A manned mission to Mars is about so much more than boot prints on Martian soil. Traveling approximately 140 million miles through the frigid vacuum of space, propelled by rockets and solar sails, toward a new planet (that has flowing water!) on an adventure to explore what has yet to be explored, is the raison d’être of humanity. It’s the ultimate humanist adventure. And The Mars Generation, a new documentary by director Michael Barnett, highlights the fact that to go on this adventure, we’ll need to make sure our youth are—figuratively and literally—onboard.
The above trailer for The Mars Generation was just released, and sets up a documentary that shows off “aspiring teenage astronauts” on their way to becoming (hopefully) future astrophysicists and astronauts. But the theme of the trailer, and presumably the documentary, is apparently about a fundamental human need to explore just as much as it is about pursuing science and space exploration. “We don’t really go to space anymore,” one young woman says in the trailer, “people are losing touch with their human spirit.”
Despite the dour circumstances of the clarion call for manned exploration of Mars, there’s obviously already a strong field of people looking to make humanity a multi-planetary species. The documentary includes scientific educators like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, as well as Elon Musk, who has led SpaceX to the successful establishment of reusable rockets—reusability is crucial for increasing spaceflight—as well as a pretty impressive plan for how to get to the Red Planet. Seriously watch the SpaceX clip below and try not to be inspired.
The good news is, the youth, which should learn to “live and love and [do science] together,” is starting to change. Indeed, their excitement is palpable. As one young man notes, “Having a man or woman walk on Mars is just the most badass thought in my mind.”
The Mars Generation touches down on Netflix on May 5.
What do you think about this documentary on the youth and the great Martian adventure? Did you go to space camp or just have the shirt?! Let us know below!
Images: Netflix
