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"I want my generation to be the Mars generation!"

/ CBS News

13-year-old Alyssa Carson aspires to be the first human to step foot on the Red Planet. She hosted a chat on "CBS This Morning's" Facebook page and fielded questions about her Mars quest.

Question: Are you prepared to sacrifice almost everything people consider normal in order to achieve your dream?

Teen determined to be the first on mission to Mars
Alyssa Carson: Yes my dad has talked to me about all the sacrifices and that I wouldn't be able to have a family until I get back. I believe that the benefits we can achieve outweigh the small sacrifices I have to make. There are things here with this mission that are more important and beneficial for the human race then me living the "normal" life.

Question: What first made you want to go to Mars?

Carson: We think it was the kid show Backyardigans. The Backyardigans is a kids TV show where little creatures go in there backyard and imagine an adventure. One episode they went to Mars!

Question: What would you like /need from the general population/schools to assist you in your education?

Carson: I want more kids to dream and inspire to follow math and science because it takes 10s of 1000s of people to send an astronaut to space. I want my generation to be The Mars Generation!

Question: You've been planning your voyage to Mars since age three, Alyssa. Did you have any role models who were also astronauts when you were growing up?

Carson: Sandra Magnus, female astronaut. I met her and talked with her when I was about 9.

Question: Is NASA teaching you what to eat or not to eat ? Or is it too early for that stage?

Carson: It's too early for that.

Question: Alyssa - why do you think science is so important for young people to get involved in?

Carson: Because science is everywhere no matter where you look or what you do and it controls how we live.

Read through the full Q&A:

First published on October 13, 2014 / 3:16 PM EDT

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