By Kate Larsen
Camera Staff Writer

Seventeen students from Longs Peak Middle School are ready to go to Mars.

For the past 12 weeks, the group of Longmont seventh- and eighth-graders — with the help of two IBM employees — researched, planned and designed a colony on Mars that would support 20 people for 10 years.

In the students' presentation at IBM in Boulder on Tuesday, it was apparent they thought of everything: food, atmosphere, transportation, energy sources, training, funding and even public relations for the imaginary mission.

"It gives you an idea of what the real world is like," said Longs Peak seventh-grader Kelli Barr. "You have to work together."

As part of the base camp design team, Barr said the Mission to Mars class gave her an opportunity to practice her interest in engineering.

Now in its third year, Mission to Mars is an elective course available to gifted and talented students at Longs Peak Middle School.

Working in small teams, the students designed living pods equipped with entertainment areas, hospitals and laundry facilities. The base camp would have greenhouses with hydroponic plants, fruits and vegetables to provide food and oxygen. A nuclear reactor would provide energy to keep the colony going.

Connie Germundson teaches the Mission to Mars class.

"It's really fun watching their teamwork develop," Germundson said.

The class gave an interactive presentation Tuesday, complete with a slide show, a model of the Mars colony and examples of dehydrated food.

Questions from parents and IBM employees rarely went unanswered during the presentation.

The students designed laboratories to give scientists the space and tools to conduct experiments on Mars. Liquid cooling tubes would keep astronauts comfortable inside their space suits. Flying rover vehicles would help scientists explore the planet. The students even created an action figure and soda can campaign to promote the mission.

The total price tag comes to $87 billion.

Sound impossible?

Not to these middle-schoolers. In addition to government funding, the students say companies like Nike, Pepsi, Starbucks, Home Depot and IBM would lend their name, products and dollars to support the mission.

They're also planning on major funding from Saudi Arabia, in return for mineral rights on Mars.

IBM technical staff member Suzy Price and Germundson's husband, Rob Germundson, an IBM business operations manager, visited the class at least once a week. The pair helped students with research and answered questions.

Rob Germundson said he tried to steer students in the right direction instead of simply giving them the answers.

"We let the kids struggle and learn themselves," he said. The class gives students skills needed in the working world, he said.

Perhaps the class offered too much of a glimpse into the working world.

"It was very stressful," said Brittny Roemer, 13.

Contact reporter Kate Larsen at larsenk@thedailycamera.com or (303) 473-1361.

May 29, 2002

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