Meet Minerva Rañeses: The girl who dreams of Mars

MANILA, Philippines – What runs through the head of a girl who just might step foot on Mars? 

On Wednesday, March 18, Rappler chatted with Minerva Rañeses, one of the two Filipino women vying for a spot on a one-way trip to help establish a colony on Mars.     

Rañeses, 24, is a freelance writer and among 100 candidates from all over the world shortlisted for astronaut selection by the Netherlands-based Mars One project.

Watch this quick chat or read on as we ask her a few questions about her preparations coming into the next phase of her space journey, her fears, her plans if ever she stays on Earth, and more.

Thank you for joining us today, Minerva. How are you?

Thank you. I am good. Right now I am busy with work.

First off, congratulations on being one of the few selected for this project. Coming into the next round of selection, what are your preparations?

Right now, just keeping up with the news. I’m reading articles regarding Mars One. Every update, even skeptic views of the project. And of course I have tried every effort to communicate with the other 99 candidates.

Are there any skeptic views that bring out legitimate fears for you, or are they all just things you can sweep under the table?

Well, right now, what worries me is the budget of Mars One, because they do not release information about their finances. So we’re not sure if the project will push through. We just know vague information, like they have investors, or they have partners, but as to the progress of the project, we have no idea so far. But what’s keeping me and the other candidates hopeful is faith.

That’s a good thing to hold on to, especially with a project like this. If you will be able to go to Mars, what will you miss the most about Earth?

The sea. Definitely, the sea. 

Do you visit the beach a lot? Or are you a swimmer?

Not really a swimmer but I do visit the beach a lot. I always do beach camps and of course, when I’m in the beach, I swim, it’s like almost every week.

If you could bring just [3] things with you to Mars, what would they be? 

First thing I would bring to Mars would be paper. Because there are no trees in Mars, so sometime in the future, that piece of paper would be a treasure – something only the Earth has.

The second item would be a pen, because you need a pen to write on paper. Since the technology in the future will only require us to use tablets, then a pen would be something novel and something unique. 

As for the third, I would bring a coin, doesn’t matter what currency it is as long as it’s a coin. It’s something to show the future generations, hopefully, if the project is successful, something to show how the planet Earth moves, what monetary system they use. Because I don’t think that we will adopt the monetary system because we will be in survival mode. We will help each other and I don’t think money will play a significant part early in the colonization process.

What would you do on your last day before leaving Earth?

On my last day, it depends where I will be. I’m not sure if I will be with my family, in the Philippines or in the US. So, I’m just being realistic but I think I will probably eat Earth’s different specialties. If there is a buffet nearby then I will eat in a buffet – Japanese, American, Indian cuisine – because there will be none of those in Mars so it could be my last day to indulge.

If you could make just one phone call before you leave for Mars, who would you call and what would you say to that person?

By 2024, my niece would have been a teenager by then. I think I would call her among all the friends and family I know because somehow, this project can impact the world and the future. If there is one thing I would say to my niece I will tell her “I am doing this for you,” It’s a message as short as that.

That’s a lovely message to give. Now, what would you like to do on Mars? 

Well, I really don’t have much info yet as to what we can do on Mars but if it’s possible, then I would hike the mountains of Mars, if the word mountain is applicable, or rock formations, if ever. Because it’s one of my hobbies here on Earth. I think it’s one thing that will remind me of home.

If you do stay on Earth, what are your plans in the future?

Right now, I’m thinking of pursuing writing novels, publishing books. Although I’m still a newbie when it comes to writing, especially hundred thousand words’-worth of documents, I don’t think I’m still fit for that but if I will stay on Earth, I will try my best to become a better writer – good enough to publish writing.

What’s your message for others who also aspire to be a part of a space exploration?

I think my message will be, “Do not limit yourself.”  Because one of the things that hinder people are fears. So once they fear, they assume some things are not achievable, but they are. So far, from my conversation with friends, acquaintances, even strangers, most of them are fearful of what they cannot see. For me, if you’re going to enter space exploration, you have to face these fears because it is part of a space exploration – it is something new, it’s something we’re still, as the word goes, “exploring,” I think if you want to pursue this kind of career, it’s fear that you have to eliminate first.

– Rappler.com