Science

Participatory Exploration: Climb Everest, Bring 10K People With You

Last fall he performed an unplanned EVA to help repair a critical solar panel on the International Space Station, this month he is attempting to summit Mount Everest. For emergency room surgeon turned NASA Astronaut Scott Parazynski the only way to do summiting Everest right would be to make sure you include as many people […]

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Last fall he performed an unplanned EVA to help repair a critical solar panel on the International Space Station, this month he is attempting to summit Mount Everest. For emergency room surgeon turned NASA Astronaut Scott Parazynski the only way to do summiting Everest right would be to make sure you include as many people in the experience as possible.

It is all part of a new push to bring exploration into the 21st century. Congress just drafted an Authorization Bill for NASA this week that requires them to add participatory elements into their missions and Scott is helping to show how it's done.

In addition to being able to follow his podcasts, blogs and pictures from his summit preparation, you now can also post thoughts for Scott as he begins his summit attempt. Scheduled for May 21/22, weather permitting, Scott's summit attempt will put him on top of the world. What thought would you want to send with him? Post your well wishes, thoughts and comments for Scott online.

If you simply want to wish Scott "good luck, best wishes, etc." post that and I will do a head count. If, however, you have something a bit more expansive to say - please post it. Please try and make it simple so that I can condense it down to something I can efficiently convey to Scott and that he can keep in his oxygen-starved brain.

Scott will be the first human to both fly in space and summit the highest peak on our planet. What does this mean in terms of personal determination and endurance? In terms of exploration and pushing frontiers? As a preview of things to come - and of risks to be taken - on other worlds?

Ah, nothing like a deep thought to start your weekend on the right foot...
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Photo courtesy of Scott Parazynski via OnOrbit.com (photo was taken this week from Everest Base Camp of the notorious Khumbu Ice Fall that Scott was climbing as part of this acclimatization).