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Offener Wettbewerb (auch fĂĽr Studenten) | 09/2019

OUTER SPACE 2019

Memories of Dandelion

2. Preis

Alberto Carbonell CrespĂ­

Architektur

Erläuterungstext

Floating at the observatory of the MISS2, Marla Overmars continued to contemplate the Martian surface with a mix of excitement and melancholy. Lately, she had been dreaming about the day she would set foot on Mars without needing to wear a space suit- finally, fearlessly breathing the pure Martian air. This was the goal that all of humankind had worked hard to achieve, since the dawn of the Terraform Age.

It has been a century since our revered space heroes placed the gigantic Guardian Satellite between the Sun and Mars, beginning the process of slowly giving life to the Martian surface and fulfilling the hopes of everyone still on earth. Proposed as a counter solution against the uncontrolled overpopulation on earth, The Guardian Satellite promised to radically expand the territory of humanity, up to double the Earth’s surface. By building the enormous inflatable shield, we managed to deflect the solar wind hitting Mars, protecting it from the plasma explosions and establishing a new atmospheric equilibrium that accelerated its terraforming process. In addition the shield was necessary to mitigate climate change and re-balance the Earth’s atmosphere too, which, back then, was critical. Taking advantage of its gigantic size, they sealed the overload of pollution and greenhouse gases inside the shield, using the gases to inflate the cosmic pneumatic structure. Later on, it was sent out far away in Outer Space, eventually coming to rest at Mars L1 within the vacuum.

Since then, the planet Mars has begun to transform. Now its atmosphere is more dynamic and cleaner, almost regenerated, and its temperature is more or less stable. The vegetation on the surface is still rare and very scarce, but there are immense valleys, seas and oceans, filled with water that hides abundant sea beds, replete with algae and plankton. Now, in 2152, watching from MISS2, the commander wondered how there could be so much water on this planet and still no one to enjoy it. It had been decades since she had taken a good relaxing bath, even on board.

―“Beep, Beeep!” ―the loudspeaker in the compartment emitted a sharp, loud screech― “Commander, the last blast of capsules will arrive in minutes” ―informed Marshall, the specialist in Martian geology and practically her only company aboard MISS2. Her only other companion was the “space” tortoise, a colleague’s gift to her for her 50th birthday “At this rate, I think she will be the only one to see Mars completed”, The commander reflected ironically while looking at her pet.

― “Great! Quick Marshall, lets meet at the observatory and enjoy it together.”

In just a few minutes the skies of Mars were flooded with spheres penetrating its atmosphere. The huge sparkling balloons were filled with oxygen, and carried air, water and multiple types of seeds and algae, destined to germinate the barren lands of Mars, purify its waters and oxygenate its valuable air. They came from the external layer of the immense Deflector Shield, colloquially nicknamed “Dandelion”, which acted as an air-bag, protecting the Shield from the constant meteoroid impacts. Like popcorn, the capsules jumped violently from the pneumatic cortex- triggered by the atmospheric pressure inside the enormous inflatable satellite. Attracted by the gravity of Mars and pushed by the solar wind, the ionized capsules were sent on a random but economic journey towards the planet. Once the atmosphere was crossed, they opened, releasing the filtered oxygen that they had been storing from the nucleus of the satellite. They floated down in free fall while spreading the millions of seeds they carried randomly all over the planet surface- the winds and the providence helping them find their place.

―”The next Blast Rain will take place in six months” ―she said as she approached to exchange her binoculars for a fresh beer.― ”You can already see the next capsules jumping off the cortex.”

― “Do you remember the last time we were in it?” ― Marla said, a naughty smile painted on her face.

― “Not even Cannonball Richards would have stopped it” –quipped Marshall touching his belly.

Both laughed for a long time- suspended in the observatory. They spent the night sharing stories and finishing the leftover beers. The next day, they returned dizzy to their hibernation beds and agreed, as was common lately, to rest until the next blast rain, within half a Martian year.

In the spring of the following year, they woke up hopeful after seeing the images one of the rovers had captured during its walk. They headed to the Coprates Chasma, inside the Marineri Valley. Both were anxious to see the thrilling Martian landscapes again in person, walking the vast deserts of sand and canyons, now covered with water that formed endless beaches and extreme lakes. Above them, the imposing Sun was shining hard, blocked only by the Dandelion, whose permanent eclipse shadow extended miles further away.

― “I can’t stand it Marshall, I can’t wait any longer, I need to take a bath and immerse myself in water again, feeling like…” ―Overmars was rambling while they hiked, but suddenly she stopped. ― “What are you doing!” – pale, she looked at her friend staring incredulously as he removed his helmet. Marla hadn’t noticed yet, but the atmospheric quality levels were unexpectedly positive.

― “Look! I can breathe!” ―he exclaimed with real surprise. However, in a few moments the sensors marked red again, as if the clean air had never existed.

― “It must have been a gust of wind dragging air from a purified area. Hurry up, let’s trace from where is it coming from” ―said the commander enthusiastically. Marshall quickly put his helmet on and, in a rush, they both began to search valiantly for the source of that wonderful encounter.

Half an hour later, the barometric sensors guided them to an enormous fossilized capsule whose appearance looked ancient and dilapidated. Highlighted by the contrast, an enormous crack opened in its dome, filtering the light and letting the clean air pass through. Staring at the capsule with emotion and awe, the explorers were pushed by a magnetic attraction to enter the mysterious place.

―Wow, It’s unbelievable! ―They looked at each other in wonder―. How could this happen?!

It seemed that the capsule couldn’t open the dock ring containing the seed bank, which prevented the balloon from opening on its arrival. During the landing, the sphere hit the ground standing over the ring, creating a small concentric crater around it. With time, the thaw water coming from the melted poles and the rainfalls flooded it, allowing its potential flora concentrated inside the sphere to grow around the ring. Eventually, a small biotope had been created, turning the crater into an unbelievable Oasis, the first one ever found on Mars, giving wild breathes of fresh air and life to its surroundings.

Marla and Marshall were over the moon. They had found a treasure of immeasurable value, a secret paradise where they could play, bathe, rest and breathe. They felt more free and fulfilled than ever. After all these years roaming in liminality, suspended expectantly in space, alone, that now their lives had purpose. Finally, they discovered what they had been looking for all this time. Their own unique place in the universe, their Home.