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Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl

 

Interview by: Geek Girl Wandering Dana

I have always been a huge follower and supporter of NASA and now also all the new private space flight companies. I was a proud supporter of the "Mars One - First Private Mars Mission" Indiegogo campaign so when I found out one of the girls who contributes to Geek Girls made the shortlist as a Mars One astronaut candidate I jumped at the opportunity to interview her...

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl

Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl from East Sooke, Vancouver Island, Canada has made the latest cut toward fulfilling her lifelong dream of exploring outer space and becoming one of about 40 people who will travel to Mars and never come back. The goal of the Mars One Project is to establish a human colony on the Red Planet by 2025. The shortlist for the project was whittled down from more than 200,000 applicants to 1,058. Mars One expects to pick the final group by the end of 2015, so Miral still has to make it through three more rounds in the selection process. We wish her the best of luck and are so excited for her journey!

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl
(Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl | Photo via: Nexus Newspaper)

Aside from being a potential astronaut, Miral is a fan film-maker, writer, cosplayer and lover of all science fiction and fantasy. She has been contributing to our website for almost a year now, you can see some of her work here. It’s always wonderful to see fellow geek girls achieving such amazing things so I was very happy to be able to interview her about her thoughts on the Mars One Project...

Was it a hard choice whether or not to apply and did you ever expect you would make it this far?

For me there was no choice at all as to whether or not I would apply. As soon as I heard about it on Inner Space I was ridiculously excited. It was like a dream come true and I had to at least try to be a part of it. Honestly though, I didn't think I would be selected.

Where were you and how did you react when you found out you made the cut for Round 2?

I was in my camper, had just rolled out of bed and decided to check my email. There was a message from Mars One there which I just assumed was a routine newsletter. When I actually read it I seriously couldn't believe what it said. I think I read it over and over a dozen times and I swear my jaw literally dropped, lol. I had made it into round 2! I don't think I sat down again for days, I had so much energy I just paced constantly. Not to mention my face ached from the perma grin, lol

Why do you want to spend the rest of your life one Mars?

If it was possible to return I probably wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life there. There are so many things I love and would miss about Earth. However, just being able to go at all, is worth the sacrifice for me. Really just getting into space at all is worth it for me. To explore another planet... it's everything I've wanted since I was a little kid.

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl
(Concept: Bryan Versteeg for Mars One)

If you are chosen do you know how long the training period would be?

The application process is about two years long and those that are chosen in the end will go through ten years of training, not only to be standard astronauts, but medics, engineers, geologists, gardeners, etc. The final people will have to be as highly trained and self-sufficient as possible in the end.

What do you think you would miss most about Earth and why?

Well, aside from my friends and family I think what I will miss the most is nature. I love hiking and being outdoors so going to Mars where I will never be able to step outside again without a space suit will be a little sad.

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl
(Fantasci-fi Girl as Luke Skywalker | Photo: MJ Miller)

What do your friends and family think about you possibly living on Mars?

My friends and family have been incredibly supportive. They all seem to think that Mars One is the perfect thing for me and that I'd be an ideal candidate. I am so lucky to have them behind me on this :)

What do you think would be hardest to adjust to about life on Mars?

It might be hard to adjust to living in such close quarters with other people. I think that after a while you would get used to it and it would just feel normal though. I hope so anyways!

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl
(Concept: Bryan Versteeg for Mars One)

Do you know what the next steps are in the selection process?

I just passed my physical exams so now, I believe, the next step is interviews. A date hasn't been set yet but they are supposed to be in person and possibly televised!

If you are selected what will you do on Earth before you leave?

Well, if I'm gonna dream big I'd like to somehow get myself in one of the new Star Wars movies lol. Oh and I gotta properly meet Patrick Stewart at some point. Maybe kiss Karl Urban ;) After that just travel and see as much of the world as I can.

Interview with Mars One Candidate Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl
(Fantasci-fi Girl with Sir Patrick Stewart)

In the end only about 40 candidates will be going to Mars, if you aren't chosen how upset will you be? And if given the opportunity would you apply again for a second mission?

If I'm not chosen then I will definitely be disappointed but I don't think I'll be 'it's the end of the world' upset. I really want to go and it would be such an incredible adventure but I know that there are plenty of amazing adventures to be had right here on Earth. If I don't make it to Mars, I will just go back to my previous plan of getting a sailboat and exploring this world instead. If I still think I'm suited to the mission though I would reapply for the second go.

Thank you so much!

Interview with: Marina Miral aka Fantasci-fi Girl - youtube - twitter

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April 24 2014



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