A Proposal To Create A Major Educational Exhibit

Based On The “Mars Direct” Flight Plan

Charles Letherwood

Arete Design

ChazLwood@AreteDesign.org

ABSTRACT

"One small step for a man, one giant leap for Mankind." Neil Armstrong spoke those words on the moon, more than 30 long years ago. In the age of Sputnik and Apollo, people dreamed about the possibilities of space. This inspired them to study science and engineering, and eventually led to the Moon. Where are we today? Science education lags at an all time low, and our space program inspires fewer dreams. Without education or interest, Mars will remain beyond our reach. But... suppose you could watch the sunrise over the mountains of Mars? Suppose you could dig through it’s sands searching for evidence of past life? Suppose you could drive a rover over the Martian surface, or try living in a HAB module? Suppose you could plot the course of the first Mars flight, or even design the ship? What would the dreams be like then?

Interactive science museums, combining science and entertainment to promote learning, are ideal venues to inspire and educate a new generation of space explorers. This proposal outlines a major Mars exhibit to travel nationally, and perhaps internationally. It would use a hypothetical “Mars Direct” mission as a springboard to excite visitors about the topics connected with spaceflight, from physics and astronomy to medicine, politics, and law. Full-scale elements such as a Habitation Module, Mars Ascent Vehicle, or Earth Return Vehicle, would combine with environmental recreations, audio/visual systems, computers, graphics, scale models, and other techniques to bring the emotional power of a Mars mission to life. Outside the museum, a curriculum built around the exhibit would be used by teachers in their classrooms, culminating with an actual museum trip. An exhibit of this type would also expose the Mars Society and potential sponsors to a large audience in a prestigious setting, creating new publicity, education, and fundraising opportunities.

Mars calls, but who will be ready to answer, and who will want to? The Mars Society’s mission is to “...instill the vision of pioneering Mars.” This exhibit would be a unique and exciting step toward that goal, and another small step toward taking “The Next Giant Leap”.