My destination is Mars, and you may ask why… | Pamela Nicoletatos | TEDxSaxionUniversity

I’m a full-time mother and teacher

I’m a full-time mother and teacher part-time astronomy student science

part-time astronomy student science

part-time astronomy student science fiction lover what you would call a nerd

fiction lover what you would call a nerd

fiction lover what you would call a nerd or a super geek my house is a cross

or a super geek my house is a cross

or a super geek my house is a cross between a Lucas and Roddenberry movie

between a Lucas and Roddenberry movie

between a Lucas and Roddenberry movie set with Star Wars and Star Trek rockets

set with Star Wars and Star Trek rockets

set with Star Wars and Star Trek rockets and astronauts everywhere you see my

and astronauts everywhere you see my

and astronauts everywhere you see my early childhood memories began with me

early childhood memories began with me

early childhood memories began with me being molded by science fiction with

being molded by science fiction with

being molded by science fiction with programs like Doctor Who and Star Trek

programs like Doctor Who and Star Trek

programs like Doctor Who and Star Trek taking me to the faraway reaches of

taking me to the faraway reaches of

taking me to the faraway reaches of fictional space this was and it still is

fictional space this was and it still is

fictional space this was and it still is my passion now I am a mother a teacher a

my passion now I am a mother a teacher a

my passion now I am a mother a teacher a student and all the while pursuing

student and all the while pursuing

student and all the while pursuing science discovery and exploration and as

science discovery and exploration and as

science discovery and exploration and as I grew older I realized I was not alone

I grew older I realized I was not alone

I grew older I realized I was not alone with companies like SpaceX paving the

with companies like SpaceX paving the

with companies like SpaceX paving the way to this next great giant leap in the

way to this next great giant leap in the

way to this next great giant leap in the not-too-distant future humanity will

not-too-distant future humanity will

not-too-distant future humanity will become a spacefaring species and we will

become a spacefaring species and we will

become a spacefaring species and we will begin with the colonization of Mars now

begin with the colonization of Mars now

begin with the colonization of Mars now the first question I’m often asked when

the first question I’m often asked when

the first question I’m often asked when people learn of my interest in Mars

people learn of my interest in Mars

people learn of my interest in Mars programs is why why would you give up

programs is why why would you give up

programs is why why would you give up everything here on earth family friends

everything here on earth family friends

everything here on earth family friends risk it all just to live on Mars I have

risk it all just to live on Mars I have

risk it all just to live on Mars I have to admit I’m always rather puzzled by

to admit I’m always rather puzzled by

to admit I’m always rather puzzled by this question and off wouldn’t often

this question and off wouldn’t often

this question and off wouldn’t often reply but why not

reply but why not

reply but why not you see humanity has chosen exploration

you see humanity has chosen exploration

you see humanity has chosen exploration as a way of life since we first crossed

as a way of life since we first crossed

as a way of life since we first crossed distant lands and then move further

distant lands and then move further

distant lands and then move further beyond to the frontiers of distant

beyond to the frontiers of distant

beyond to the frontiers of distant shores

shores

shores I truly believe explorers is in essence

I truly believe explorers is in essence

I truly believe explorers is in essence part of who we are for me Mars is about

part of who we are for me Mars is about

part of who we are for me Mars is about personal challenge and achievement the

personal challenge and achievement the

personal challenge and achievement the opportunity to see or do what no one

opportunity to see or do what no one

opportunity to see or do what no one else could imagine possible something so

else could imagine possible something so

else could imagine possible something so personal it’s even difficult to put into

personal it’s even difficult to put into

personal it’s even difficult to put into words now it is important to consider

words now it is important to consider

words now it is important to consider opportunity when pursuing one’s goals it

opportunity when pursuing one’s goals it

opportunity when pursuing one’s goals it almost always comes in the form of a

almost always comes in the form of a

almost always comes in the form of a challenge asks for you to be brave

challenge asks for you to be brave

challenge asks for you to be brave to face your fears to push aside your

to face your fears to push aside your

to face your fears to push aside your personal doubts and the endless lists of

personal doubts and the endless lists of

personal doubts and the endless lists of what-ifs that we create for ourselves

what-ifs that we create for ourselves

what-ifs that we create for ourselves such as what if I fail

such as what if I fail

such as what if I fail take me for example my application with

take me for example my application with

take me for example my application with Mars one led to my time at the Mars

Mars one led to my time at the Mars

Mars one led to my time at the Mars desert Research Station which in turn

desert Research Station which in turn

desert Research Station which in turn led me here as a speaker at TEDx facing

led me here as a speaker at TEDx facing

led me here as a speaker at TEDx facing my biggest fear my personal kryptonite

my biggest fear my personal kryptonite

my biggest fear my personal kryptonite public speaking mm-hmm never in a

public speaking mm-hmm never in a

public speaking mm-hmm never in a million years did I think I would be a

million years did I think I would be a

million years did I think I would be a part of any of these events but with a

part of any of these events but with a

part of any of these events but with a lot of hard work and determination Here

lot of hard work and determination Here

lot of hard work and determination Here I am so let’s go back to the beginning

[Applause]

[Applause] so let’s go back to the beginning enter

so let’s go back to the beginning enter

so let’s go back to the beginning enter Mars one this is a Dutch group who is

Mars one this is a Dutch group who is

Mars one this is a Dutch group who is interested in being the first to send

interested in being the first to send

interested in being the first to send humans to colonize Mars led to an open

humans to colonize Mars led to an open

humans to colonize Mars led to an open application around the globe young or

application around the globe young or

application around the globe young or old rich or poor formally qualified or

old rich or poor formally qualified or

old rich or poor formally qualified or not a bold invitation to a one-way trip

not a bold invitation to a one-way trip

not a bold invitation to a one-way trip now I received tremendous support from

now I received tremendous support from

now I received tremendous support from my family and friends for my application

my family and friends for my application

my family and friends for my application my husband has always said there are no

my husband has always said there are no

my husband has always said there are no second chances with your life there are

second chances with your life there are

second chances with your life there are no refunds or do-overs

no refunds or do-overs

no refunds or do-overs so when opportunity presents itself be

so when opportunity presents itself be

so when opportunity presents itself be brave and seize it I proceeded through

brave and seize it I proceeded through

brave and seize it I proceeded through the first and second rounds when

the first and second rounds when

the first and second rounds when opportunity came knocking and I was

opportunity came knocking and I was

opportunity came knocking and I was approached and asked to be a part of a

approached and asked to be a part of a

approached and asked to be a part of a Mars desert Research Station simulation

Mars desert Research Station simulation

Mars desert Research Station simulation crew or MDRS for short this is quite

crew or MDRS for short this is quite

crew or MDRS for short this is quite literally where you travel to the middle

literally where you travel to the middle

literally where you travel to the middle of nowhere in the Utah desert cast aside

of nowhere in the Utah desert cast aside

of nowhere in the Utah desert cast aside your love for creature comforts live in

your love for creature comforts live in

your love for creature comforts live in a small dusty modulated capsule with six

a small dusty modulated capsule with six

a small dusty modulated capsule with six other people you have never met before

other people you have never met before

other people you have never met before and carry out your days doing science

and carry out your days doing science

and carry out your days doing science and living life like you were on Mars

and living life like you were on Mars

and living life like you were on Mars there are water rations dehydrated food

there are water rations dehydrated food

there are water rations dehydrated food and one-minute showers every few days to

and one-minute showers every few days to

and one-minute showers every few days to look forward to small dark narrow crew

look forward to small dark narrow crew

look forward to small dark narrow crew quarters and bunks which leave you less

quarters and bunks which leave you less

quarters and bunks which leave you less than rested by the morning light but it

than rested by the morning light but it

than rested by the morning light but it is because of each and every one of

is because of each and every one of

is because of each and every one of these things that it is an exceptional

these things that it is an exceptional

these things that it is an exceptional experience and place for Martian science

experience and place for Martian science

experience and place for Martian science now I had two rotations the MDRS

now I had two rotations the MDRS

now I had two rotations the MDRS the first one I was positioned as the

the first one I was positioned as the

the first one I was positioned as the crew geologist and green hat officer and

crew geologist and green hat officer and

crew geologist and green hat officer and this is a rather ironic posting for me

this is a rather ironic posting for me

this is a rather ironic posting for me since I have literally killed every

since I have literally killed every

since I have literally killed every single house plant I have ever owned

single house plant I have ever owned

single house plant I have ever owned cactuses included yet ironically I was a

cactuses included yet ironically I was a

cactuses included yet ironically I was a success on Mars and my crops sprouted

success on Mars and my crops sprouted

success on Mars and my crops sprouted and grew in their Martian regolith now

and grew in their Martian regolith now

and grew in their Martian regolith now my second rotation was earlier this year

my second rotation was earlier this year

my second rotation was earlier this year an opportunity came knocking once again

an opportunity came knocking once again

an opportunity came knocking once again and I stepped up and ranks and was

and I stepped up and ranks and was

and I stepped up and ranks and was commander of my own international crew

commander of my own international crew

commander of my own international crew for me this was a personal milestone in

for me this was a personal milestone in

for me this was a personal milestone in achievement I will never forget you have

achievement I will never forget you have

achievement I will never forget you have to understand the MDRS crew members are

to understand the MDRS crew members are

to understand the MDRS crew members are quite literally walking talking brain

quite literally walking talking brain

quite literally walking talking brain cells Einsteins if you like they are

cells Einsteins if you like they are

cells Einsteins if you like they are either studying to become or already are

either studying to become or already are

either studying to become or already are experts in their fields enter me

experts in their fields enter me

experts in their fields enter me commander

commander

commander homeschooling mom now my time is

homeschooling mom now my time is

homeschooling mom now my time is commander was priceless

commander was priceless

commander was priceless and I learned a great deal about myself

and I learned a great deal about myself

and I learned a great deal about myself I realized that I could not nor would

I realized that I could not nor would

I realized that I could not nor would not be limited by traditional norms but

not be limited by traditional norms but

not be limited by traditional norms but rather only when I choose to stop

rather only when I choose to stop

rather only when I choose to stop pursuing my goals I honestly have no

pursuing my goals I honestly have no

pursuing my goals I honestly have no idea where my next adventures will take

idea where my next adventures will take

idea where my next adventures will take me but I’m welcoming the challenges that

me but I’m welcoming the challenges that

me but I’m welcoming the challenges that opportunities bring my destination is

opportunities bring my destination is

opportunities bring my destination is Mars and you may ask why but I am brave

Mars and you may ask why but I am brave

Mars and you may ask why but I am brave enough to ask you why not

enough to ask you why not

enough to ask you why not [Applause]