Some time before First Contact, Earthling astronauts visited Mars, and they left behind pork rice bowls, which the Martians fell in love with. At least a month later, they opened a pork-rice-bowl restaurant in Glourbston. In Researchers, the first manned mission to Mars is carried out. As the rocket nears its destination, the researchers at Ground Control decide that since they're about to see a Martian for the first time, it'd be fun to guess what it'll look like.