[서울신문] [씨줄날줄] The Sound of the Wind of Mars/ Editorial Writer Kim Sang-yeon

In August 2012, I interviewed Alan Chen, head of the landing division at NASA. His voice is still vivid, with no excitement since the Mars exploration robot’Curiocity’ has successfully landed on the surface of Mars. “What is the use of this $2.5 billion project besides satisfying human curiosity?” He said, “Space development can inspire humanity, inspire science, and bring technological innovation.” I responded with a present answer. However, despite his wonderful response, it is true that the exploration of Mars at the time still felt like a vague and distant story. The following year, in Norfolk, Virginia, when NASA and the U.S. Navy conducted a drill to retrieve the crew module from the sea after exploring space and returning to Earth, I went to the scene. At the time, NASA said it expected a manned spacecraft to explore Mars by 2030, but it was frankly unbelievable. Humans going to Mars in 17 years? Oh, no way… .

However, seeing that several countries are entering the race to explore Mars one after another and seeing Tesla CEO Elon Musk promise to send people to Mars in 2024, six years earlier than NASA,’No way’ is changing to’Maybe’. Musk laughed at a TV talk show five years ago when the moderator asked,’There is a solution for people to live in because the temperature is extremely low on Mars.’ However, when I look back at the moment humanity is getting closer to Mars, I even think it’s not just an absurd idea.

Meanwhile, on the 22nd (local time), NASA released the sound of the wind on Mars recorded by the image exploration spacecraft (rover)’Purservance’. It was the first time in the history of space exploration. Dave Gruel, senior engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, said, “I’m inviting you now. Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on the surface of Mars and listening to your surroundings.” It was a very short time, but it was certainly the sound of the wind that we are familiar with. “It makes me feel overwhelming,” Gruel said lyrically.

The reason humans are so crying at one common wind noise on Earth is probably because they first caught something that was just like Earth outside of Earth. If the same wind blows as on Earth, it could lead to the possibility that life existed somewhere on Mars or existed in the past. To be more honest, it is so scary and lonely to live alone in a vast and inexhaustible, quiet universe, so humanity is spending so much money to search for other life forms. If so, the purpose of the Mars exploration is scientific and technological innovation, and it may be an excuse to secure resources.