When we hear signals beamed back from Mars rover Curiosity’s landing next week, it will be poetry to the ears of mission scientists. We decided to get in the mood by writing some Mars poems.
This week our communications team is enjoying the company of Harry, our 16-year-old work experience guy. Harry wants to be a science writer, so he’s been in training by writing (and counting syllables in) haikus, limericks and tankas.
Here’s a selection of Harry’s planetary poetry. Let us know which one is your favourite, or send us a haiku of your own. Props to @girlcallederin, @crystalsinger and @yourtutor who have already sent us a Mars haiku on Twitter today. Go Curiosity!
Team Haiku
As I touch the Martian surface
I lookout across the monotonous landscape
“Curiosity has landed”
– – – –
Here we go, we have lifted off!
All systems are go, approaching destination
The rover has landed safely
Team Tanka
The sweet sweet skycrane
Lowering NASA’s precious
Now…Three, two, one, drop!
Released into dunes of dust
She’s off to start her mission!
– – – –
I am not human
Nor am I a living thing
I am a robot
Ready for my space mission
To explore the realms of Mars
– – – –
Flying through the air
Twenty thousand k’s an hour
Far away from Earth
Towards a small dusty rock
We call Mars, is our hope
Team Limerick
‘Curiosity’, the NASA space robot
Built to explore the little red dot
He took off in November
Last year, remember
Landing in August, discovering what?
– – – –
Curiosity’s planet to explore
Was the Roman god of War
It’s mostly CO2
With a surface opposite to glue
And has a liquid iron core!
3rd August 2012 at 9:48 pm
I’ve always been amazed by this red dot in the sky.
It stands out a bit form all the other dots.
Will stay in touch for more Mars news.
Thx
3rd August 2012 at 9:10 pm
Red dot, far off world
Does intelligence live there?
Curiosity!