Is there life on Mars?

Key West computer repairman Mike Mongo wants area students to be the ones to find out.

With Oct. 4 through 10 designated as World Space Week by the United Nations, the 48-year-old author of "Mike Mongo's Astronaut Instruction Manual for Pre-Teens," is visiting Key West science classrooms to convince students that numerous job opportunities await them in STEAM fields, in the coming decades.

STEAM is Mongo's take on the widely used educational acronym, STEM, which stands for Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Mongo believes that the Arts deserves equal pride of place in the term, as future space explorers will need tasteful space suit and craft designers.

On Tuesday, Mongo visited Alida Miller's sophomore biology class at Key West High School. On Wednesday, he returns to KWHS, and will also give a lecture at the Montessori Charter School. On Thursday, he'll bring his program to Key West Collegiate Academy.

"By 2025 there are going to be real careers, living and playing in space," Mongo told his KWHS student audience. "We were told that we were getting the opportunity to work in space, but it got delayed until now. You can have a space career."

Mongo's words fell on receptive ears. Students interested in careers as doctors, pilots, meteorologists, and ultrasound technicians were represented in Miller's class.

Wearing upside-down bifocals, Mongo exhorted the students to think beyond their terrestrial aspirations, and to turn their gazes skyward.

"How many of you have heard of the Mars One mission," Mongo asked the class, referring to the plan of Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp to send a manned mission of four to the red planet by 2022.

Many had.

"Over 120,000 people have applied to be on that mission," Mongo went on. "Most people in your generation are unaware that space careers exist. They may be dangerous, but they will pay well."

Mongo's discussion also touched on the possibilities of asteroid mining, and other far flung careers students have probably been told are an unrealistic dream.

"Have you ever been told that being an astronaut isn't practical?" Mongo asked.

"I've heard that one," a female student responded.

Mongo serves as a member of the Icarus Interstellar non-profit organization. He claimed that his motivation to bring awareness to the students is borne of his own missed opportunity to get on the astronaut bandwagon as a youngster.

"I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid, but I didn't have an opportunity," Mongo said. "Now that these students have that opportunity, I want them to be aware of it."

Miller's students appeared to enjoy Mongo's out-of-this-world presentation.

"It was pretty interesting, as there's a lot to learn about," said Calab Ashe, 15. "I've always wanted to know more about the stars."

Ashe's 14-year-old classmate, Taylor Nasser, agreed.

"I feel like I could be a vet in space," she said. "[The talk] opened opportunities in my mind."

tschmida@keysnews.com