Next stop: Mars
Source: MarsOne Website
This is no wonder that NASA is seeking a way to take a spacecraft to Mars crewed by humans. But what the Dutch Mars One wants to do goes far beyond just drive some people to take a ride on the Red Planet. In 2023 they want to give a one-way ticket for 4 astronauts. That’s right, no return trip. The idea is to establish a human colony on Mars. They begin with four astronauts and every two years they sent a new crew to join the settlement.
Mars One has designed a manned mission to Mars that has as little complexity as possible. The most important simplification is that the crew will emigrate to Mars. They will spend the rest of their lives living and working on Mars. While sustaining human life on Mars is not trivial, it is far easier and safer than bringing the crew back to Earth. If the astronauts had to return to Earth after their visit to Mars, a fully functional and fueled return rocket would have to be constructed on Mars without any human supervision, which is extremely complex and expensive. Instead, Mars One will provide the first and subsequent crews with water, food and oxygen by mining resources from Mars’ soil and atmosphere.
The quest of the four lucky ones (or not) began on April 22nd. Those interested can apply online by filling out a form and sending a video. This online application will be the first of the four rounds that together make the Mars One selection procedure. Round One will run for over five months and end on 31st August 2013. Mars One selection committees will hone the search for the first crew in three subsequent rounds and further training. Four rounds will come to an end in 2015. Mars One will then employ 28-40 candidates, who will train for around 7 years. Finally an audience vote will elect one of groups in training to be the envoys of humanity to Mars.
Are you finding it crazy and doubting someone has the courage to put himself on this interplanetary Big Brother? Oh yes, all the astronauts movements can be monitored by any interested party here at Blue Planet, we’re talking about 24/7/365.
Well, if you think it is madness, be aware that many people do not think so. Until May 7th 78,000 people from over 120 countries have already made their appliance. Most applications come from USA (17324), followed by China (10241), United Kingdom (3581), Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argentina and India.
You can see video of the brave explorers wannabes on the the project official website.
About Mars One
Mars One is a non-government, private organization whose intent is to establish a human settlement on Mars through the integration of existing, readily available technologies from industry leaders world-wide. Unique in its approach, Mars One intends to fund this decade-long endeavor by involving the whole world as the audience of an interactive, televised broadcast of every aspect of this mission, from launch to landing to living on Mars.
Ps.: This girl Abigail Harrison is 15 years old now, but she decided she will live on Mars in 2030… I am wandering what her mom thinks about it…
3SixtyGrados 