alyssa carson joins me now from baton rouge, louisiana. thank you for joining us today. >> you're welcome. >> i was so excited to find out you're going to be on our show because i find it amazing that a 13-year-old girl wants to be the first person to step foot on mars. what is it about mars and going there that appeals to you so much? >> well, me and my dad, as we look back we think it could have been a kid's tv show that i watched where these little creatures, they went to mars, after that i saw mars as this red thing in the sky, and i thought that's where i wanted to go. so since then i've been following my dream to get there. >> in addition to all of these space camps and flight academies that you've attended, what else are you doing to prepared for this trip in your mind that you're going to mars? >> well, i'm starting on my scuba diving certification now, but also in the future i'll need my pilot license and skydiving certification. as well as going to the right colleges to give me a leg up when i enter the astronaut selection progra