Mars in literature

There have been several influential writers about Mars. Some of these include Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke and C.L. Moore. H.G. Wells is one of the oldest Mars writers. Along with Mary Shelley and Jules Verne, he is one of the forebears of modern science fiction. His work War of the Worlds, where desperate, technologically advanced Martians attack Earth, created the standard alien invasion story redone with variations for the next 100 years. His work was based on the popular non-fiction works by Percival Lowell. In turn, his work was adapted some 40 years later by Orson Wells.

"A Princess of Mars"

This book is the first Barsoom book currently released by Project Gutenberg. You can read it online at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/People/rgs/pmars-table.html.

Matian Soil In your Hands

If you cannot go to Mars yourself, you can have a piece of it brought to you, or at least a simulation of it. Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) is producing simulants of Martian soil for the public. NASA uses the simulants for running tests on Earth, but a high request from the public has convinced ORBITEC to begin selling them publicly. The company is convinced that this will encourage children in their endeavors of learning about space.
http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=23898

Astronaut YouTube Commercials

Somebody on NASA watch posted a bunch of youtube videos that are a collection of commercials from TV. I don't watch much TV so I haven't seen them on, but they are advertising a job-finding agency and a cell phone company. Advertising agencies do substantial public marketing research, so I would assume this means that space travel is still embraced by popular culture. The last of the three is kind of dumb, but the first two are pretty funny. One is an astronaut who got locked out of the shuttle and one is of either a Mars or Moon lander that messed up and landed on Earth, unknowingly.

Future Mars Mission Astronauts May Eat Insects During Journey

The Space Agriculture Task Force has indicated that a diet that includes insects may be a useful contribution to the welfare of the astronauts on a manned mission to Mars, whenever that occurs. Eating insects may increase the necessary intake of fats and amino acids. Insects can ingest materials that are inedible to humans and gain body mass, becoming a potentially efficient part of the mission's meal program, according to scientists cooperating with the Space Agriculture Task Force. Keeping insect farms on such a mission could create a regular part of the mission's food supply. This particular issue is an interesting addition to the general discussion surrounding a manned Mars mission.

Source:
http://newsfromrussia.com/science/tech/26-10-2007/99605-bugs_space%20-0

More Space Stuff to Purchase

Because of my last post about simulant martian soil, I wanted to offer a look into another neat product that I have found. This product is your own small Space Garden, in which you can simulate a real garden like one you would grow in space. It comes with everything you will need to have your own space garden and then, if you ever go to space, you will know how to grow plants. Exciting.
Links:http://www.spacegarden.net/index.htm

Order Form so Martian Soil

As a follow up to my last post here is an order form for the Martian Soil Simulant. It is 15.00 for less than 1 kg of soil but if you really want to experience Mars soil, this will probably be your only chance. There are various different soil types which are suppose to be like Mars or the Moon so take your choice.
Link:http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/store/simulant.htm