Pinetown boy aims for the stars
Pinetown resident, Divashen Govender has been short listed as one of the 705 candidates to colonise the planet Mars.
ASPIRING astronaut, Divashen Govender, was recently short listed as one of the 705 individuals to embark on a one-way trip to the planet Mars.
Last year, the non-profit organisation, Mars One, announced its mission to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars, and that they have selected 1 058 candidates from the original 200 000 applicants. Hundreds of dreams were dashed during the second round of the Mars One selection process as an additional 353 hopefuls were eliminated. The eliminations were based on medical tests and physicians’ medical statements.
Eliminations will continue after the remaining candidates have been interviewed by the Mars One selection committee. According to Mars One Chief Medical Officer, Norbert Kraft, MD, the interviews will help the committee understand the candidates better. “They will have to show their knowledge, intelligence, adaptability and personality,” he said. The candidates that survive the interview round will be divided into several teams consisting of two women and two men, and receive the full time training in preparation of the interplanetary trip.
Govender, a Pinetown resident, and his Westville counterpart, Adriana Marais (30), are two of the 19 remaining South African candidates. The 22-year-old BSC student, majoring in applied maths and physics, is ecstatic to be apart of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I have always been interested in space, and space exploration has always been a dream of mine. Additionally, I have always wanted more than what ‘normal’ life could offer,” he said.
The young explorer said he has no delusions with regards to the dangers involved in the one-way-trip. “I know that there are dangers, but how do you say no to your ultimate dream? It is a risk worth taking,” he said.
Govender is set on making his dream a reality, despite the mixed feelings expressed by friends and relatives. “They all are supportive and proud, but also sad that I might never return. I love my friends and family, but my drive to contribute to humanity supersedes my attachment. We will be able to make contact through the internet,” he said.
If all goes according to plan the first crew of four colonists will be launched into space in 2024, and they will land on the famous red planet in 2025. The interplanetary
settlement will slowly grow every two years as additional crews are sent.
