Free One Way Ticket To Mars
Volunteers Needed, Free One Way Ticket To Mars
The latest trimming of the list of Mars One hopefuls has sparked a new media blitz of postings on the topic. The Dutch-based venture is, at the time of writing, down to a relatively meager 705 candidates. A major focus of the pieces is just who is going to be represented in this first visit of humanity to the red planet, a visit which seems likely to be one way. Regardless of who makes the final trip, Mars One has sparked hopes and dreams about the future of humanity and space travel.
Of the original 200,000 who applied, a mere 24 will be heading to Mars starting in the near future. They will leave the Earth behind with no planned return trip due to the sheer logistical challenges of making it to another planet. Despite this relatively dire situation, there has been an electric level of excitement amongst both those dreaming of heading to Mars and those who are merely witnesses to this latest attempt at human greatness.
At this time, Mars One is discussing whether the interviews, the next step in the process for those who have made it thus far, will be televised. Each individual who has submitted their name has their own feelings on the situation, ranging from trepidation regarding the possibility of being televised to elation at sharing this unique moment with the rest of humanity. The application process requires that all applicants be willing to share their process with television crews.
Mars One is currently operating as a not-for-profit with the goal of establishing a permanent settlement on Mars. They have assured all the applicants that communication with home will not be a problem. The final goal of the project is to select a team of international would-be Martians to be the first of us to call the red planet home. Currently funded by private donations, the entire mission currently is reporting a $6 billion price tag. NASA has reported that a mission to Mars would cost $100 billion, leading many to speculate that this project may be more publicity and boasts than actually being at all viable.
Much of the coverage on the program has been in regards to the international nature of the applicants. Each of the 100 nations who had applicants representing them seem to hope that they have representation on this project.
The somewhat terrifying and yet undeniably wonderful opportunity that Mars One represents is something that humanity has not really felt since at least the previous century: that of true wonder and excitement at the prospect of adventure. Though there are new scientific discoveries nearly every day, it is the advent of exploring a new planet in person that sparks the imagination of people around the world.
Even if the entire project is the sham that some fear it is, the fact that thousands of people submitted applications, even if they were not all the most serious, presents the simple truth that humanity desires to reach out to the skies and explore. Letting loose the shackles upon our imaginations, looking towards the future, and asking what if? The Mars One team dreams that they will have people on the red planet by 2024, time will tell if they are right.
By Tyler Omichinski
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21 Canadians cut from list for one-way mission to Mars
The number of Canadians in the running for a planned one-way trip to the red planet has been reduced to 54 as Mars One pared down its list of potential worldwide candidates on Monday.
The Dutch-based non-profit organization said 705 people still remain in contention and will be subject to an interview by the Mars One selection committee.
The Mars One project, an ambitious plan to establish a permanent human settlement on the planet beginning in 2025, is the brainchild of Dutch entrepreneur Bas Landorp.
The $6 billion project calls for the use of existing technology and will be funded through sponsors and private investors.
The organization has said that primary funding will come from a “global media event” that will document the astronauts and their preparation.
The 54 Canadians remaining are divided equally between male and female candidates.
Christy Foley, a 33-year-old Alberta government employee, is among the candidates who’ll get an interview.
Foley said Monday she’s not having any second thoughts about the one-way trip and is still
very excited.
She said her family doctor appeared surprised when she explained the reason for a complete medical.
“He said he never had this type of request before, so I guess Edmonton doesn’t produce many astronaut wannabes,” Foley said.
She and her husband had both applied when the call went out, but he was not chosen.
Initially, Mars One had an applicant pool of more than 200,000 from 100 countries, with 8,243 Canadians applying.
Last December, the organization reduced that number to 1,058 candidates, including 75 Canadians, who were asked to provide medical and personal information.
One-third of those potential Mars settlers were eliminated, leaving the current crop of 705 candidates from around the world.
The majority of the remaining 54 Canadian hopefuls are from the Toronto region, but there’s also a large contingent from British Columbia. Alberta and Quebec are next on the list, but other provinces also boast candidates.
Andrew Rader, another Canadian who advanced to the interviews, said being excluded for health reasons would have been surprising.
Rader, 35, said the detailed exam was similar to one he underwent when he applied unsuccessfully to become a member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps in 2009.
“They sent me to a military hospital and it was kind of the same thing,” he said. “The medical went well.”
After the interview round, candidates will be narrowed down to several international teams consisting of two women and two men, who will take part in an extensive training program.
The current plan is for a crew of four to depart every two years starting in 2024, with the first groups arriving in 2025.
On its website, the Mars One group says the first four settlers would be followed by more groups, every two years.
At first, the home base would be limited to provisions, oxygen and water, but would eventually expand to everything the settlers might need, including solar panels.
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44 Indians selected for the ‘one-way ticket’ to Mars personal interview
Amulya Nidhi Rastogi, who works with a private company in Gurgaon, got the news of being shortlisted for the personal interview for the ‘one-way ticket’ to Mars just a day before his 21st birthday.
“It was a birthday gift for me. I am so excited about the whole thing. I will now have to focus on the interview.” Amulya was initially reluctant to disclose that he had applied for the Mars trip to his parents but now he says they are also excited about the whole thing.
Amulya is one of the 44 Indians, including 17 females from a pool of 705, to have been shortlisted in the round two of Mars One astronaut selection process. Mars One is a not-for-profit foundation that aims to establish permanent human life on Mars.
Mars One had sent out the call for applicants willing to become the first human colonists on Mars. More than two lakh people had applied for the mission and after screening the number came down to 1,058, including 62 Indians. They were asked to provide a medical statement of health and open their online Mars One applicant profile for the public by March 2014.
In terms of numbers of shortlisted candidates, India with 44 persons ranks third after the US (204) and Canada (54). Besides the metros, some of the shortlisted people are from smaller cities like Bareilly, Palakkad and Naigaon.
“I was expecting to clear this round. It was my childhood dream to become an astronaut,” said Vinod Kotiya, 31, who works in Bhopal.
Bas Lansdorp, Co-founder & CEO of Mars One told HT, “We are excited that 44 Indians have been shortlisted in round two. It shows that India is a major player in Mars trip and the chance of an Indian being selected for the final trip is pretty high.”
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