👩🚀 Messages from Earth’s Youngest Explorers
Posted: Sol 185 / Year 2040
Alpha Base, Mars
Martian Scientific Authority
The Alpha 1 crew received hundreds of messages from school students around the world. Here are just a few of their favourites — and their personal replies.
📬 From Samira (Age 11, Cairo, Egypt):
"Is it scary being so far from Earth? Do you miss your families?"
Maria Dicello replies:
Hi Samira. Yes, we miss our families every day. But we also carry their support with us — in messages, photos, and memories. Is it scary? Sometimes. But we trained for years, and we trust each other completely. When I look out and see Mars, I feel part of something bigger than fear.
📬 From Leo (Age 9, Toronto, Canada):
"What do you eat on Mars? Do you have ketchup?"
David Martel replies (laughing):
Great question, Leo! We eat food that’s been freeze-dried or packaged specially for long trips — rice, beans, pasta, soups. We even have special dessert pouches! And yes — we brought ketchup. No Martian mission is complete without it. We’re hoping future missions bring fresh food too.
📬 From Aanya (Age 13, Bangalore, India):
"What does the sky look like on Mars? Can you see stars?"
Dr Kobayashi replies:
Aanya, the sky here is a dusty orange-pink during the day. It changes with the dust in the air. At night, it’s clearer than anything I’ve seen on Earth. We can see stars, planets, even Earth itself — like a pale blue star. When I saw it, I cried a little.
📬 From Tomasz (Age 12, Kraków, Poland):
"What’s the first thing you want to do when you get back to Earth?"
Jianyu Chu replies:
Hello Tomasz! I think I’d like to smell grass again. Maybe stand under a tree. Mars is incredible, but everything here is red and dry. I also want to have a proper cup of green tea with my grandmother.
📬 From Fatima (Age 10, Nairobi, Kenya):
"What advice do you have for someone like me who wants to go to Mars?"
Pierre Girard replies:
Fatima, my advice is this: never stop asking questions. Stay curious. Whether you become a scientist, an artist, a teacher, or an engineer — Mars needs all kinds of people. Study hard, be kind, and keep looking up. We’ll keep the airlock open for you.
📬 From Connor (Age 8, Wellington, New Zealand):
"Can you hear anything outside on Mars?"
Dr Nikolay Baturin replies:
Good question, Connor! Because Mars has such a thin atmosphere, sound doesn’t travel well. But we do have microphones. We can hear a little wind, and sometimes the crunch of dust under our boots through our suits. It's very quiet — like walking on a sleeping world.