A scientist working with NASA is optimistic about humanity colonizing Mars as she shared what it will likely be like.
Now don’t worry you haven’t missed one of the most important moments of the 21st century... humanity hasn’t ‘technically’ taken its first steps on Mars just yet.
But US navy microbiologist Anca Selariu spent a year on the closest thing we have to living on the red planet.
Isolated for 378 days with three other scientists, Selariu had some fascinating insights into what it was like.
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So where has she been? Well, Selariu and her crew mates were locked inside NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha. It's essentially a 1,700 sq ft 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston built to replicate the living conditions of Mars.
The habitat was made as realistic as possible and includes a greenhouse, medical area, exercise equipment and a lounge, as well as a small private bedroom for each of the volunteers, two bathrooms and a small 'outdoor' enclosure with red sand.
During the time on the habitat, she and her crew mates would regularly be tested for their reactions to simulated emergencies and stressors, equipment failures, resource limitations and intensive workloads to top it off.
Speaking about her experience with The Guardian, she said: “To me personally, it was such a joy to see and touch a living, green thing, because that is something that you miss the most while you’re away from Earth.
“My connection to Earth, and the deep feeling of being a true Earthling, a living entity from the planet Earth, you really feel it very deeply into your core and you really understand what that means and how incredibly important that connection really is.”
Selariu also said she expects humanity to reach Mars in her lifetime and is proud in the work she has done to contribute to this eventual feat.
“Humans will be getting to Mars at some point in the future, and just the opportunity to participate in any way one can to help that happen, hopefully in our lifetimes, is beyond compare,” she said.
“I am truly in awe of everything, all the efforts that I’ve witnessed to make this dream a reality for all humans. And yes, I’ll be celebrating when we see the first step on Mars, knowing I contributed. It was an incredible honor and absolutely exhilarating.”
Gerrard Kaonga