In 2017, two astronauts named Eva and Haily were getting ready for a big mission to the International Space Station. 

NASA had asked them to bring back something for science experiments, so as they climbed into the spaceship, they began tossing around ideas.

“What if we bring back an alien?” Haily asked with a grin.

Eva laughed. “I really don’t think that’s on NASA’s list... but points for creativity.”

Then the countdown began.

Ten... nine... eight...

“Better hold on to your eyebrows!” Eva shouted.

Three... two... one... LIFTOFF!

The rocket blasted into the sky with a mighty WHOOOOSH!

“AAAAAHHH!” Eva screamed.

“WHEEEE!” Haily cheered, as if she were riding the wildest roller coaster in the universe.

Soon they were in space, floating around like popcorn kernels popping in slow motion.

“Aaah!” Haily yelped as she spun slowly through the air like a spinning sock in a dryer.

Eva laughed. “Are you okay?”

“I think so,” Haily said, grabbing a floating snack pouch. “But space is very rude. It won’t let anything stay put!”

“How long until we reach the I.S.S.?” she asked.

“About 12 hours,” Eva answered.

 When they finally arrived, they got settled in. Then the radio crackled to life.

“Eva and Haily, we need you to bring back something to test in the lab,” said a voice from NASA.

“But there’s nothing up here except buttons, wires, and my floating crackers,” Eva said.

“What about the moon?” the voice suggested.

Haily shook her head. “Moon rocks? Been there, studied that.”

“Well... good luck with that. NASA out!” Click.

 The two astronauts thought and thought until their brains felt squishy as mashed potatoes. Then Haily’s eyes went wide.

“What if we go to Mars?” she whispered.

 Eva blinked. “Mars? As in the giant red planet Mars?”

 “Exactly,” said Haily. “Think of it—space rocks, history books, our faces on lunchboxes!”

 Eva sighed. “This is probably a terrible idea.”

Then she shrugged. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

“YES!” Haily shouted so loudly that a snack pouch bounced off the wall.

 Before long, they landed on Mars and stepped onto the dusty red ground. 

The planet was quiet, rocky, and a little spooky. Haily looked around with a huge smile—until her face suddenly turned the color of tomato soup.

“Umm... Eva?” Haily squeaked. “You might want to look behind you.”

Eva turned slowly. “If this is another floating cracker, I am not impressed.”

“MARTIANS!” 

Haily shouted.