Mission Log — Pierre Girard
Sol 192 / 11 July 2040
Hab Alpha A4, Mars
We had a good night’s rest in the upper deck of Hab Alpha A4, which helped — because today tested us.
Early this morning, Maria and Jianyu went down to the lower deck to begin a full inspection of the cargo bay. We’d noted irregularities on arrival, and the pressure differential readings raised concern. What they found confirmed our suspicions: several supply cases had broken loose during the landing — likely due to the harder-than-expected touchdown. One of the heavier containers had become lodged beneath the rear axle of the heavy rover.
That in itself would’ve been manageable. But combined with the rough descent and a poor support angle, it seems the weight shifted just enough to damage the rover’s drive shaft — possibly even before we touched down. The impact was invisible from outside. No alarms triggered. But it’s real.
We opened a secure channel and consulted with Earth-based engineering teams. After reviewing our data and visuals, the consensus was clear: we needed to remove the rover from the Hab for surface-level assessment.
With careful work and a team effort — and, I’ll admit, some creative rigging by Maria — we got it out.
🔧 The Verdict
The pressurised cabin is intact, and most onboard systems are functioning. Sensors, life support, and even comms passed diagnostics. But the drivetrain is shot. This rover, our only heavy-lift vehicle, cannot move under its own power.
We’re all disappointed. Not just because of the machine — but because of what it represents. This rover was central to the plan: moving Habs, hauling modules, laying the groundwork for full-scale base assembly. The next heavy unit isn’t scheduled to arrive until the 2042 window.
This doesn’t mean the mission has failed — but it’s a setback, and it will require rethinking timelines, logistics, and our use of the other two rovers.
Tonight we returned to the accommodation deck of A4. There was a long silence over dinner. Everyone feels it — the weight of needing to adapt.
But this is Mars. Things break. Plans shift. And the only way forward is forward.
Tomorrow, we’ll assess what’s salvageable — and begin adjusting our mission profile accordingly.
For now, I’m proud of the crew. No panic. No shortcuts. Just good decisions, and quiet courage.
We’ll find another way.
— Pierre