Mars is a little red planet it’s about a third of the size of our own planet
third of the size of our own planet
third of the size of our own planet Earth and it’s somewhere around 200
Earth and it’s somewhere around 200
Earth and it’s somewhere around 200 million kilometers away from us 200
million kilometers away from us 200
million kilometers away from us 200 million kilometers if I wanted to drive
million kilometers if I wanted to drive
million kilometers if I wanted to drive this far in my car on a German highway I
this far in my car on a German highway I
this far in my car on a German highway I would be under way
would be under way
would be under way 4 million hours at somewhere a little
4 million hours at somewhere a little
4 million hours at somewhere a little bit over 100 years not counting the time
bit over 100 years not counting the time
bit over 100 years not counting the time to take gas and even if I took a much
to take gas and even if I took a much
to take gas and even if I took a much faster rocket I would still be under way
faster rocket I would still be under way
faster rocket I would still be under way for about eight months
for about eight months
for about eight months recently many scientists and politicians
recently many scientists and politicians
recently many scientists and politicians have announced their plans to send
have announced their plans to send
have announced their plans to send humans to Mars and more or less
humans to Mars and more or less
humans to Mars and more or less realistic scenarios NASA for example is
realistic scenarios NASA for example is
realistic scenarios NASA for example is planning to send a handful of humans to
planning to send a handful of humans to
planning to send a handful of humans to Mars and 2035 the European Space
Mars and 2035 the European Space
Mars and 2035 the European Space Agency’s with less optimistic names for
Agency’s with less optimistic names for
Agency’s with less optimistic names for 2050 however on the other hand private
2050 however on the other hand private
2050 however on the other hand private companies have morally claimed to send
companies have morally claimed to send
companies have morally claimed to send humans 100 humans to Mars and less than
humans 100 humans to Mars and less than
humans 100 humans to Mars and less than a decade or so however long it takes to
a decade or so however long it takes to
a decade or so however long it takes to finally send humans to Mars it won’t be
finally send humans to Mars it won’t be
finally send humans to Mars it won’t be easy
easy
easy only recently did the not-so-gentle
only recently did the not-so-gentle
only recently did the not-so-gentle landing of a European module remind us
landing of a European module remind us
landing of a European module remind us that not even half of all landing
that not even half of all landing
that not even half of all landing attempts have been successful so if we
attempts have been successful so if we
attempts have been successful so if we ever want to send humans to Mars instead
ever want to send humans to Mars instead
ever want to send humans to Mars instead of just machines yes certainly some room
of just machines yes certainly some room
of just machines yes certainly some room for improvement so why bother why send
for improvement so why bother why send
for improvement so why bother why send humans to Mars as a member of the human
humans to Mars as a member of the human
humans to Mars as a member of the human species
species
species I’m incredibly curious and also I’m
I’m incredibly curious and also I’m
I’m incredibly curious and also I’m concerned I know that if our own planet
concerned I know that if our own planet
concerned I know that if our own planet Earth at some point for whatever reason
Earth at some point for whatever reason
Earth at some point for whatever reason will become uninhabitable we’re screwed
will become uninhabitable we’re screwed
will become uninhabitable we’re screwed if someone told us that a giant asteroid
if someone told us that a giant asteroid
if someone told us that a giant asteroid would hit Earth in five years even have
would hit Earth in five years even have
would hit Earth in five years even have time enough to save ourselves so instead
time enough to save ourselves so instead
time enough to save ourselves so instead we should start making a plan B for our
we should start making a plan B for our
we should start making a plan B for our children today but as a human and a
children today but as a human and a
children today but as a human and a scientist as I said I’m very curious I
scientist as I said I’m very curious I
scientist as I said I’m very curious I want to see what Mars looks like our
want to see what Mars looks like our
want to see what Mars looks like our ancestors
ancestors
ancestors they wanted to know what lies beyond the
they wanted to know what lies beyond the
they wanted to know what lies beyond the walls of the caves they wanted to know
walls of the caves they wanted to know
walls of the caves they wanted to know what’s beyond the boundaries of the
what’s beyond the boundaries of the
what’s beyond the boundaries of the African continent they wanted to know
African continent they wanted to know
African continent they wanted to know what’s on the other side of the Atlantic
what’s on the other side of the Atlantic
what’s on the other side of the Atlantic I want to know what Mars looks like so
I want to know what Mars looks like so
I want to know what Mars looks like so if you look at the photo you see the
if you look at the photo you see the
if you look at the photo you see the rover Curiosity you ought to see lots of
rover Curiosity you ought to see lots of
rover Curiosity you ought to see lots of rocks and dust and I want to look at
rocks and dust and I want to look at
rocks and dust and I want to look at those rocks and reading them like in a
those rocks and reading them like in a
those rocks and reading them like in a geology book like in a history book I
geology book like in a history book I
geology book like in a history book I want to learn about the past and the
want to learn about the past and the
want to learn about the past and the future of our own planet and even if I
future of our own planet and even if I
future of our own planet and even if I won’t be able to walk on Mars myself I
won’t be able to walk on Mars myself I
won’t be able to walk on Mars myself I want to be sure that we don’t miss a
want to be sure that we don’t miss a
want to be sure that we don’t miss a sign of life on Mars
sign of life on Mars
sign of life on Mars just because curiosity hasn’t been
just because curiosity hasn’t been
just because curiosity hasn’t been programmed to look right at the right
programmed to look right at the right
programmed to look right at the right time so let’s assume my wish get grant
time so let’s assume my wish get grant
time so let’s assume my wish get grant it gets granted let’s assume someone
it gets granted let’s assume someone
it gets granted let’s assume someone manages to send someone how about you
manages to send someone how about you
manages to send someone how about you someone manages to send you to Mars and
someone manages to send you to Mars and
someone manages to send you to Mars and land you safely on the surface and what
land you safely on the surface and what
land you safely on the surface and what Mars is not an easy place to live in
Mars is not an easy place to live in
Mars is not an easy place to live in you’re 200 million kilometers away from
you’re 200 million kilometers away from
you’re 200 million kilometers away from your friends and from your family you
your friends and from your family you
your friends and from your family you have no phone and your email
have no phone and your email
have no phone and your email communication is under way
communication is under way
communication is under way 10 after 20 minutes just to reach its
10 after 20 minutes just to reach its
10 after 20 minutes just to reach its destination each direction and every
destination each direction and every
destination each direction and every single time you know if you just want to
single time you know if you just want to
single time you know if you just want to know what’s up if you want to go outside
know what’s up if you want to go outside
know what’s up if you want to go outside you have to wear a spacesuit because the
you have to wear a spacesuit because the
you have to wear a spacesuit because the air is so thin and so toxic but going
air is so thin and so toxic but going
air is so thin and so toxic but going out in a spacesuit means you never
out in a spacesuit means you never
out in a spacesuit means you never actually really outside you cannot feel
actually really outside you cannot feel
actually really outside you cannot feel the wind or the Sun on your skin instead
the wind or the Sun on your skin instead
the wind or the Sun on your skin instead you feel the inside of your suit even
you feel the inside of your suit even
you feel the inside of your suit even when you touch the rocks around you you
when you touch the rocks around you you
when you touch the rocks around you you feel the inside of your gloves and if
feel the inside of your gloves and if
feel the inside of your gloves and if it’s not the air or the lack of air
it’s not the air or the lack of air
it’s not the air or the lack of air that’s killing you it’s the space
that’s killing you it’s the space
that’s killing you it’s the space radiation so because Mars is so harsh
radiation so because Mars is so harsh
radiation so because Mars is so harsh there are small life on Mars like we
there are small life on Mars like we
there are small life on Mars like we know it from Earth there no plans there
know it from Earth there no plans there
know it from Earth there no plans there no animals and the planet itself is so
no animals and the planet itself is so
no animals and the planet itself is so dry there are no lakes or no reverse
dry there are no lakes or no reverse
dry there are no lakes or no reverse there’s no ring so how can you bear
there’s no ring so how can you bear
there’s no ring so how can you bear living in such a desolate environment
and we have some technology to help
and we have some technology to help obviously but
obviously but
obviously but can you bear living there mentally I’ve
can you bear living there mentally I’ve
can you bear living there mentally I’ve tried it I’ve tested I’ve lived at the
tried it I’ve tested I’ve lived at the
tried it I’ve tested I’ve lived at the research place called high seas on a
research place called high seas on a
research place called high seas on a remote working Oh summer in the middle
remote working Oh summer in the middle
remote working Oh summer in the middle and health of Pacific and I ripped them
and health of Pacific and I ripped them
and health of Pacific and I ripped them and it pretty much same conditions but
and it pretty much same conditions but
and it pretty much same conditions but they’re just described to you and I’ve
they’re just described to you and I’ve
they’re just described to you and I’ve lived there were five other people for
lived there were five other people for
lived there were five other people for an entire year now you could say well
an entire year now you could say well
an entire year now you could say well that’s incredibly stupid of you but
that’s incredibly stupid of you but
that’s incredibly stupid of you but would like here my answer is that life
would like here my answer is that life
would like here my answer is that life on Mars it’s actually not so different
on Mars it’s actually not so different
on Mars it’s actually not so different from life on Earth and the contrary some
from life on Earth and the contrary some
from life on Earth and the contrary some aspects of life on Mars are so
aspects of life on Mars are so
aspects of life on Mars are so surprising well you might find
surprising well you might find
surprising well you might find surprisingly relevant for life on Earth
surprisingly relevant for life on Earth
surprisingly relevant for life on Earth and I will now tell you four little
and I will now tell you four little
and I will now tell you four little stories that hopefully make you envy
stories that hopefully make you envy
stories that hopefully make you envy life on Mars at least it’s a little bit
life on Mars at least it’s a little bit
life on Mars at least it’s a little bit I mean sure there’s some negative side
I mean sure there’s some negative side
I mean sure there’s some negative side effects like the environment trying to
effects like the environment trying to
effects like the environment trying to kill you and indeed I had a crew mate
kill you and indeed I had a crew mate
kill you and indeed I had a crew mate who was getting increasingly scared of
who was getting increasingly scared of
who was getting increasingly scared of the environment they were afraid of
the environment they were afraid of
the environment they were afraid of putting on a suit and going outside they
putting on a suit and going outside they
putting on a suit and going outside they were afraid of walking on the admittedly
were afraid of walking on the admittedly
were afraid of walking on the admittedly difficult terrain so they stopped they
difficult terrain so they stopped they
difficult terrain so they stopped they stopped going outside they stopped
stopped going outside they stopped
stopped going outside they stopped putting on a suit and they stopped
putting on a suit and they stopped
putting on a suit and they stopped putting and walking on the terrain and
putting and walking on the terrain and
putting and walking on the terrain and as a result it became less and less
as a result it became less and less
as a result it became less and less capable of walking on the train and then
capable of walking on the train and then
capable of walking on the train and then they spend the rest of the days
they spend the rest of the days
they spend the rest of the days complaining about not being able to go
complaining about not being able to go
complaining about not being able to go outside at the same time there was a
outside at the same time there was a
outside at the same time there was a crew member who went outside more than a
crew member who went outside more than a
crew member who went outside more than a hundred times over the year she
hundred times over the year she
hundred times over the year she traversed almost 1,000 kilometers and as
traversed almost 1,000 kilometers and as
traversed almost 1,000 kilometers and as a result she became very proficient
a result she became very proficient
a result she became very proficient proficient walking on the terrain
proficient walking on the terrain
proficient walking on the terrain proficient rocking in a suit humans are
proficient rocking in a suit humans are
proficient rocking in a suit humans are living in Greenland they’re living in
living in Greenland they’re living in
living in Greenland they’re living in Antarctica on the other extreme they’re
Antarctica on the other extreme they’re
Antarctica on the other extreme they’re living in deserts humans are extremely
living in deserts humans are extremely
living in deserts humans are extremely adaptable if they’re willing the
adaptable if they’re willing the
adaptable if they’re willing the conditions in our lives are not always
conditions in our lives are not always
conditions in our lives are not always in our favor and then we can succumb and
in our favor and then we can succumb and
in our favor and then we can succumb and we can lament over how hard we
we can lament over how hard we
we can lament over how hard we or we can face our challenges and try to
or we can face our challenges and try to
or we can face our challenges and try to live up to them it’s a choice that we
live up to them it’s a choice that we
live up to them it’s a choice that we can make and simulated Mars I was
can make and simulated Mars I was
can make and simulated Mars I was conducting a little experiment the rocks
conducting a little experiment the rocks
conducting a little experiment the rocks there are about as dry as on real Mars
there are about as dry as on real Mars
there are about as dry as on real Mars but they do contain some border and I
but they do contain some border and I
but they do contain some border and I try to extract this water and collected
try to extract this water and collected
try to extract this water and collected it’s a very slow process and my left
it’s a very slow process and my left
it’s a very slow process and my left hand you can see a cylinder that
hand you can see a cylinder that
hand you can see a cylinder that contains about 400 milliliters of water
contains about 400 milliliters of water
contains about 400 milliliters of water which is about the size of a drinking
which is about the size of a drinking
which is about the size of a drinking glass and it took several days to
glass and it took several days to
glass and it took several days to collect this amount of water so you
collect this amount of water so you
collect this amount of water so you could say that water on marshes precious
could say that water on marshes precious
could say that water on marshes precious and consequently we had a little shower
and consequently we had a little shower
and consequently we had a little shower competition going on in the crew who
competition going on in the crew who
competition going on in the crew who could take the shortest showers so I
could take the shortest showers so I
could take the shortest showers so I personally was taking shower over three
personally was taking shower over three
personally was taking shower over three or four days and typically around two
or four days and typically around two
or four days and typically around two maximum three minutes and I lost the
maximum three minutes and I lost the
maximum three minutes and I lost the competition by far the shortest shower
competition by far the shortest shower
competition by far the shortest shower that we were taking in the crew last of
that we were taking in the crew last of
that we were taking in the crew last of 24 seconds so now imagine my very first
24 seconds so now imagine my very first
24 seconds so now imagine my very first time coming back on earth and stand in
time coming back on earth and stand in
time coming back on earth and stand in front of a pool
front of a pool
front of a pool I was ready I was 13 I was supposed to
I was ready I was 13 I was supposed to
I was ready I was 13 I was supposed to jump into this pool of clean precious
jump into this pool of clean precious
jump into this pool of clean precious water this pool evaporated so much water
water this pool evaporated so much water
water this pool evaporated so much water the amount of water that I had collected
the amount of water that I had collected
the amount of water that I had collected on Mars and simulated Mars over the
on Mars and simulated Mars over the
on Mars and simulated Mars over the course of several days evaporated from
course of several days evaporated from
course of several days evaporated from this pool in a matter of less than five
this pool in a matter of less than five
this pool in a matter of less than five minutes eventually I did go in it took
minutes eventually I did go in it took
minutes eventually I did go in it took some convincing it’s okay that’s how
some convincing it’s okay that’s how
some convincing it’s okay that’s how they do it here on earth it’s totally
they do it here on earth it’s totally
they do it here on earth it’s totally fine to waste a pool full of clean
fine to waste a pool full of clean
fine to waste a pool full of clean drinkable water it’s totally okay to
drinkable water it’s totally okay to
drinkable water it’s totally okay to pollute the rivers and the lakes that
pollute the rivers and the lakes that
pollute the rivers and the lakes that they’re drinking from it’s not
they’re drinking from it’s not
they’re drinking from it’s not sustainable and we know it’s not
sustainable and we know it’s not
sustainable and we know it’s not sustainable but everyone does it so it’s
sustainable but everyone does it so it’s
sustainable but everyone does it so it’s okay for me to do it too right I’ve
okay for me to do it too right I’ve
okay for me to do it too right I’ve mentioned before that Mars is an
mentioned before that Mars is an
mentioned before that Mars is an environment that’s very keen on killing
environment that’s very keen on killing
environment that’s very keen on killing you and indeed if something happens to
you and indeed if something happens to
you and indeed if something happens to you and even if it’s something as
you and even if it’s something as
you and even if it’s something as ridiculously mundane as a kitchen
ridiculously mundane as a kitchen
ridiculously mundane as a kitchen accident the nearest hospital is eight
accident the nearest hospital is eight
accident the nearest hospital is eight months away and even in our simulated
months away and even in our simulated
months away and even in our simulated Mars the nearest hospital was half a day
Mars the nearest hospital was half a day
Mars the nearest hospital was half a day away so early on in the mission when the
away so early on in the mission when the
away so early on in the mission when the terrain was still foreign to me and I
terrain was still foreign to me and I
terrain was still foreign to me and I was walking outside in my suit when
was walking outside in my suit when
was walking outside in my suit when suddenly my air supply failed the fan
suddenly my air supply failed the fan
suddenly my air supply failed the fan that was supposed to pump air for
that was supposed to pump air for
that was supposed to pump air for breathing into my helmet stopped working
breathing into my helmet stopped working
breathing into my helmet stopped working from one second to the next
from one second to the next
from one second to the next so of course I could have started
so of course I could have started
so of course I could have started running around and crying and wasting
running around and crying and wasting
running around and crying and wasting the very little air that I had left
the very little air that I had left
the very little air that I had left instead I remain calm and walked back to
instead I remain calm and walked back to
instead I remain calm and walked back to the habitat where I could take my helmet
the habitat where I could take my helmet
the habitat where I could take my helmet off and I did suffer from the lack of
off and I did suffer from the lack of
off and I did suffer from the lack of oxygen and the surplus of co2 and by the
oxygen and the surplus of co2 and by the
oxygen and the surplus of co2 and by the time I reached the habitat even though
time I reached the habitat even though
time I reached the habitat even though it was the whole incident lasted less
it was the whole incident lasted less
it was the whole incident lasted less than ten minutes
than ten minutes
than ten minutes I was extremely exhausted of course on
I was extremely exhausted of course on
I was extremely exhausted of course on earth it’s much harder to die than just
earth it’s much harder to die than just
earth it’s much harder to die than just a fan failing but I’m proud of myself
a fan failing but I’m proud of myself
a fan failing but I’m proud of myself that I did the only thing that I could
that I did the only thing that I could
that I did the only thing that I could have possibly done on on Mars I kept my
have possibly done on on Mars I kept my
have possibly done on on Mars I kept my helmet on and I pulled through so why am
helmet on and I pulled through so why am
helmet on and I pulled through so why am I telling you this story when I returned
I telling you this story when I returned
I telling you this story when I returned to Earth
to Earth
to Earth I went to the train station and I missed
I went to the train station and I missed
I went to the train station and I missed my train
my train
my train by like 1 1 or 2 minutes and my escort
by like 1 1 or 2 minutes and my escort
by like 1 1 or 2 minutes and my escort who was bringing me was stunned at my
who was bringing me was stunned at my
who was bringing me was stunned at my comment there will be another one in an
comment there will be another one in an
comment there will be another one in an hour she just couldn’t understand how I
hour she just couldn’t understand how I
hour she just couldn’t understand how I could remain so calm and I on the other
could remain so calm and I on the other
could remain so calm and I on the other hand I couldn’t understand I am still
hand I couldn’t understand I am still
hand I couldn’t understand I am still not quite sure why I was supposed to be
not quite sure why I was supposed to be
not quite sure why I was supposed to be stressed out in fact right now it’s very
stressed out in fact right now it’s very
stressed out in fact right now it’s very hard to stress me out about anything as
hard to stress me out about anything as
hard to stress me out about anything as long as I have air to breathe so this
long as I have air to breathe so this
long as I have air to breathe so this photo is of course fake however if you
photo is of course fake however if you
photo is of course fake however if you have six people in a tight space over a
have six people in a tight space over a
have six people in a tight space over a long period of time you cannot avoid
long period of time you cannot avoid
long period of time you cannot avoid conflicts and in fact my best friend and
conflicts and in fact my best friend and
conflicts and in fact my best friend and the habitat started getting on my nerves
the habitat started getting on my nerves
the habitat started getting on my nerves after a couple of months because she was
after a couple of months because she was
after a couple of months because she was putting things away which is nice
putting things away which is nice
putting things away which is nice because that was keeping the habitat
because that was keeping the habitat
because that was keeping the habitat tidy and clean on the other hand it was
tidy and clean on the other hand it was
tidy and clean on the other hand it was annoying me because I had to search for
annoying me because I had to search for
annoying me because I had to search for my things so at some point I was very
my things so at some point I was very
my things so at some point I was very close to snapping at her she for my
close to snapping at her she for my
close to snapping at her she for my stuff alone and then maybe she could
stuff alone and then maybe she could
stuff alone and then maybe she could have replied something like I don’t know
have replied something like I don’t know
have replied something like I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live in a
about you but I don’t want to live in a
about you but I don’t want to live in a pigsty and then maybe the next morning
pigsty and then maybe the next morning
pigsty and then maybe the next morning the next day we wouldn’t even have
the next day we wouldn’t even have
the next day we wouldn’t even have looked at you each other anymore so
looked at you each other anymore so
looked at you each other anymore so instead I walked to her and told her hey
instead I walked to her and told her hey
instead I walked to her and told her hey listen it’s very nicely to keeping the
listen it’s very nicely to keeping the
listen it’s very nicely to keeping the habitat tidy but it’s frustrating for me
habitat tidy but it’s frustrating for me
habitat tidy but it’s frustrating for me to always have to look for my own stuff
to always have to look for my own stuff
to always have to look for my own stuff and her reaction was twofold
and her reaction was twofold
and her reaction was twofold first she was surprised she didn’t know
first she was surprised she didn’t know
first she was surprised she didn’t know she had this habit and she didn’t even
she had this habit and she didn’t even
she had this habit and she didn’t even believe me until I caught her in the act
believe me until I caught her in the act
believe me until I caught her in the act and pointed it out to her and then she
and pointed it out to her and then she
and pointed it out to her and then she stopped she stopped putting stuff away
stopped she stopped putting stuff away
stopped she stopped putting stuff away that wasn’t her own of course
that wasn’t her own of course
that wasn’t her own of course occasionally she still made a slip and
occasionally she still made a slip and
occasionally she still made a slip and when it happened I just groaned at her
when it happened I just groaned at her
when it happened I just groaned at her because I saw her effort conflicts do
because I saw her effort conflicts do
because I saw her effort conflicts do happen and the important thing is that
happen and the important thing is that
happen and the important thing is that we address them as early and as calmly
we address them as early and as calmly
we address them as early and as calmly as possible before they can escalate
as possible before they can escalate
as possible before they can escalate into solid arguments besides everyone
into solid arguments besides everyone
into solid arguments besides everyone has thick fur
has thick fur
has thick fur you have yours I have mine everybody if
you have yours I have mine everybody if
you have yours I have mine everybody if you overlook mine I will overlook yours
you overlook mine I will overlook yours
you overlook mine I will overlook yours and this is especially true if you’re
and this is especially true if you’re
and this is especially true if you’re living inside the tight space like a
living inside the tight space like a
living inside the tight space like a marsh habitat but honestly I wish we
marsh habitat but honestly I wish we
marsh habitat but honestly I wish we would treat each other like that on
would treat each other like that on
would treat each other like that on earth more often
earth more often
earth more often Mars has so many things to explore it
Mars has so many things to explore it
Mars has so many things to explore it has caves that are larger than caves on
has caves that are larger than caves on
has caves that are larger than caves on earth it has a canyon that is larger
earth it has a canyon that is larger
earth it has a canyon that is larger than the Grand Canyon and it has the
than the Grand Canyon and it has the
than the Grand Canyon and it has the largest mountain and the solar system
largest mountain and the solar system
largest mountain and the solar system Mars has rocks that might hold the key
Mars has rocks that might hold the key
Mars has rocks that might hold the key to the to the future of our own planet
to the to the future of our own planet
to the to the future of our own planet and even if we don’t find any signs of
and even if we don’t find any signs of
and even if we don’t find any signs of life on Mars I’m convinced that we will
life on Mars I’m convinced that we will
life on Mars I’m convinced that we will be able to live on Mars and the most
be able to live on Mars and the most
be able to live on Mars and the most successful human Martian is someone who
successful human Martian is someone who
successful human Martian is someone who can adapt to all sorts of different
can adapt to all sorts of different
can adapt to all sorts of different environments and situations with someone
environments and situations with someone
environments and situations with someone who uses their resources sustainably who
who uses their resources sustainably who
who uses their resources sustainably who is resilient to stresses and who handles
is resilient to stresses and who handles
is resilient to stresses and who handles conflicts maturely as I’ve said before
conflicts maturely as I’ve said before
conflicts maturely as I’ve said before life on Mars is actually not so
life on Mars is actually not so
life on Mars is actually not so different from life on Earth thank you
different from life on Earth thank you
different from life on Earth thank you [Applause]
”
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