Let me tell you a story. In 2013, I went to Mars (well, kind of). I was selected to live and work like an astronaut for four months in a 36 feet wide dome located on Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. This is one of the Mars-like places here on Earth, where the technologies and risks associated with future human missions to the red planet are being evaluated. Certainly, a spirit of curiosity for space exploration led me to pseudo-Mars. But I was even more curious about what Mars could teach me about myself. Would I be able to live with five more people in conditions of confinement and isolation? Would I go crazy, survive, or much better, thrive inside the cosmic prison?
So after years working as a research scientist, I became the science itself when I served as a human subject for the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation. I was selected to be part of the first long-duration Mars analog mission funded by NASA, which sought to evaluate new space food systems and crew dynamics under simulated conditions.
The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (or the habitat). Mauna Kea is seen on the background. Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor.
For 120 days we lived inside a small habitat in the barren lava fields, having just a few minutes of shower time in the week, eating freeze-dried foods, and only stepping outside wearing simulated spacesuits. We had to fill out lots of daily questionnaires, exercise one hour every day, and conduct research like astronauts will do on future missions to the red planet. But most noteworthy, given the time delay between Mars and Earth, real time communication was restricted, meaning no video conference, chat, or phone conversations with family and friends, for four months. Does this sound terrible? Well, it was not as bad as you may think.
Inside the habitat. The kitchen, office space, dining table, bathroom, and a small laboratory were located in the first floor. There were six individual bedrooms upstairs. Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor
The crew ate meals cooked from freeze-dried ingredients. Each meal ingredient would be properly weighed and water volume would be recorded as part of the food study. Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor.
I loved living and working on Mars. Some people have told me that they would never sacrifice their personal space by living with five strangers, for four months, in such a tiny place. But curiously the habitat never felt small to me. Pseudo-Mars felt more like my life back in Puerto Rico, where personal space is not important and life revolves around community. I cherished the times spent with my crewmates at the dining table, away from social media, and the long conversations I had with each of them.
A happy crew after a nice meal. Surprisingly, the food was not bad at all and the crew was very creative with meal preparations. Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor
The day the mission ended it was the first time in four months that we would be interacting with other humans and eating fresh food. So, when I stepped outside the habitat I had a hyper sensory experience that I will never forget. The pineapple smell was so strong and sweet. I could even smell the rocks! My visual perception was also different. For the first time after four months, I was seeing my surroundings without the astronaut helmet visor, and the landscape, even the wrinkles under the eyes of people, everything looked like a high definition movie on a flat screen.
Eating fresh fruits after four months! Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor
That sensory experience only lasted a couple of minutes. But it gave me some new perspective as I transitioned from Mars to my life here on Earth. On Mars, there was no place for second thoughts or self-doubt. Time was a precious resource and urgency was a matter of survival. In the tiny little habitat we had total control over life-support systems and understood the relevance of our role for mission success. However, as we move to a much larger habitat, such as our island home in the Universe, Earth, it’s easy to lose perspective of our role in the grand scheme of things.
Do you find yourself trying to understand the impact your work has on a large scale? Do you struggle finding motivation and purpose for the most tedious tasks we all have to do at times? Or what about that moment you turned away an opportunity to lead because you told yourself that you were not ready?
So, it occurred to me that if all of us could move to Mars… Well, we know that's not possible at this time. So for now let just pretend for a second that we are on Mars.
Get uncomfortable. Life on Mars can be uncomfortable and filled with unexpected scenarios, but it’s also an adventure and an opportunity to do something for the first time. The more you expose yourself to uncomfortable situations, the more comfortable you will feel with being uncomfortable. Getting comfortable with discomfort increases our resilience, helps us with creativity, and boosts our confidence in our ability and potential to do bold things.
Visualize your mission. Use visualization to achieve any goal you can imagine. Think about your role in your organization and the importance you play in mission success. Visualization helps us define mental frameworks, creating new neural pathways that according to neuroscience “primes our body to act in a way consistent to what we imagined”. It also helps us kill those evil Martians that fill our minds with worry and uncertainty about the future ahead.
Bring out the Martian within you. Yes! Bring your uniqueness to the table. I don’t have any doubt that my biculturalism and my Hispanic values of interdependence helped me live a good life on Mars. We need to trust the science behind diversity of thought. Bringing out the Martian within us will help us lead the way to innovation here on Earth.
Don’t be afraid of reinvention. Would you like to partake in an exciting project or role outside your area of expertise? Don’t be afraid of reinvention. Say yes to the new opportunities, projects or ventures that may come your way. Remember, the path does not need to be and most likely will not be linear.
And lastly, lead with a story. A good story can spark curiosity, and curiosity leads to passion. So, can you tell me your story?
Boricua en Marte (Boricua on Mars). Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor
Onward,
Yajaira
Photo Cover: Contemplating 'Mars'. Photo taken at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah. The crew trained at this Mars analog site for two weeks prior to the four-month long mission in Hawaii. Credit: Dr. Sian Proctor
Subscribe for free and you will receive four articles per month in your inbox. If you believe in the importance of scientific literacy for the betterment of society and Spaceship Earth, please consider trying our Premium Subscription for only $4.99/month. Try it today with a free 14 day trial. As a premium subscriber you will receive two additional articles behind the paywall, including Q&As and face-to-face live events with me for a more personal experience. Your support will help us grow and create new content for the benefit of all.
