Jan 21, 2014 | Mars, Read
Since the age of 6, Adriana Marais had thought that, given the opportunity to get on to a spaceship and never return to Earth, she would take it.
For the 30-year-old Durban quantum biology PhD student, that dream might just become reality. Marais is one of 25 South Africans who have been short-listed for the second round in the application process for the out-of-this-world experience – the chance of becoming a pioneer on Mars, the Red Planet. She will be part of a planned human settlement, and has been shortlisted by Dutch-based company, Mars One from more than 200 000 people, down to 1 058 people from 140 countries.
Jun 18, 2013 | Mars, Media Publications, Read
The last time man set foot on another planet was during the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972! Now, thanks to the Mars One project, people could be walking on Mars in 2024 for the first time… and two UKZN students may be among them!
Ms Adriana Marais, a PhD candidate at UKZN’s Centre for Quantum Technology, and Mr Divashen Govender, a BSc student studying Applied Mathematics and Physics, have both made it into the Mars One final 100 as a result of personal online interviews with Dr Norbert Kraft, the Chief Medical Officer of the mission.
Feb 4, 2013 | Listen, Mars
Adriana Marais is preparing herself for a one-way trip to Mars. She has been short-listed for the Mars One project. If selected, she will see her dream of travelling to the Red Planet fulfilled in 2026. Marais, who is a theoretical physicist and member of the Quantum Research Group, says her fascination with living on another planet started at a young age. She joins us on the line now to tell us more.
