Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Knitters on Mars?

The European Space Agency (ESA) seeks volunteers for a simulated trip to Mars. Volunteers will spend 17 months in an isolation tank on Earth, with little contact with the outside world. One of the main criteria for applicants is that they have the ability to stay sane while cooped up in a small space for such an extended period.

The ESA would be well served investigating the knitting community for potential applicants – who else relishes a long subway ride for that extra time to turn a heel? Sees a power outage as an opportunity to light some candles and finish the second sleeve? And what knitter wouldn’t relish the opportunity to shop for a stash that would last the trip?

11 comments:

Ashley said...

Seriously-we're perfect! But it does raise the question--can knitters survive without the internets any more?

Veronique said...

I agree with Ashlee: we'd need yarn and internet access. But then, that wouldn't really be isolation, would it? Count me out :)

Haley said...

I can see it now. By the end of the seventeen months, I bet all the non-knitters would be converted to knitters--or at least be sporting some fancy new socks.

spajonas said...

DUDE! how much does it pay? ;)

Brenda said...

I think Haley has a good point! A knitter would have to take lots of extra needles and yarn for everyone else. I bet spindle spinning would be a good activity too, unless there was no gravity. Hmmm...

carrie said...

if a knitter finishes a sweater and no one sees it, does it still count as a finished object?

Megann said...

Seriously? Can that be legal, even with informed consent?

vlb5757 said...

Wow, sounds like the perfect trip for knitting UFOs! What knitter wouldn't want to plough through their stash to make next year's Christmas and birthday gifts or to teach themselves to knit something complicated without interruption?

schrodinger said...

That's a pretty bizarre concept. Besides some knitters - I wonder what type of person would be attracted by the idea of 17 months of isolation?

Anonymous said...

Hey, I think Veronique and I ALREADY have enough yarn to last the duration!

Anonymous said...

hmm...how much stash would one be allowed to bring?