Is there life on Mars?

For decades, answering that question has been a popular fantasy in books, movies and other media. After conquering the moon, science fiction creators of all walks turned their attention to the Red Planet and what might be found there.

In addition to the fictitious creations, exploring Mars has also been a challenge for NASA and other space exploration organizations across the world.

Although rovers and drones have made the lengthy trip, no humans have set foot on the planet’s dusty surface. It remains a big dream for many people.

Dreaming big is certainly something with which folks in the other Mars — in Butler County — are familiar.

Borough officials are always on the lookout for ways to promote the community, and in the past 10 years they have focused on playing up the shared name with the unexplored planet.

That includes the Mars New Year celebration, which coincides with the planet Mars’ new year every 18 months. NASA representatives attended the first iteration of that event in 2015, a treat for many in attendance. From that, a bond and partnership formed between borough and NASA officials. Subsequent celebrations have seen more and more involvement from the agency.

It’s an incredible feather in the borough’s cap to have made such connections, and certainly was beyond the wildest dreams of officials planning that first event.

So, too, was the idea of a Mars Discovery Center in the borough — an educational facility that would be run as a joint partnership between Mars and NASA.

A pitch was created, letters of support were signed and a Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant was applied for. This week, Mayor Gregg Hartung showed local and state officials around the borough, making another major pitch for what the project could provide.

Less than a day later, Hartung learned the borough had received a $1 million grant, which will help kick-start the project by eventually securing land and furthering plans with NASA.

It’s a major victory for the borough.

Undoubtedly, officials hearing a pitch for a NASA education center in Western Pennsylvania might have thought the idea to be crazy.

That didn’t stop officials from doing everything they could to make it a reality.

Ultimately, the borough was rewarded for thinking outside the box.

The center will focus on educating students in the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) areas, and aims to bring visitors from around the region. While the materials and lessons learned inside will certainly be valuable, the center’s eventual existence should serve as the ultimate lesson: to dream big, work hard and never give up on a goal — no matter how far-fetched it might seem.

We may never know if there truly is life on planet Mars, but this week it became clear that creativity and passion as well as a few big dreams will ensure there is new life being given to the borough.

— JWJ