Once upon a Time I Lived on Mars cover art

Once upon a Time I Lived on Mars

Space, Exploration and Life on Earth

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Once upon a Time I Lived on Mars

By: Kate Greene
Narrated by: Kate Greene
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About this listen

A powerful reflection on life in isolation, in pursuit of the dream of Mars.

In 2013, Kate Greene moved to Mars.

On NASA’s first HI-SEAS simulated Mars mission in Hawaii, she lived for four months in an isolated geodesic dome with her crewmates, gaining incredible insight into human behaviour in tight quarters, as well as the nature of boredom, dreams and isolation that arise amidst the promise of scientific progress and glory.

Greene draws on her experience to contemplate what makes an astronaut, the challenges of freeze-dried eggs and time-lagged correspondence, the cost of shooting for a Planet B.

The result is a story of space and life, of the slippage between dreams and reality, of bodies in space and of humanity’s incredible impulse to explore. From trying out life on Mars, Greene examines what it is to live on Earth.

©2021 Kate Greene (P)2021 W F Howes Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Physics Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Solar System Mars Technology Dream

Critic reviews

"In her thoughtful, well-written account of the mission, Greene reflects on what this and other space missions can teach us about ourselves and life on Earth." (Physics Today)

"Filled with wonderment and awe...Greene’s eloquent memoir is equal parts escape and comfort." (Publishers Weekly)
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I was expecting a sort of journal of her time in the HI-SEAS experiment, with broader references added later. What this actually is is different to that, it doesn't go through her experiences in a strictly chronological order, but rather each chapter addresses a certain topic which she discusses using her experiences and broader information about space exploration and otherwise. It is a really interesting book, I sure recommend it to anyone interested in the space program.

Really Interesting Book

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This book is a wonderful account of the first Hi-SEAS mission, intertwined with interesting anecdotes about human Spaceflight, relationships, family and technology. While the Mars analog provides a fascinating and common thread, I enjoyed the stories in between even more.

So much more than a Mars analog mission report

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