# What will the first person on Mars say? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938 "2018-10-14T15:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/1 "2018-10-14T15:22:44Z")
The movie First Man reminded me of a sci fi story I had read long ago that had a line about how saying “That’s one small step for man…” became the traditional thing to say when going to a new planet for the first time, which then made me think of Mars (the most likely first new planet we step on). So what do you think the first person to step foot on Mars will say at that historic moment? Neil Armstrong’s Line? (“That’s one smalls step for man, one giant leap for Mankind”) Something else that is preplanned? (Possibly by NASA or even just the crew in advance) Something else that is completely off the cuff? Something in Chinese (because they get there first) Nuthin’ (because humans will never set foot there) So what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/2 "2018-10-14T15:52:37Z")
“I knew I should have taken that left…” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/3 "2018-10-14T15:54:16Z")
_“Do you Validate?”_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/4 "2018-10-14T15:57:17Z")
“Holy fuck! I’m on Mars!” ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/5 "2018-10-14T16:02:34Z")
“What a shithole planet. How soon can I go back?” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/6 "2018-10-14T16:16:06Z")
It’ll be something new, created by a speechwriter for whatever organization (which might be a nation, an international collaboration, or a private company) makes the trip, though expressing basically the same vague sentiments of peace and progress as Armstrong’s line. And like Armstrong, the astronaut delivering will probably have some minor flub in how he says it. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/7 "2018-10-14T17:08:14Z")
At present it’s a one-way trip, leading to the death of all concerned. I don’t see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/8 "2018-10-14T17:21:57Z")
“I can see my house from here!” No, wait … “This Mars Landing is brought to by The Acme Rocket Company. If you want to fly somewhere fast, fly with Acme!” (Or whoever is sponsoring the publicity event.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/9 "2018-10-14T17:42:36Z")
“In your face Neil Armstrong.” _- Mark Watney, “The Martian”_ ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/10 "2018-10-14T17:50:29Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The movie First Man reminded me of a sci fi story I had read long ago that had a line about how saying “That’s one small step for man…” became the traditional thing to say when going to a new planet for the first time… So, is Armstrong’s flubbed version of the line (without the indefinite article) now canon? > **[Did Neil Armstrong Flub His First Words on the Moon?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/one-small-misstep/)** > > Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong misspoke his scripted line during one of the most widely-viewed live broadcasts in television history. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/11 "2018-10-14T18:03:05Z")
A really cool astronaut landing on Mars [would break into song](http://youtube.com/watch?v=veSLdNos7q8). “It seemed I was the first one there, and so I was surprised, to see the Martians twist and stomp before my very eyes. They did the Loco-Motion and the Hully Gully too. I couldn’t name a single dance the Martians wouldn’t do.” “Eeee-eeee-eeeeee The Martian Hop Eeee-eeee-eeeeee” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/12 "2018-10-14T18:06:44Z")
As she opens the spaceship door: > [@](#): > > Huh? I wonder why the Martians built this wall? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/13 "2018-10-14T18:25:13Z")
“Yes honey, Apple maps definitely said to turn LEFT for the last turn” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/14 "2018-10-14T18:38:14Z")
What would stop an astronaut from saying whatever they darned well pleased, once they got there? Even if something had been planned for them? Sure, they’d never go back into space, but still… I know what \*\*\*I \*\*\*would say. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/15 "2018-10-14T18:47:15Z")
“That’s one small step for a woman…” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/16 "2018-10-14T18:48:04Z")
“I got your “small step” right _here_, Ne-illll-Why don’t you go take a giant leap?” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/17 "2018-10-14T18:54:51Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > So, is Armstrong’s flubbed version of the line (without the indefinite article) now canon? > > [Did Neil Armstrong Flub His First Words on the Moon? | Snopes.com](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/one-small-misstep/) I’ve never seen it quoted any other way than in the recording (with the missing “a”), other than in meta-discussions about the missing word. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/18 "2018-10-14T18:57:11Z")
I’m inclined to think that we’ll never go there. I know it sounds like the next logical stepping stone in our horizon, but it would be costly as fuck, not to mention impossible unless (as glee mentions) someone volunteers to die there, and what’s the point anyway when we can land unmanned robots on the planet? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/19 "2018-10-14T19:02:32Z")
_All_ trips anywhere lead to death. But I’d be willing to bet on a round trip happening in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938/20 "2018-10-14T19:39:35Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I’ve never seen it quoted any other way than in the recording (with the missing “a”), other than in meta-discussions about the missing word. Really? But it makes no sense without the indefinite article, seems obvious that it should be there, and it _was_ there in what was rehearsed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-first-person-on-mars-say/822938.md?page=2)