New Mars/Mars Society International
UK Contact: Adrian Hon (media@newmars.com)
US Contact: Bill White (630-927-2014)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2002
FIRST WORDS ON MARS COMPETITION
Website: http://www.newmars.com/firstwords
First Words, an international competition asking people what they think the first words on Mars will be, was launched today by the Mars Society. Coinciding with the start of the United Nations World Space Week (October 4th), First Words aims to raise public awareness of the possibility of manned exploration of Mars.
Bestselling fantasy author Terry Pratchett offered up the snappy words, "This time, let's do it right," while British Member of Parliament Lembit Öpik opted for a lengthier and most profound entry, "I do not stand on this landscape of iron, this red desert, alone, but with all mankind and all who gazed at this Sphere of Fixed Stars and dreamed one day of touching it."
Offering five categories (Most Historic, Most Humorous, Most Original, In Five Words and Out of Context), entrants can win over $300 in prizes. The competition is open to all age ranges and countries, and lasts from October 4th-12th.
First Words is organized by Adrian Hon, an undergraduate at Cambridge University. "First Words offers people around the world a chance to have fun and think about what will be said when a human first sets foot on the surface of Mars. The first words spoken on the Moon will echo for centuries and have inspired billions. What will the first words on Mars be?"
The Mars Society (http://www.marssociety.org) is an international non-profit organization advocating the exploration and settlement of Mars. With a rapidly expanding membership of over 2000 scientists, educators, space professionals and advocates, members include many well-known personalities, including Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut and Dr. Geoff Briggs, director of the Center for Mars Exploration at NASA Ames Research Center. Find out more about the Mars Society at www.marssociety.org. Volunteers from the New Mars magazine of the Mars Society (http://www.newmars.com) are specifically responsible for the First Words project.
Note: The original press release stated that the competition would end on October 10th. The end date has now been extended for two more days to October 12th.