Dear Burlynaut,
7 months and 29 days ago, me and 99 other humans launched on a nine month course to Mars, aboard the VSS Shelley. We are currently careening towards Mars at about 34,000 kilometers per hour. Before our arrival, a crewless supply ship was sent to Mars carrying cargo to set up our habitats, gardens, and landing pad. Unfortunately, the supply ship crash landed into Mars’s Kapoor Lava Tubes. Likely because the crash occurred in lava tubes, no machinery from the supply ship was transmitting signal back to Earth. Immediately, a team got to work on adjusting the lunar relay to target the tubes. Nonetheless, this turn of events caused rationing and demoralization aboard the Shelley. It was going to be a long journey with dire circumstances, considering we now had to prepare for extended survival with limited food, water, and oxygen supply.
Just over a week ago, however, the Shelley erupted in celebration. Why? We got word that two pieces of cargo from the supply ship started transmitting signal back to Earth!
Tractor-like robots, called Burlies, can be operated by people on Earth, thanks to an artificial intelligence system called BURLY AI.
And, we were informed that the brick maker, which forges bricks out of Martian regolith (Mars dirt), was also alive and likely functional.
Right away, an attempt to save us oncoming astronauts was put into action. Chelsea Brown, who designed the Burlies, agreed to work with groups of Burlynauts (you!) in one week shifts. The first week of Burlynauts was able to locate the brick maker and clear rocks for a landing pad. We have three weeks until landing. The world believes in your ability to collaborate and persevere.
Sincerely,
Hailey Miller
she/her/hers
Mission Petra Communications Director
