Sol 20 – Safety first
“The sail fluttered down, folding unto itself, sighing. The ship stopped. The wind stopped. Travel stopped. Mars stood still as the majestic vessels of the Martians drew around and hesitated over him.”
– Chapter 20 of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Writing a journalist’s report with my right arm in a brace and sling isn’t easy…
Last night, I fell in the Upper Deck of the Hab and broke my collarbone. Although I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what happened, I know that things would have been radically different if the crew and Mission Support had not reacted the way they did: calmly, efficiently and with great care.
The crew truly worked like a dream, Quentin even said it looked like a ballet from afar.
Our Health and Safety Officer, Corentin, and I took a short trip to Earth during the night on an ambulance-starship to go to the hospital, and get my clavicula and shoulder examined. I’m fine, although exhausted and feeling somewhat responsible for disrupting the mission’s plotted course.
As Jérémy and Alice took us back to the Hab, our spirits were lifted by the breathtaking Martian landscapes we went through to return to MDRS. Adrien, Alexandre and Quentin welcomed us back to the MDRS, with anxious smiles, delicious blueberry pancakes, and cookies.
The afternoon was dedicated to resting, as most crewmembers had gotten very little sleep. We’re ready to get back to our daily activities as of tomorrow!
It feels very reassuring to be all together again at the MDRS after twelve very uncertain hours. Although we were all very shaken, I am amazed by our crew’s resilience and high spirits. Words cannot express how thankful I am to be a part of this team.