Would you go to Mars?Heureka’s first-ever space exhibition will challenge visitors to reflect on this question. The exhibition, Facing Mars, will open to the public on Saturday, 5 October 2013.
Originally produced by the Ontario Science Centre, Canada, the Facing Mars exhibition will present the physical, psychological, technological and ethical issues that we need to solve before the first manned mission to the Red Planet. The exhibition offers guidance in a wide range of areas from space surgery and agriculture to the management of social relationships in space. At the exhibition, visitors can experience, for example, the effects of weightlessness on the human body, the spreading of different emotions among crew members, radiation shielding, the construction of an operational space rocket, and the feeling when walking on Mars.Many of the things that we take for granted on Earth, such as the way bread crumbs or hair drop on the floor, will take on a totally new meaning during this space adventure. Resourcefulness is also required if normal satellite connections to Earth break down, or if the crew needs to grow food in an environment that lacks oxygen.
Is there – or has there been – life on Mars?The primary reason for the interest in planning a manned mission to Mars is the desire to explore the possibilities for life on the Red Planet.Used to the circumstances on Earth, human beings define their sphere of life in relation to what is familiar to them and currently in existence. In the extreme conditions of Mars, the definition of life gains new dimensions.When leaving the exhibition, the visitor is again asked the same challenging question:Would you go to Mars?
Public events focusing on Mars during the World Space Week
Exploring Mars is the theme for this year’s World Space Week on 4–10 October 2013. During the Space Week, Heureka will offer presentations on the Red Planet.
On Saturday, 5 October at 12 noon, non-fiction writer Markus Hotakainen will give a presentation entitled “On the way to Mars” at the Science On the Sphere exhibit. The presentation will be repeated on Saturday, 5 October at 2 p.m. and on Sunday, 6 October at 12 noon.The presentation is free for all visitors with a valid exhibition ticket.
On Sunday, 6 October at 1 p.m., Researcher Sini Merikallio from the Finnish Meteorological Institute will give a lecture on “Rover landing on Mars or electric sailing to Saturn?”The lecture is free; the auditoriumseats 260 people.
The Facing Mars exhibition will be on display at Heureka from 5 October 2013 to 23 March 2014. The exhibition is sponsored by the Vaisala Corporation.
Further information about the exhibition:
Project Manager Sami Pihkala, tel. +358 (0)40 9015 367, [email protected]
Experience Director Mikko Myllykoski, tel. +358 (0)40 9015 244, [email protected]
Further information about the events:
Event Producer Siina Vasama, tel. +358 (0)40 9015 260, [email protected]
Images and photos of the Facing Mars exhibition are available in Heureka’s image bank:
http://kuvapankki.info/heureka/info.php
Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre, is among Finland’s most popular leisure time destinations. Heureka opened to the public on April 28, 1989 and attracts nowadays on the average 300 000 visitors a year. It is a lively hands-on exhibition and activity centre for all ages. Heureka has three exhibition halls for interactive exhibits and a modern digital planetarium. Everything works in three languages: English, Finnish and Swedish, partly also in Russian and Estonian. Heureka is located in the Helsinki metropolitan area, in city of Vantaa, Tikkurila, and it is open around the year. More information: www.heureka.fi
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