red Planet for up to six hours at a time.

Being a part of Crew 18 is also a plus. The team we have here is also almost perfect: an international mix of open-minded people, always ready to help, very competent and diversified. With such a team, it's easy to have a good laugh while doing some serious science.

It's also quite interesting to live in the Hab. The water system is very special, with a combination of tanks and pumps that are not all connected together and require some manual operations, daily, to make the system work. The toilet is also unique, with the classic-looking one on the left for liquid waste only, and the strange one on the right, for solid waste only, burns everything to ashes. Electrical power has been working fine for now... as long as you do not forget to feed the generator twice a day with fresh oil. Otherwise, the Hab is quite spacious, very well designed, and the living quarters upstairs provide some privacy as well as a common dining / meeting / playing room.

But things can get relatively boring at times. Of course, being locked in a box doesn't help, even if the amount of work you have to do when not on EVA is quite high: reports, maintenance, radio communications, physical exercise, etc. But some of the tasks do get repetitive. Donning the suits and waiting in the airlock takes more than an hour before you can actually do something outside. The Hab doesn't hald any secrets for you after just a few days. Most maintenance tasks have to be performed at least once a day, everyday, with no day off. And you can't really get away from the people you live with, nor you responsibilities.

It's of course pretty obvious for everyone here that the good things far outweight the relatively annoying things! Everyone knew what to expect, and everyone knew that this was a unique opportunity that simply couldn't be missed. In fact, those limitations are very interesting, because they outline the difficulties and dangers that the first explorers will have to face when going there... This also helps you imagine what living on Mars will really be.

In a few days, my rotation will be over. But with all the things I have learned and experienced here, I will probably be able to share my experience for many months... until my next mission?

For those who read French, you may also have a look at my personal daily logs at the following URL: Mars sur Terre

Pour ceux qui lisent le français, vous pouvez aussi consultez mon journal de bord à l'adresse suivante: Mars sur Terre