It was not too long ago, that a wonderful little book called "Packing for Mars" hit the stands. In it were funny, juicy bits on the other, unknown side of space exploration.
Amidst the quips and hilarious takes on the perils of being confined to a space cabin, was a chapter about the feasibility of traveling to Mars.
The Journey, as it is called in some circles, might just be too much for the human body. Almost 2/3 of a year, each way.
In the book there was also a line about the great Russian astronaut, Ms. Valentina Tereshkova, whose military rank escapes the writer, having offered to go one way, no return, to see that lonely planet and conquer that ominous space between the two orbs.
It seems Ms. Tereshkova has now put her foot forward again. Undaunted, the sprightly 76 years old, a pioneer in space who has been honored many times, is now almost begging for whatever space agency to let her die in space. Yes, she said it. One way to Mars.
It is, after all, her favorite planet. It is almost a chimera for all those astronauts out there, the unreachable dream. So far.
Tereshkova after all, is the stuff of legend. Only 26 years old when she made a solo space flight in 1963, she was one of a group of astronaut that had been slated to go to Mars in the future. She is, as they say, solid steel.
And why not after all? Let's send the veterans whose dream is to go where no man and woman have gone before.
Source : France 24/ 6.7.13
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