A Canadian Colony on Mars

By: Sarah Denham, Youth Editor


The newest development in space: Canadian students are creating a martian colony on Mars. A MARTIAN COLONY ON MARS???

February, 1997-- 5000 students in Vancouver, Edmonton, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, and Fredericton will be participating in Marsville, a national learning project. Students in grades five to eight, are working with scientists, engineers, and other students from all the regions across Canada. They will create a model or prototype of a habitat for people, animals and plants to live on Mars. Never say never, humans landing on the planet Mars may be closer than you think.

The project is not just make believe fantasy. The students will consider the logistics of how colonists will grow food, how oxygen can be provided and what lifestyle amenities must be included in the habitat for a harmonious society. Students will design the cosmic village's transportation system and construct a MarsRover vehicle for exploring the planet.

The activities are a new and exciting way for students to study engineering, biology, chemistry, English--and themost important (and interesting) subject of all--LIFE!

The Marsville project was created in part to honour the space shuttle crew that was lost in the 1986 Challenger Accident. The research, implementation and equipment needed is being provided by SPAR Aerospace (makers of the Canadarm) and the Canadian Space Agency.

"The kids participating in Marsville today will be the first generation to see their peers travel to the red planet (Mars)," said Sheila Rhodes, Canadian National Marsville Education Co-ordinator. "At the rate that space exploration is evolving, it is more important than ever to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology."

For more information, visit the Marsville website...