December 3, 1999

INFO ABOUT MARS:

  • The red planet (masculine energy as opposed to the the blue planet, Earth with her feminine energy.)
  • Length of 'day': 24 hours, 37 minutes and 22.6 seconds.
  • Surface gravity: 0.380
  • Albedo (reflectiveness): 0.16
  • Mean surface temperature: -23c

The Mars Polar Lander lands at the martian south pole today at approximately 3 pm (central). Before the lander begins braking, two probes will detach and slam into the martian soil to the depth of 2 or 3 feet. They will then deploy a very small drill in order to gather soil samples to test. It is incredible to me: the computer for the probe is the size of a sugar cube, the drill is barely an inch long and the 'oven' (where they will 'cook' the soil to bring the water vaper out of it) only holds about 1/300th of an once.

The lander will also have a microphone onboard...imagine that ~ for the first time, we will be able to hear the martian wind. I wonder what other sounds there'll be?

They said on the overnight news that now that's affordable to build and send the little probes, NASA is going to use all the launch windows that come around every 26 months. I'm not sure I like the idea of remote - junking another planet but I have to admit, it is exciting to get the first hand listen.

I wonder what it would be like to be the first person to set foot on Mars?





EXCERPTS FROM PERSONNEL LOG - TASHA VERMEER, REPORTING
(A tale of the first manned voyage to Mars)

DATE: 2050.01.15 (Jan. 15, 2050)

Gods. I never thought I'd get so sick of seeing the inside of a ship ~ if I count the number of rivets above my bunk, I'll go mad. I swear I will. This trip isn't even half finished yet. We've yet to get to the red planet. Mars.

In the old days, it only took 10 months to get a probe to the planet. Nowadays, it takes a bit longer, with all the extra bulk and all, but some days it seems to be a life long voyage. There are times that I think that the guys who designed this thing were a little too used to working with probes and robots and altogether forgot what it would be like for a human out here. They won't make that mistake again ~ although after this mission, they may go back to using probes and 'bots just so they don't have to put up with the complaining and harassment.

DATE: 2050.04.05 (April 15)

I miss my cat.

DATE: 2050.05.01 (May 1 - Beltane; May Day)

I wonder if anyone realizes what is going on every time we've stepped on a new planet? In some people's book, it would be a balance of energy ~ the Moon herself is feminine, and the first person from Earth to set foot on her was male. Now, here we are going to Earth's brother and the first person to set foot on him will be me...a female. Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

DATE: 2050.06.25 (June 25)

We're not far now. Mars is now a steadily growing speck in the window. I thought that the Moon was a spectacular sight from space but this...now I remember why I volunteered for this mission. It's incredible. There aren't too many details to see yet but the colors are beyond compare. Orange; gold, russet, brown...it would seem that the entire spectrum is there.

DATE: 2050.07.01 (July 1)

The planet now takes up a great deal of the view. We're scheduled to land in three days - Independence Day - no doubt some polician's idea of great publicity and his own little bit of the so-called fame. Still, it doesn't diminish the incredible sense of awe that has taken hold of the crew. We can see a good deal of the topography now and there is nothing like it on earth. Many of the canals here make the Grand Canyon look like an irrigation ditch - we are truly heading for the unknown here. It is a humbling experience.

DATE: 2050.07.04 (July 4...Discovery Day)

We landed a little ahead of schedule, for once. The atmosphere inside the lander as we got ready for my Mars walk was one of anticipation. Almost as if we all were awaiting a mystical experience - which is exactly what it is turning out to be.

You cannot imagine the hue of the sky when you step out that hatch. The photos don't do it justice. I don't think anyone or anything can. There is a wind here...and it is incredibly like the light spring winds on Earth at the moment. I am tempted to take off my helmet to see what it smells like but I know better. Everything is a shade of red here - there must be a lot of iron here. I can't believe that I'm doing this. If I'm dreaming, please - please don't wake me. This is all I've ever lived for.


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