Mars revisited (Mission Astonishment)

So I’m on Mars again (report on my 1st landing posted 9 May 2012) and it’s just incredible. Can it get any better than this?

My next astonishment is finding no martians, just a few solar-powered robots roving around, remnants of other expeditions. And, equally astonishing, a gazebo perched on the edge of a precipice.

The scale and sophistication of this project dwarfs all previous ones: I am to investigate rocks laid down billions of years ago in search of evidence that past environments have favoured life. I am to look for signs of water.

Most astonishingly of all, this operation started out with funding to last for 6 sols only, but reports are already coming in of sponsors wanting it to roll and roll for many more years.

So with countless long and windblown exposures in salt water on the horizon, this could be the time to invest in a decent pair of wellies, thermals and a sturdy new tripod .

Many thanks to Ian, Ian, John, Yvonne and Sam for making this trip such an enjoyable experience!