I'm going to Mars!
MDRS Habitat Panorama
I flew into Salt Lake City, Utah today. Tomorrow we drive about 6 hours to get to the MDRS habitat. Looking forward to a good nights sleep tonight and my last hot shower for awhile.
Here’s an email I sent out about a week ago - in the comments I’ve pasted in some of the responses I’ve received so far …
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Dear friends and family,
As some of you may or may not know, I have had a long interest in space travel. In one week, on Friday January 18th 2008, I will join 5 other crew members to commence a 2-week stay on the planet Mars. I am very excited about this opportunity and I am also excited to share the news with you.
You can read more about the Mars Desert Research Station and keep tabs on my crew at this website [I’m on Crew 65]:
http://desert.marssociety.org/
I invite you to participate on this journey with me. I hope that you might share with me your feelings about space travel and Martian/Lunar settlements as well as your reaction/thoughts about my upcoming trip. [in the medium of your choice]
I am also able to bring a modest amount of luggage with me. There is a history of astronauts bringing various items into space such as stamps, currency, etc. I’m more than willing to bring and document a reasonable number of your items with me on my trip. I will check my PO box the day before I leave. Please mail me your items or let me know ASAP and I will try my best to procure them before I leave.
Packages must arrive at my PO Box by the Thursday January 17th, 2008 (sorry for the short notice).
Finally, I am interested and willing to perform actions, instructions or experiments during my time on Mars. I should have limited (though delayed) internet access during my stay. But to assure that I receive them before I leave, try to email me your requests by midnight on Thursday January 17th 2008.
Happy New Year!!
morgan
morgan on January 19th 2008
Some suggestions …
Henry:
“dont forget to pack your phaser and tricorder”
Linda:
“I’ll think on what I want to go to Mars, other than giant wishes for peace, love, happiness, and a non-repub pres. “
Meg:
“My god Morgan. Bring sun block.”
SA:
“How about leaving this? Might be nice to leave in many languages.
I can’t wait to hear more — always wanted to be a space traveler myself.”
Dirk:
“In my mind, science tends to dominate the field of space exploration (for goods reasons). But as I imagine a settlement on Mars, other areas of human thought - political, creative, spiritual, etc - will enter into the picture as a culture of Human Martians develops.
As perhaps a task while you’re on Mars, consider how these elements of culture might come about. How do cultural phenomenon arises from the limitations of the environment? How might they come about from personal rituals that become community rituals?”
Aron:
“Can you bring me back a Mars bar and a Martian rock? I’ll pay you back … .”
Hiroko:
“I would just love you to enjoy the stay, but make sure to let me know what you are going to be eating in space! report back your meals please!!! Or if i can choose one meal for you, I am happy to do it :) “
Andrew:
“Have a safe trip and bring enough underwear; Martian cotton is pretty caustic stuff.
Oh, and if all my years of watching Start Trek has taught me anything it’s don’t kiss green space women. Unless you’re prepared to have a ripped-shirt wrestling match with a nebulous cloud entity shortly afterwards.”
Jane:
“Watch out for accumulation of CO2!”
Jordy:
“if you could just stop at a Walmart on your way to space…I’d love a shot of you on Mars with a VHS copy of Total Recall…”
Rekha:
“people actually replicate Mars living in the Utah desert? It’s a child’s fantasy come true.”
Chantal:
“Hope you can send postcards when you get a chance.”
Bunny:
“can an 82 yr.old participate???”
Barbara:
“Take this short history of Biosphere 2 with you on your journey.
Take it as an inspiration.
Take it as a cautionary tale from those who have gone before you.
and if you have a DVD player in the habitat, a viewing of Logans Run is always a shot in the arm”
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