This report was filed by Alexandre Mangeot – Crew Commander

Darkness, noise of the water pump reminded me of the dying gasp of a Martian robot. Footsteps, the sound of coffee machine and different tones of voices. This our first morning on Mars. As I opened the eyes and turned over in my cozy but narrow bunk, I saw a sunlight coming through portholes. It is still warm this time of the year in the desert so with no hesitation of getting out of the warm bed I jumped into my slippers, red as this planet.

“Good morning” – I hear six times to my greetings of the new day!

Seven brave semi-Martians, as we are still in transition from Earthlings to Martians, have started a new chapter. We still didn’t quite test our braveness, the red planet just prepares to throw its surprises on us.

To celebrate our first day on Mars I decided it is worth spending an hour to cook the pancakes with dry papaya. It was delicious although I never cooked with dehydrated ingredients. On the International Space Station you have the ready-to-go meal, just put some water and eat, which is great solution in microgravity. But here on Mars we count on dehydrated food and greenhouse plants. By the way, plants have not been sown yet, since we are the first crew to arrive to the renewed Mars habitat. Many might think to be the first is great and heroic but as much as adoration you get from it, the more responsibility, stress at every step you make and an unbearable amount of work. But we will talk about it later, for today we are happy semi-Martians!