As an infant, Boris was different. An average newborn begins to babble at about six months and says their first word at ten to 15 months. But in just weeks, Boris was already speaking, and by 18 months, he could read and write.
The real mystery was when he began telling tales about his life on Mars and the wars that eradicated his fellow Martians. It turns out his arrival was a warning that Earth was also on the verge of extinction.
An Exception To The Rule
The developmental stage of an infant is a slow process, which is why a vital virtue for parents-to-be is patience. A newborn would need assistance with everything, including using the restroom, until over a year or two. Boriska Kipriyanovich was an exception to the rule.
Not only did he grow up fast, but he was pretty intelligent, too, surprising those around him. A regular infant takes about four months before holding his head up unsupported, but for Boris, it took two weeks.
Starting Early
The speed of his growth only increased as time passed. In a few weeks, he was already talking, and by 18 months, the young lad could read and draw incredibly well. Russian by birth, Boris was born in 1996.
Pre-primary education in Russia exists in two forms: nursery schools for children between six weeks and three years; and kindergarten for kids between three and seven years. But Boris was readily admitted into kindergarten at two because of his literacy and excellent drawing skills.
His In-depth Knowledge About Mars
His high intelligence surprised his teachers and kept him ahead of his peers. But a more shocking revelation was his in-depth knowledge of outer space. From what he said, one could tell Boris was knowledgeable about constellations, stars, and planets.
The red planet, in particular, commonly known as Mars, was his favorite one of all. Even without previous lessons on the subject, Boris could give astounding facts and details about Mars. He later claimed it changed his perspective on things.
Not The Regular Campfire Tale
Boris' claim was nothing like anyone had known. It happened during a family camping trip with his parents and some friends. As is the norm, people gather around the fire at night to tell tales. He was seven at the time and still just a kid.
So when he called for everyone to listen to his tale, no one obliged. But as would be expected of him, he didn't stop till he got their attention, and the story of the century began.
Of Martian Heritage
A typical campfire tale consists of stories of horror and adventure that not only give thrills but could also creep anyone out. Boris's tale followed the same genre and pattern but with a unique context and setting altogether. One unique enough to keep their eyes on him throughout his tale.
After finally getting their attention, he began his story. With no hesitation, he dropped the bombshell on them. He told them he was from Mars and was on a mission to save the world.
His Martian Brethren
The surprise could not begin to describe the expression on the faces of his listeners, as life on Mars itself has not been validated yet. But, while they could quickly write it off as the silly talk of a seven-year-old, his confidence made it difficult to do so.
He told them he was a Martian in his previous life but was reborn as a human. He also mentioned he was not alone and had others like him called the Indigo children.
Reaching The Larger World
Not only did his parents believe his tales of adventure on Mars, but they spread past his hometown, Volgograd, to other parts of Russia. His ideology of the Indigo children spread wide, too, and is used in pseudoscience and similar spheres involving conspiracy theories and paranormal musings. It is often used to refer to youngsters with special powers.
In a 2007 interview with a Russian television network, Boris confirmed his claims about being from Mars and gave more details about what happened there.
What Life On Mars Was Like
Based on Boris's account, Martians are very tall, age slowly, and grow quite old. They breathe in oxygen, and their growth stops at the age of 35. The notion is easy to believe, considering it isn’t very dissimilar to the human system.
It was stated that earthlings grow old as a result of the by-product of oxygen that they breathe in. He also mentioned that they possess advanced technology that not only makes living a lot easier but makes traveling through interstellar portals possible.
The Martian War
Among the events recounted by Boris was a Martian war that happened in his past life. According to him, he was about 14 or 15 when the battles raged. He was an adolescent amid war amongst Martians, and he had to partake in it as was expected of him.
At some point, he had to take part in air raids, which he recounted. He could even remember the names of his Martian brothers that fought by his side during the attacks.
More Adventures On Mars
Based on his tales, his life on Mars was more eventful than anyone would guess. The Martians could easily travel through time and around space with the help of their disc-shaped spacecraft. There were also triangular spaceships that were used for shorter trips around space.
It was through these triangular spaceships used in their journey through space that they observed life on neighboring planets, Earth specifically. He also said their technology was so advanced that its workings were difficult to comprehend.
The Downside To Their Technology
If there was one thing he pointed out in his tale of Mars, it was the fact that their technological advancement was not only sophisticated, but it was way beyond that used on Earth. But while it could do the incredible, like traveling through space and time, it was instrumental in causing their destruction.
According to him, it resulted in a nuclear horror that not even the smartest Martians could prevent. In the end, it resulted in the demise of their race.
Earth's Warning For What Is To Come
The stories were intended to serve as a warning to earthlings. That is because, according to him, the survivors of the apocalyptic nuclear charge kept a keen eye on the activities of those on Earth. Earth's developments were similar to those on Mars, resulting in extinction.
Considering these correlations, the Martian survivors believed Earth's impending doom was near. So they took it upon themselves to sound a note of warning to Earth's inhabitants to avoid facing a similar fate as the Martians.
A Beacon Of Hope
Not only were their weapons to facilitate this impending apocalypse, but Earth had something else too. Power-hungry leaders. According to him, each country present had greedy leaders willing to go the extra mile in the evil that could be done to achieve their personal goals.
Actions that could lead to ruins worse than that of the first or second world war. In all, there was hope yet for Earth. Despite all that could happen, there was still a way to avoid destruction.
The Sphinx Of Giza
This is where things get tricky. Boris's suggestion of salvation for Earth involved one of the oldest and most recognized structures of Egypt. The Sphinx of Giza, which in Arabic translates to "the terrifying one."
According to him, the way of alleviating the looming threat is hidden somewhere in the Sphinx, with the opening being somewhere behind the ear. Although he confesses to not knowing exactly how to open it, he points out that if opened, it would reveal secrets beyond one's wildest dreams.
Secrets Held By The Pyramid Of Giza
Apart from the Sphinx, Boris also drew attention to the first wonder of the world, the pyramid of Giza. Just like the Sphinx, he said, the pyramid held secrets to a lot of unanswered questions.
Considering the structure has been standing since 2504 BC, the builders would possibly know something others don't. Also, there are conspiracy theories that extraterrestrial life built it since science has been unable to replicate it. With these uncertainties, it begged the question if there were facts to Boris's claims.
Uncovering Secrets
If there is one thing that comes with puzzling discoveries like the Giza void, it is conspiracy theories. With this discovery, there were many of them. Many came up with different theories of why the void was there since the structure was erected.
But one that stuck to mind was the speculation that at one time, it might have housed a spaceship to Mars that was capable of interstellar travels. However, neither Boris nor scientists have given a valid response to the discovery.
A 100-Foot-Long Void
Using imaging technology based on cosmic rays, they made a significant discovery at the heart of the pyramid. It was a 100-foot-long void carefully constructed in the shape of a snake.
Knowing the unanswered questions associated with the Giza structure, like how it was made with 100-ton bricks, it is certain the makers of the structure didn't make anything without reason. But while there's no proof of its relation to the indigo children, one can't help but wonder about the possibilities.
Conspiracy Theories
Alyssa Carson was a Barton Rouge, Louisiana teenager who, just like any other kid, had hopes of becoming extraordinary. But unlike others, she was set on changing society, as is presently seen by stepping foot on Mars.
At an age when her contemporaries were filling out college applications or deliberating on what institution to attend while furthering their studies, this youngster had her future mapped out for herself, which makes one wonder if she was just a regular teenager or something else.
Getting Answers
Through the years, as Boris advanced in age, he appeared in several other interviews on television, recounting his tales of Mars. His audience grew larger as tales of the Indigo child spread to far-reaching corners of the world.
While there are no answers yet to the puzzles of Mars, people like Elon Musk, with his flight company "SpaceX," have been making headway with their plans to place a man on Mars. From the looks of it, Musk already has a contender.
The Louisiana-Born Contender
Alyssa Carson is a Barton Rouge, Louisiana youngster who, just like any other kid, has hopes of becoming extraordinary. But unlike others, she has her mind set on changing society, as is presently seen by stepping foot on Mars.
At an age when her contemporaries would be filling out college applications or deliberating on what institution to attend, this youngster has her future mapped out for herself, and one begins to wonder if she is just a regular teenager or something else.
Joining NASA
A great step towards achieving her milestone of a dream was to join those who didn’t only know how to achieve it but were already working towards achieving it. For her, that step was joining the NASA astronaut training program.
The program, in particular, is not only known for its rigidity and difficulty; getting in is no easy task. That notwithstanding, her goal was already set in stone, and there was no changing that.
Dreaming Big
While childhood is a time of curiosity and finding new things, Alyssa's curiosity was fed by space life, which at the time seemed like a kid's babbling. Her curiosity about space was sparked by an episode of the animated family series, "The Backyardigans," which aired between 2004 and 2010.
The episode featured a crew of barnyard animals on a space adventure to Mars. Her dream for Mars had already begun as she went on to talk to her father, Bert, about it.
The Talk With Bert
With desperation, Alyssa tugged at her father's shirt with a questionable expression on her face. She was keen on inquiring about the planet that the creatures shown on television had explored. If anyone had successfully toed the line, she wanted to follow suit.
Her father explained that while there was a moon landing by humans in 1969, there had been none on Mars yet. But humans were on the verge of a breakthrough. He also believed she would come of age to join them.
Her Fascination With Mars
While her child-like curiosity was the foothold for her fascination with Mars, Alyssa could vividly remember being enamored with the planet. She could remember being fascinated by flying objects and much more.
At some point, she grew tired of just videos about the planet. She scored a massive map of it for her room and, most times, would spend long hours just staring and studying it. Her parents, in a bid to help her curiosity, even got her a telescope, which she couldn't part with.
Her First Breakthrough
Alyssa's questions about Mars always rested most on her father, Bert. So, taking a trip with her dad to the NASA space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, was a massive deal for a five-year-old. Not only was it more graphical, she saw so many others that shared her interest.
The trip was a life-changing experience for her as she got to see new things. One of which was a life-sized rocket. She was able to get answers to her questions and get further questions to explore.
Wanting More
With the vast array of knowledge exposed to her first NASA space camp, Alyssa couldn’t settle for just one trip. She wanted more, and that was exactly what she went for. She attended every space camp run by NASA 18 times consecutively, even though they were held in different and sometimes faraway locations from Alabama, like Turkey, Canada, Izmir, and Quebec.
At 12, she had already earned the title of being the first person to have attended all of NASA's space camp programs.
A Major Step To Actualizing Her Dreams
With every space camp Alyssa attended, she got a step closer to actually achieving her dream of being an astronaut. So why not take it a step further? The girl did so by attending every space-related activity with the hope of learning more.
Eventually, she joined the AdwasSpace Academy and, at 16 years of age, was the youngest to have ever graduated. She also reported getting her rocket license before getting her car permit. A fact her father was quite happy to share.
Being Great At What She Does
Alyssa has proved to be quite incredible over the years. At 12, she was invited by NASA to speak on a Mars Exploration Rovers 10 panel, which was held in Washington, D.C. At 13, she had her first TEDx in Greece and currently speaks four languages.
In addition to her achievements, she took part in various rigorous pieces of training and frequently attended space mission simulations. Along with training herself to be mentally and physically prepared, the young lady also builds rockets and robots.
Going Back To School
With all the achievements to her name at such a young age, it would be difficult to go back to a normal lifestyle. She admits that with all that she has had to go through, returning to high school is quite boring.
But while building her skills as an astronaut is a given, getting certificates to build her résumé is also a priority. One of those is diving, which she is hoping will be an additional qualification to her profile.
Going To Mars
While Alyssa is putting her best towards actualizing her dream, one still wonders if there's hope for a trip to Mars anytime soon. Fortunately, earthlings might be visitors to Mars sooner than later. Especially with former United States president Donald Trump's 2017 mission to NASA.
His nudgings were that NASA should place a man on Mars by 2033. Elon Musk, in his efforts through "Space X," affirmed that between 2024 and 2029, man would have set foot on Mars.
The Work Involved
In NASA's bid to keep in line with the former President's demand, they created a five-phase plan. The phases, in particular, include conceptual studies, technology fabrication, development, and completion, as well as system testing, launch, and sustainability.
While they aren't close to completing this extensive plan, they are confident that by 2033, they will be ready to send humans on a nine-month trip to the red planet. A mission that Alyssa would do everything to make sure she is on.
A Price To Pay
For every great result achieved, sacrifices were made, and prices were paid. Whether big or small, sacrifice is necessary to cross every milestone, and Alyssa's journey is no exception. According to NASA, while the success of the Mars mission is still a huge milestone, the idea of building a family here on Earth should only be a consideration for those involved.
Specifically, they should wait until their return because they would be treading into unknown territories and would need to understand what complications await them.
A No-No To Romance
Considering the uncertainties attached to placing a man on Mars, it is pertinent that all the astronauts involved are in it 100 percent without any distractions. It is an unsafe territory as no one has successfully stepped foot on the red planet yet.
As such, ties like romance should be kept at arm's length as it could disturb the focus of those involved. Leaving a loved one behind can compromise one's state of mind. As for Alyssa, she was quite ready to take the risk.
The Severity Of The Task At Hand
Chris Hadfield, the former commander of the International Space Station, stated the obvious in a 2018 interview. He said that the chances of the expedition party to Mars returning safely were very unlikely.
With this in mind, Bert, Alyssa's father, felt nostalgic as he proudly supported his daughter while as a father, was fearful of losing her through the trip. While he was proud to see her reach her full potential, he wished she didn't have to give up so much.
Other Risks
Apart from the issue of forgoing the hope of long-term companionship, there are other risks associated with the trip. For example, the confinement that they will have to go through for so long could make one go insane for freedom. This could be especially troublesome for claustrophobic individuals.
There could also be a risk of developing cancer as a result of excessive radiation. Mars, as is known has no Ozone layer, which on Earth shields against direct radiation from the sun.
Staying Long-term
While there are risks to the journey, there is also the problem of longevity associated with it. NASA's plan, alongside placing a man on Mars, is to keep them there for long, with three years being the initial period considered.
The plan is to ensure they get as much data as possible from there to acquire a more comprehensive knowledge of the place. One of which includes understanding how to grow plants on Mars. This process will inevitably take time.
Bert's Reservations
Being the father of a growing genius has its perks as well as its downsides. While Bert is agreeably proud of his daughter's accomplishments, he is not taking her inevitable departure from Earth lightly.
According to him, it is difficult living with the knowledge that someday he might have to bid her farewell with the possibility of never seeing her again. While he is relentlessly in support of her pursuit, he is still her father, and it would be difficult to let her go.
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A Sense Of Hope For Others
In Alyssa's view, her pursuit of being among the first crew of astronauts to be on Mars is to serve as a ray of hope for others hoping to achieve the impossible. Hence, she is cheering the mission on to encourage others to do the same.
Also, she believes establishing a man on mars would go a long way in saving the Earth. This is because an expansion of man into Mars gives Earth enough space to rejuvenate its resources and green life.
Weighing The Risk And The Reward
With all the risks weighed, Alyssa believed the rewards achievable were well beyond the costs. The mission, if successful, would serve as a stepping stone for the advancement of the human race.
Mars had only been observed through a rover that had hovered for years in its atmosphere. From the acquired information, there is a water body. So what is left is finding a way to place a man there and have him learn to survive the differences in atmospheric pressure and other challenges.
The Best Of The Best
Considering the grave risks and endless possibilities attached to the mission to Mars, it is pertinent that NASA picks the best of the best. Specifically, those who are without a doubt qualified for the trip and have nothing to lose.
An extra feature would be those who are motivated enough to be on the trip. That way, they would rarely have anything stopping them from meeting the rigorous qualification standards set by NASA. This is exactly why Alyssa puts long, hard hours into training.
Winning Is The Goal
When it comes to being motivated enough to achieve something, Alyssa would be the perfect example, as she has demonstrated in several scenarios. One of those was her admission into the PoSSUM Academy in 2015.
She was only 15 when she was accepted, making her the youngest the academy had ever received. The program is geared towards preparing people for flight into space. This is accomplished by combining astronaut training with aeronautics education, and Alyssa excelled at it too.