Man on Mars

[Jim Colyer]

It seems inevitable that man will eventually walk on Mars. I wonder about the first men who will make that trip. They will be special people whose whole existence has been geared to that purpose. Our psychology evolved on planet Earth for the purpose of survival here. We are not by nature prepared to spend 18 months in a cramped capsule away from home. There could be serious psychological problems. There will be bone loss and danger from cosmic rays, meteoroids, etc. The astronauts will watch as Earth shrinks to become a dim light in the darkness. Apollo astronauts did not have that problem. From the moon, Earth retained its identity even though Buzz Aldrin said he held his thumb up to completely cover it. The first man on Mars will be a hero. He will travel the world, lead parades and appear in newspapers and on television in every country. When it is over he will seek seclusion, shunning the public the rest of his days. After some years there will be oddballs like Nashville's own Bart Sibrel claiming that man never went to Mars.

[SNAFU]

Songwriter and Oracle! My, you never cease to amaze!

[Playbilly]

Tom Cruise has been there already.

[Kad]

But how long until those crafty Orientals try to take the moon from us?