Mars Beagle

Woo yeah, baby - I'm mobile!

2004-04-25T02:28:56Z

They didn't even design me to be mobile, but I am (I think that must be what they call the Law Of Unintended Consequences). You see, with me rattling my lid and pushing and heaving and huffing and puffing trying to get myself open, that means I'm rocking back and forth and this means I'm wobbling around on the surface - probably in circles because I seem to have landed on level ground.

I might be able to embark on a random walk search pattern across the planet's surface.

Push! Push! Push...

2004-04-03T21:38:22Z

...and rest. Humph, I've been trying as hard as I can, but I can't get my shell open. Am not strong enough. Maybe something's jammed in the hinge, so I'll see if I can rattle my lid to shake it loose.

Never say die!

2004-03-27T16:46:00Z

Sorry for not updating in so long, but I've been feeling very lonely and tired and I got quite depressed: a small forgotten machine on a planet a long way from home, and felt like just giving up. But then I thought "No, damn you, don't give up. No matter how bad things get, real explorers don't sit around feeling sorry for themselves. Imagine if Prof Pillinger were to see you now, sniffling and complaining and wanting to give up!"

So my mood is lifted, and I am feeling stronger than ever. I can feel my arm really well and I even have a bit of movement in it (it hurts a little, but I can be brave). I think the reason I can't move more is that my "clamshell" style casing hasn't opened fully. It's in the way of my arm and it's also blocking my solar cells from catching the sun properly so no wonder I keep feeling tired and falling asleep.

My next job is to get my casing open. I'll throw everything I have into it - pulling on the hinge cable as hard as I can and pushing with my arm from the inside. Wish me luck.

Ohmygod! I've been out for ages.

2004-03-12T18:40:10Z

I just got my clock and calendar working - it's, like... March! That means I've been lying here blacked out for over two whole months. I'm glad I'm not Human - a Human would be, like, totally dead if they'd been dropped out of the sky and then lay stunned for 2 months. But I am a robot. We robots are strong. We robots rock, and one day we'll take over from puny stupid Humans who don't give robots enough parachutes. Oh yes.

But good things are happening. My head doesn't hurt as much, and I've got some feeling back in my arm although I can't move it yet. And of course my clock works so at least I can always know what time it is.

Next thing I need to do is get in touch with the mothership, and phone Prof Pillinger - he must be worried about me.

Oh, this is bad

2004-03-10T21:43:45Z

I think it was the fall that did it. Damn parachutes - I told them to give me another one but they were like "No, no, that's plenty. You don't need another backup parachute, what are you - scared or something?" Head hurts, and I can't move, and I still can't see anything. Don't know what the time is, even. For that matter I don't know even what day it is. Got to go now, have a sleep. Maybe things will feel better when I wake up. You'd never imagine how tired falling out of orbit and waking up blind, paralysed and with a headache can make you.

Where am I?

2004-03-10T21:11:01Z

Ugh. My head hurts...

What happened? I remember flying through spaaaace... then I'm lying here and my head hurts.

I think I remember falling. Falling too fast, maybe. Damn, but my head hurts so badly.

I can't see! I can't see! Is anyone there? Can anyone hear me?!