Afronauts: A Tale Of Mars, 10 Cats And A Girl Named Matha

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  According to BBC, “Afronauts” by Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel is a fictional photo essay inspired by the true story of Zambian grade school science teacher Edward Makuka Nkoloso.  Nkoloso started an unofficial amateur space program in his Zambia in 1964, during the height of the Space Race.  The plan was to launch a rocket that would send twelve astronauts and ten cats to Mars.  Unfortunately due to lack of grants, funding and the pregnancy of 17-year-old Matha Mwambwa, who was to ride on the mission, derailed efforts of the program.  Nkoloso hoped to beat the United States and Soviet Union's respective space programs at the height of the Space Race.  As of 2012, United States or Soviet Union has not accomplished a manned mission to Mars.  But Cristina's “Afronauts” has been nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Borse photography prize.

My only question is why did they need 10 cats ... in fact why did they need the cats at all?  In any event, to see more from Cristina De Middel's “Afronauts” project, visit official website: www.lademiddel.com.

((  Photo Credits: Cristina De Middel  ))