5in29: Day 7
2024-12-17. Marana to Biosphere2 to Tombstone, AZ
Attraction: Biosphere2, AZ
This is another not-planned-but-must-see attraction. We saw the sign on I-10 yesterday. Last night, we watched the documentary, Spaceship Earth, and did additional research on Biosphere2. If you never heard of it, or vaguely know about it, I highly recommend getting to know about it—it is even more meaningful at our present time.
In a nutshell, Biosphere2 was constructed from 1987 to 1991 with an attempt to demonstrate the viability of closed ecological systems to support and maintain human life in outer space. It includes a rainforest, an ocean with a coral reef, mangrove wetlands, a savannah grassland, a fog desert, an agricultural system, and a human habitat with living spaces, labs, and workshops. In this closed environment, 8 people lived in the sphere for two years from 1991 to 1993. Now, owned by the University of Arizona, the place is a live research lab for many STEM research projects and education programs.
The locations of various areas.
While our van’s house battery was being worked on (see Van Life), we joined two 30-minute guided tours.
The first was the Lung Tour where we went to the bottom and behind to see the machines and understand some technology sides of the sphere. The tour is named “Lung” because we could experience one of the lungs that regulated the air pressure inside Biosphere2’s main glass enclosure.
The second tour was a Library and History Tour where we visited the kitchen, an apartment unit, and the library used by the sphereians during the two years of isolation.
The kitchen where the 8 sphereians had 3 meals a day. They rotated to cook. Those 4 containers were the grains grown and harvested from the sphere.
One of the 10 living spaces. A total of 10 were constructed but in the end, it was determined to have only 8 people because of the affordability of the environment, including food.
One of their official uniforms for official appearance. They were designed by the person who designed Marilyn Monroe’s famous outfits.
The library has fantastic 360-degree views, but it was underused because the 8 people were exhausted by the end of each day, and had no energy to climb 60+ steps. One could see the kitchen level from the glass floor—our learned fear can prevent us from walking on it!
We did self-guided tours of several spots. The app we downloaded did a great job of having short descriptions and video clips of various spots. We played and watched the clips when we toured the spots.
We were constantly amazed by what had been done and how they were done. The knowledge of engineering and science was well utilized and tested. Even to this day, a lot of what have done seems ahead of our time.
Some negative media reports missed the point that there is no failure in science and engineering. We learn something even if the original plan didn’t work. This is what the Biosphere2 project is the most valuable about.
PS. Can you guess where or what is Biosphere1??
On the way out, we encountered two deer having snacks around the conference quarter. As I was approaching them for pictures and videos, they looked at me and were not afraid of me at all. How refreshing! I had never been so close to any deer.
Van Life:
The morning temperature was 38 degrees in Marana. Cool, not cold.
The house battery level was L, with the van engine on and the sun shining.
Called a couple of car places and eventually BreakMax in Marana, AZ found the battery’s life ended. We got a new battery!
We’ll be visiting the famous Tombstone in AZ. For that, we decided to boondock in the old town. Roman’s friend recommended a place she stayed for several times. It costs $10. No hookups, no attendance. It’s an honor system: put cash in an envelope and put the envelope in the drop box at the entry.
We vaguely saw two other vans parked in the vast parking space.
Our “home” for the night in Tombstone, AZ.
