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NASA’s “Perseverance” robotic probe is beginning its mission to the Martian surface after successfully landing a few days ago on the red planet. The Voice of America correspondent followed the historic moment from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, which is entirely devoted to the study of astronomy and astrophysics.
Celebrating the landing of a NASA spacecraft on Mars is an achievement that usually attracts many people to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Yes not this time. Michelle Nichols is the museum’s director of public relations.
“We have been closed since last March as a result of the pandemic. “If it had been open to the public, we would have followed the historic moment from here.”
While the museum theater was not crowded, the emotions were great. Despite the lack of audience, a giant image of the robotic probe attracted many online followers.
“We are using creative skills to bring the public virtually to the museum with the aim of providing the same experience.” says Michelle Nichols with the Adler Planetarium.
During the virtual presentation, museum staff answered questions about the mission to Mars and its importance. Andrew Johnston is the Vice President of the Adler Planetarium Museum in Chicago.
“I hope people understand the importance of the amazing and dramatic phenomenon of exploration.”
12-year-old Keira Smail, whose parents work in the museum, watched from home the live presentation on Youtube of NASA’s latest achievements.
“I do not believe we would have seen him from school, but because of the pandemic, I followed him from home.”
Smail, who has not been in the classroom since last March, sees the museum’s digital communication as a new way to attract a wider audience.
“A lot of people from all over the world who can’t go to a museum can now visit it virtually without having to travel.”
The lack of a physically present audience did not diminish the drama of waiting to land on Mars, on the mission of searching for signs of life, which could reshape man’s perception of the cosmos.
“It’s almost like being there. The cameras mounted on the probe will film as the robot moves to the surface. A drone will also film from a height. It’s almost like imagining yourself walking there. That’s why people are inspired to learn about such programs, about Mars, and visit the Adler Museum. “, says Andrew Johnston with the Adler Planetarium Museum in Chicago.
The mission to Mars comes as NASA prepares to return to the moon, amid a host of other missions that Ms. Nichols says could be pursued by the Adler Museum.
“Unmanned spacecraft will travel to the moon by the end of the year. We have the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Another chance to attract more virtual visitors. We will have solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024. So the horizons are expanding. I hope that in the future individual visits to the museum will be possible “, says Mrs. Michelle Nichols.
Meanwhile, she says, the museum will closely follow the achievements of the robotic probe on the planet Mars, a mission which will last several years./VOA/
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