According to representatives of the Israeli Space Agency and the DMARS team that we met at the "March-Israel" project in Ramon Crater, ISRAEL - the first astronaut to travel to Mars has already been born. He referred to her as a woman.
The DMARS team quoted this statement from a representative of the Space Agency who visited Israel as part of the Austrian Forum.
So, first of all, it excites me that we talk about a woman.
Secondly, I liked the metaphor presented to us during the visit regarding the connection between the climate crisis and space science (we scheduled our visit to DMARS during the 2021 Glasgow climate conference)
As we asked about the reasons to explore space, Itai Levy, representing the Israeli Space Agency, told us a metaphor. He said to think of a scientist who spends many years researching one type of plant in a sealed room. This scientist already knows everything there is to know about that single plant.
Then, a door opens, and through the door, the scientist notices a forest, a landscape filled with many new species of plants he never knew existed.
Accordingly, our hosts told us, cosmologists are perceiving space science today. Therefore, learning more about our planet is the essential justification for investing their time and energy.
Unlike many cinema productions suggest, these scientists don't intend to abandon Earth in the wake of a climatic catastrophe. Instead, they wish to learn more about our planet.
Scientists learn a great deal from comparing living environments.
I returned to Tel-Aviv, wondering about innovation, digital pedagogy, and explorative space science.
I anticipated meeting my team to inspire the invention of relevant new pedagogy following the practical new teaching method I experienced in 'March.'
So what's so exciting and practical about the method?
This method is a multidisciplinary analog (non-digital) simulation that simulates a human colony on Mars!
The mission will include launching the two-room habitat folded in a missile to space! Therefore, space engineers must find a way to fold the habitat like an Origami or a balloon. When arriving at MARS, astronauts will have to build their habitat using light tools. No heavy construction equipment will be available to them.
In extreme conditions that include a very low temperature of minus 40 degrees, dangerous radiation, lack of oxygen, and 100 times smaller air pressure than Earth, the structure should protect the occupants and function for many months regardless of any supply.
How does one live in a place where any exit without a suitable suit (which takes two hours to wear) will lead to immediate death?
It depends not only on engineering, technology, chemistry, and physics but also on the project participants' mental ability and considerable social resources.
The challenges for such a delegation embrace psychology, sciences, engineering, architecture, interior design, nutrition, physiology, and more.
So how can one ask many driving questions and organize the curricula around them?
What are these questions?
Which teams of teachers and students will formulate them?
How can all this change learning experiences in the classrooms today for future generations?
Read more about the project on the Space Agency website
Please leave your ideas here, and inspire us with driving questions around a journey to Mars.
I also welcome you to suggest how engaging in such a simulation will change schools.
I wish we could observe Mars delegation in our lifetime.
You are also welcome to visit the space agency's website and be impressed by their lesson plans for various students' age.
Please watch this Inspirational Ted Talk presented by Alyssa Carson.
She is an amazing 18-year-old woman who aspired from the age of 3 to be the first to embark on a journey to Mars. The video shows a variety of training programs an astronaut has to go through to get permission to travel on a mission in outer space.
After Allison urges the audience not to give up on their dreams, to strive high, and even to make sacrifices to get far, she concludes the lecture with the words: We Are The MARS Generation.
I want to thank Dr. Ayelet Weizman for assisting in preparing this post and inviting me to join this tour to DMARS. Dear Ayelet, by persisting in ISRAEL Space Education you inspire us all.