With the combined efforts of the world's leading space centers, Cité de l'espace and Space Center Houston have launched the Youth Mission to Mars program to cultivate space and science education amongst youths from around the world. High school students from France, Singapore, and the US worked together for a year to plan an achievable exploratory mission to Mars with regards to human adaptability, cross-cultural differences, and technological obstacles.

Ten French students from Toulouse arrived in Houston this month to take part in an international seminar about Mars. It's a great way to inform and inspire families to actively pursue and take part in space education. 

The Youth Mission to Mars was initiated through a partnership between Space Center Houston and Cité de l’espace, supported by the American Consulate in Toulouse and the Alliance Museum program, while being financed by the U.S. State Department.

It is a collaborative educational program that brings together high school students from France, Singapore, and the U.S. with a common goal to devise a successful exploratory mission to Mars. Throughout the project, they must create a charter containing strategies on how to build an adaptable international community on Mars with consideration to any technological, scientific, and human obstacles. 

Based in Toulouse, France, Cité de l’espace is the leading European space hub setting the benchmark for space science culture. Just like Space Center Houston, Cité de l’espace is becoming a critically acclaimed international hub for space and science. On average, 300,000 people visit the center per year. At the center, locals and foreigners alike are able to experience the world of space first-hand through interactive exhibitions and immersive simulations. The goal is to share “live” space challenges with the audience in a more realistic way.

Defined as the European “Space City”, Toulouse concentrates 25 percent of the amount of jobs in the Space field. Actually, Toulouse gathers the French Space Agency CNES, the two main satellites firms, several space research laboratories, and Universities dedicated to Space. Experts in advanced technological developments working at Cité de l’espace aim to create “up to date” exhibitions and live events on space challenges. 

Besides the Youth Mission to Mars project, Cité de l’espace will also be hosting the World Congress of Astronauts in September 2017 (The 30th Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers). A hundred astronauts from around the world will gather in Toulouse to share their knowledge of the space sector to the general public, students and professionals. 

We asked two participants - a leader and a student - a few questions:

Christophe Chaffardon (representative from Cité de l'espace)

What were some of the projects the French students worked on at Space Center Houston and what types of technology did they have to employ while doing so?
French, American, and Singaporean students were mixed into various groups consisting of about 10 members. They ran several 3 hour workshops during the seminar that was dedicated to issues and technology involved in a future manned mission to Mars including habitat, thermal design, robotics and water treatment. During these sessions, students did a lot of experimental activities with specific equipment such as design a water filter with sand and charcoal, build rovers able to move rocks and use liquid nitrogen to test thermal protection.
 
They also worked together to create a "Charter of life" in order to live peacefully together on Mars. The charter included a common language, a day schedule, leadership rules, foods menus, and socio issues like how to deal with religion. At the end of the week, students made their oral presentations that included a short skit on how they would sell their habitat on Mars!

 
Is there a huge difference between the European and American space centers in terms of what types of spaces and science education topics were focused on for the students? Were most topics given the same amount of importance, as it would be in Europe?
Space Center Houston activities for the students were adapted to what US students are used to doing in their educational programs. Therefore, they were very focused on collaborative work and oral communication as they worked - and this not what we usually do in France. A bigger effort was made on real experiments implemented in a game-based approach.
 
During our stay in Houston, we even had the opportunity to visit an American high school. There is a huge difference between America and France in terms of sports and arts. We were very impressed by the equipment available for the students to do "elective courses" such as sports, dance, theater, music, cooking, visual arts, and writing. US students seem relaxed and confident, finding their own way of success, whereas French students are more stressed to be successful in a frame of a strict curriculum where theoretical knowledge is predominant.
 
This stay was very inspiring to improve our own education. It was also a great opportunity to set strong links with the Space Center Houston, to imagine futures projects and collaborations in the next future, as Houston and Toulouse are two capitals for space in the world.
 
What was the most gratifying thing you took from this trip while being with these students?
This project made evident that a real brotherhood exists between students from all around the world. They can work together and have fun despite any cultural differences. I am sure that our French students will take advantage of what they've learned while working on this project, including taking what they've learned from others students and mixing it with their own heritage. This project has helped to build a common identity in a global world that has allowed young people to understand and decode their cultural differences, to better accept them, and enhance tolerance for the future world.

 
Lou Rappeneau (a student from Toulouse who visited Space Center Houston)
 
How would you describe your experience at Space Center Houston?
My experience at Space Center Houston was incredible. When I first arrived at Space Center Houston, all its exhibitions seemed huge and really funny. I loved getting acquainted with the history of all the space missions and the organizers of the project, who were all extremely welcoming.
 
What was your favorite project or thing to do while at Space Center Houston?
There were many projects within the Mars together seminar, but I particularly appreciated the activities where we worked with rovers. I was really proud to have built an operational vehicle.
 
Has this experience influenced your outlook on space and where you see your application of space in the near future e.g. career wise?
Space has become a closer notion to me. I learned so many things like how to face cold and heat while entering the atmosphere and clean water in case of a problem with the filtration system. My opinion on my career has not completely changed. I've always wanted to be a doctor, and now I envision studying medicine applied to Space. 

Learn more: 

http://en.cite-espace.com/discover-the-cite-de-lespace/
Twitter Space news @CiteEspace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cite.espace.toulouse

All photos courtesy and copyright Youth Mission to Mars